New York Subways: An Illustrated History of New York City's Transit Cars

by Gene Sansone

The first subway line in New York City opened on October 27, 1904. To celebrate the centennial of this event, the Johns Hopkins University Press presents a new edition of Gene Sansone's acclaimed book, Evolution of New York City Subways . Produced under the auspices of New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority, this comprehensive account of the rapid transit system's design and engineering history offers an extensive array of photographs, engineering plans, and technical data for nearly every subway car in the New York City system from the days of steam and cable to the present. The product of years of meticulous research in various city archives, this book is organized by type of car, from the 1903–04 wood and steel Composite cars to the R142 cars put into service in 2000. For each car type, Sansone provides a brief narrative history of its design, construction, and service record, followed by detailed schematic drawings and accompanying tables that provide complete technical data, from the average cost per car and passenger capacity to seat and structure material, axle load, and car weight. Sansone also includes a helpful subway glossary from A Car (the end car in a multiple car coupled unit) to Zone (a section of the train to the conductor's left or right side). Subway and train enthusiasts, students of New York City history, and specialists in the history of technology will appreciate this updated and authoritative reference work about one of the twentieth century's greatest urban achievements.

540 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2004

Reviews

[Ingrid Fong-Daley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really is only for subway fetishists like myself. It details all the car models, specs, etc. More like an encyclopedia than a straightforward 'book' per se. Glorious. :)

[Kruip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books and books on subway issues. This is really a book, without dictionary, I would emphasize on calling this book a subway train dictionary. Regard that a compliment, therefore it's on highest shelves. This an extraordinary book as one finds just not too often. On the other hand it wouldn't be no fun anymore. Anyway, this book is about trains, especially subway trains. Might I say, I like 'm? The NYC subway system is convenient, available, affordable, an experience, and most of the times I've spent on subway trains and or stations, just downward funny. Last time I visited the City, I took the Hudson tubes. In other words, the PATH-train. Being a foreigner, it's just so funny one can travel the PATH with the same card as the subway. As long as one checks out and in, or vice versa, coming from PATH into subway. Whilst waiting for the Hoboken light rail, I've received this wonderful explanation through one of the daily PATH-subway frequenters. Easter Sunday it was. There's a difference in over all complicity of subway customers, compared to '91 when I first visited. Then it felt, it was regarded awkward if one asked a question. Nowadays just anybody is helpful, even in discretely pointing out "trouble seekers". I know this hasn't anything to do with the book. Nevertheless, as this book also focuses on some portions of the 70's and 80's, which are also known for the 'decline' of the subway, if I can make a remark? It would be this one; not that NYC wasn't mature at the very time, however, cities grow, and decline. It's just part of their heritage. Maybe that's the real reason why some people get called subway buffs. For one thing, that's what I like about this very City.
On the book, as I said, it's almost a dictionary, atlas, catalogue, on subway cars. If possible, one can consider me a buff now. I just like them trains!