Politics
Happy 120th Birthday, New York City Subway!
The first subway train left from City Hall on Oct. 27, 1904. Riders on the C train say the subway is essential to their lives as New Yorkers.
Good morning. It’s Monday. Today we’ll look at a very important New York City institution that is 120 years old.
Passengers on the A train in April 1976.Credit…Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times
On an afternoon in October 1904, the New York City subway, then just a single line, made its inaugural trip, departing from a chandelier-embellished station under City Hall to 145th Street in Harlem.
Crowds of New Yorkers waited eagerly aboveground for the strange subterranean vehicle to pass. The mayor, George McClellan, drove the train and enjoyed it so much that he stayed at the control panel until 103rd Street. The train made it uptown in 26 minutes, right on time.
On Sunday, the subway celebrated its 120th anniversary, a milestone that arrived as the public transit system was navigating decaying infrastructure, a steep budget shortfall and the loss of a $15 billion funding stream brought on by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to halt congestion pricing.
Today, much of the grandeur of the first ride has faded, the chandeliers swapped out for bright white fluorescents. But a touch of magic still remains.
