Ride vintage subway trains in NYC every Sunday this holiday season

Holiday Nostalgia Rides, the New York Transit Museum’s beloved tradition, has returned to the city for the first time in two years. Every Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, New Yorkers will be able to ride vintage subway trains that will depart from Chambers Street and 137th Street-City College stations and make express stops on the local 1 line track. The Holiday Nostalgia Train will feature the Train of Many Colors, a selection of different vintage subway cars from the 1960s representing different eras of the subway system’s history.

The holiday nostalgia train in 2012. Photo: MTA New York City Transit / Marc Hermann.

The New York Transit Museum’s Holiday Nostalgia Rides have been a yearly tradition since 1976 but were canceled the last two years due to the pandemic.

The Train of Many Colors consists of subway cars manufactured in the 1960s, including the R-33, R-33WF and R-36 cars. There are the “Tartar Red” and “Gunn Red” redbirds, kale green “Green Machines,” blue-and-silver “Platinum Mist” and the robin’s egg blue and cream “Bluebird” paint scheme, according to the museum.

On December 4, 11, and 18 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the vintage trains will be operating along the 1 line, making express stops between the Chambers Street and 137th Street – City College Street subway stations.

A ride costs a single MetroCard swipe or OMNY tap.

Here’s the full route and schedule for the 2022 Holiday Nostalgia Rides:

The Holiday Nostalgia Train departs Chambers Street Station on the line at:

• 10 a.m.
• 12 p.m.
• 2 p.m.
• 4 p.m.

The Holiday Nostalgia Train departs 137th Street Station on the line at:

• 11 a.m.
• 1 p.m.
• 3 p.m.
• 5 p.m.

The Holiday Nostalgia Train will make stops at:

• Chambers Street
• 14th Street
• 34 St-Penn Station (Train will stop on the local 1-line platform.)
• Times Square-42nd Street
• 59 Street-Columbus Circle
• 72 Street
• 96 Street
• 125 Street (For uptown trains – last opportunity to return downtown or transfer)
• 137 Street-City College (No in-system transfer at this station)

More information on the Holiday Nostalgia Rides can be found here.

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Editor’s note: The original version of this article incorrectly stated the holiday nostalgia train would make all local stops. The trains will be running express on the local 1 track.