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As a high school student at Brooklyn Tech (1956-1960), I rode both the Jamaica El and the IND Subway daily to school. For variety, sometimes the old Myrtle Ave. El to the Broadway El junction and then straight through to Woodhaven Blvd. in Queens. Also many trips to Manhattan to visit the Lionel Showroom and the many NYC hobby shops of the day. Especially loved those big rambling BMT "Standards" that ran on the Jamaica and Broadway El's!

@Henryjint posted:

Growing up on Staten Island, traveling to either Yankee Stadium or Shea Stadium was a two hour ordeal. NYCTA bus to the Staten Island Ferry. Ferry to Manhattan, Then the #4 train from Bowling Green to Yankee Stadium. Or, to Shea via the #1 train to Times Square then changing to the #7 train to Shea.

Henry,

That was quite a ride either way! But, I wouldn't mind making it when things get back to normal. I haven't been on a train in more than a year...

MELGAR

As a high school student at Brooklyn Tech (1956-1960), I rode both the Jamaica El and the IND Subway daily to school. For variety, sometimes the old Myrtle Ave. El to the Broadway El junction and then straight through to Woodhaven Blvd. in Queens. Also many trips to Manhattan to visit the Lionel Showroom and the many NYC hobby shops of the day. Especially loved those big rambling BMT "Standards" that ran on the Jamaica and Broadway El's!

Tech Alma mater molder of men!!!  Rode the n from sunset park to tech for 4 years

Lived in Corona and rode the #7 and the R to The Art Student's League across from Carnegie Hall in Manhattan. Later lived in Bensonhurst and rode the B into the city to go to the museums and see the GF. Still later lived in Yorkville and rode the 4-5-6 to get downtown or up to Yankee Stadium. Even later commuted in from NJ by bus and took the 7 or S over to catch the 4-5-6 to work.

@Will posted:

Wow you are a home body. Or maybe you have traveled west, south, and north. I've lived in 11 states.

I’ve lived in Western Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and back to Westsylvania.  We used to go to Arkansas when my in-laws lived there.  My trips to New York were to Niagara Falls, Cooperstown, and Lake George.  As to subways, I have ridden the Washington Metro about 4 times.  It is very clean and well marked I thought.  I have heard horror stories about NYC subways for years.  Ben needs a Medal of Honor for working there.

@Mark Boyce posted:

I’ve lived in Western Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and back to Westsylvania.  We used to go to Arkansas when my in-laws lived there.  My trips to New York were to Niagara Falls, Cooperstown, and Lake George.  As to subways, I have ridden the Washington Metro about 4 times.  It is very clean and well marked I thought.  I have heard horror stories about NYC subways for years.  Ben needs a Medal of Honor for working there.

Nah, they're just fine. I rode them daily throughout the 70's when NYC was at its nadir. No problem. Definitely the best way to get around town. But then I was an artist and a bohemian so a certain amount of grittiness is normal.

The Polo Grounds was in Manhattan, on the western side of the Harlem River, and was the home ball park of the New York Giants baseball team from around the early 1900s until they moved to San Francisco around 1957.

Here it is:

20191224_060821

LOL.

The Polo Grounds was also the home ball park of the New York Mets in the early 1960s until Shea Stadium in the borough of Queens was built.

Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx, on the eastern side of the Harlem River. Here it is:

20191218_143334

20191224_111538

LOL.

Also known as the House that Ruth Built, Yankee Stadium was built around 1921, shortly after Babe Ruth joined the team.

Gee Mark, I can't thank you enough for asking the questions you asked, which has been so much fun for me to answer.

And, of course, I will never forget Yogi Berra in left field at Forbes Field, watching Bill Mazeroski's walk off home run clear the fence in the 7th game of the 1960 World M. At that moment, you must have been ecstatic! LOL, Arnold

My Dad's office was next to the Polo Grounds.   The Polo Ground's subway stop was at 155th street and 8th avenue.  Here's my version of the stop on my layout.

@bluelinec4 posted:

Will is correct  The subways in general are just fine   You have to know what neighborhoods are dangerous as is the subway through them  Some parts of the Bronx should still be called Fort Apache

The subways are fine as long as you don't get lost at Fort Apache?   I always got lost in the NY subways.  

I have never had a problem with riding subways in Tokyo, Paris, San Francisco or London.  The NY subways, at least for me, are total chaos and confusion.  NH Joe

Hi NH Joe,

A little perspective is needed.  New York City subways cover 248 track miles and about 472 stations.  Also, its are a combination of 3 different subway companies, IRT (Independant Rapid Transit), BMT (Brooklyn Manhattan Transit), and IND (Independant Subway)  over the last 116 years.

There is no chaos and confusion.  The lettered subway lines start with the "A" train running north/south and then proceed through the alphabet running west to east.  The numbered trains begin with the "1" train running north/south and then proceed through the other numbers going west to east.

Tokyo is 120 route miles and 180 stations, London is 250 track miles and 270 stations, Paris is 136 route miles and 302 stations, San Francisco is 131 route miles and 50 stations.

neal

I only run trains that might have been seen here in St. Louis.  Of course, that means New York Central!  I picked up these MTH NYC E8's to model the Southwestern Limited or the Knickerbocker into St. Louis Union Station.

As for real New York, I've been a subway rider as long as I've been visiting NYC.  Nothing to be intimidated about.  Just use the same precautions you use in any big city.  Heck, I even took my little daughters on the subway a few years ago.  I think they were 8 & 10 years old at the time.  No big deal.  I like the NYC subway a heck of a lot better than the London Underground.  Much easier to navigate.

If you have a chance, visit the MTA Museum in Brooklyn.  The museum is an old subway station.  Very cool.  When I visited, I wasn't yet into trains as a hobby.  I need to go back with "new eyes".

IMG_9256

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If you have a chance, visit the MTA Museum in Brooklyn.  The museum is an old subway station.  Very cool.  When I visited, I wasn't yet into trains as a hobby.  I need to go back with "new eyes".



why wait? You can visit the transit museum right now. Enjoy! -

http://www.insidebusinessnyc.c...york-transit-museum/

Last edited by Strap Hanger

I can only claim to be born in the Bronx, Parkchester Hospital to be exact.  The hospital no longer exists.  I have lived in CT ever since.  I do have a lot of direct decendents  in All Faiths Cemetery in Queens.

I’ll look forward to that Peter Lugars shuttle, one of the steak houses on my list  I have yet to visit.   Always wanted to try Harry’s Steakhouse at 1 Hanover Street.  Looking forward to meeting Kate and Leapold there.

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@shorling posted:

I can only claim to be born in the Bronx, Parkchester Hospital to be exact.  The hospital no longer exists.  I have lived in CT ever since.  I do have a lot of direct decendents  in All Faiths Cemetery in Queens.

I’ll look forward to that Peter Lugars shuttle, one of the steak houses on my list  I have yet to visit.   Always wanted to try Harry’s Steakhouse at 1 Hanover Street.  Looking forward to meeting Kate and Leapold there.

Steve.....we're practically neighbors   ......I was born one hospital over (probably 2 neighborhoods away), Westchester Square.....still on the number 6 EL line.

Peter

Steve.....we're practically neighbors   ......I was born one hospital over (probably 2 neighborhoods away), Westchester Square.....still on the number 6 EL line.

Peter

My Grandparents lived on 200th Street in Bedford Park about midway between the Concourse and the Botanical Gardens.  There was a nice view from their apartment of the local fire department, I could see all the action.  The subway entrance was just up the street towards the Concourse.  It is located under an overpass.  My parents had their first apartment just down the street on the corner of 200th and Marion Avenue.

As you can see from the photos I posted in this thread my layout has some NYC scenes.  I also have a Woodlawn Stop and the store front of my Dad's place of business that was adjacent to the Polo Grounds on Bradhurst Ave.  I can remember walking down the street and peeking threw the fence to see the game.  Also, afternoons spent watching Mantel and Marris at the stadium just across the river from the 155th street viaduct.   My family didn't have any associated with Woodlawn other than the cemetery, I have a number of relative there too.  No cemeteries on the layout but I do have a vineyard.

9th avenue EL Polo Grounds Shuttle below, should be available now for Peter Lugar's livery

nycsubway.org: The 9th Avenue Elevated-Polo Grounds Shuttle

Last edited by shorling

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