May 29, 2025 Ever wondered what it was like to ride the New York City subway decades ago? Now's your chance to experience a living piece of transit history! The MTA and the New York Transit Museum are bringing back their popular "parade" of vintage subway trains for two special days next month.

This unique event offers New Yorkers and visitors a rare opportunity to board and ride some of the oldest subway cars in the system's history, providing a true time travel experience for the price of a regular subway fare.

Your Ticket to the Past: Dates, Times, and Location

Mark your calendars! This special vintage subway ride event will take place on:

• Saturday, June 7th, 2025
• Sunday, June 8th, 2025

Trains will operate between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. both days in South Brooklyn. You can catch these historic trains running on the B and Q lines between the Brighton Beach and Kings Highway stations. The trips are quick, lasting approximately 10 minutes.

How to Ride the Historic Trains

Getting on board is easy! Passengers can board and exit the vintage trains at:

• Brighton Beach station: Both platforms
• Kings Highway station: Manhattan-bound platform only

A standard subway fare is all you need to participate in this extraordinary journey. You can even enjoy multiple rides by simply transferring across the platform for a return trip.

Step Inside a Moving Museum

According to Chelsea Newburg, Marketing Manager for the New York Transit Museum, these aren't just old trains; they're meticulously preserved time capsules.

"It really feels like stepping into a moving museum or time capsule," says Newburg. "You can hop on cars that date all the way back to 1904, sit on the rattan seats, and even see vintage ads in the cars from the period the train cars were in service."

This attention to detail truly immerses riders in the past, offering a fascinating glimpse into how much both the city and its transit system have evolved.

Featured Vintage Subway Cars

This year's event boasts an impressive lineup of historic subway cars, each with its own story:

New York City Transit Museum

• Brooklyn Union "Gate Cars": These are the oldest cars in the museum's collection, operating from 1903 to 1969. Featuring wooden bodies, passengers boarded through manually operated gates at the front and back of each car.
• BMT Standards: These classic trains served New York from 1914 to 1969.
• R1/9s: These models were in service from 1930 to 1977.

Why Preserving Subway History Matters

As Newburg eloquently puts it, "The subway isn't just how we get around in the city; it's a huge part of the city's identity. So preserving the history, it means not only honoring the trains, but honoring the people and the ideas and the innovations that all built New York."

This event is more than just a fun ride; it's a celebration of New York City's rich transit heritage and the ingenuity that shaped one of the world's most iconic transportation systems.

The New York Transit Museum advises that the rides will proceed rain or shine, and recommends expecting some lines, especially during peak times. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to connect with NYC history!