10 Secrets Of The NYC Subway

1. NYC Subway lore

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The New York City subway system was built over time, and there's a lot of folklore and legends surrounding it. There are urban explorers who've made it their mission to understand the subway and its secrets. From hidden installations to a dark history, there's a lot to unpack!

2. There are abandoned tunnels 

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Considering the subway original Times Square station was built in 1904, it makes sense that the construction has changed since then. There was a secret door to the Knickerbocker Hotel back in the day, and a lot of the original tracks still remain. If you look closely, you'll notice mismatched architecture from days gone by and the current system with decommissioned tracks still hidden in its walls!

3. You can actually tour some of them! 

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If you're a member of the New York Transit Museum, you can actually take a tour of an abandoned station at City Hall. In order to take the tour, you have to be a member of the museum and pass a background check. There's quite a waiting list, but people say it's well worth it!

4. Stealing subway rides can get you in big trouble

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If you live in NYC, you know the importance of having your MetroCard on you and loaded at all times. Before these cards, people paid for rides using tokens. Even then, people figured out ways to suck tokens out of the stiles to get free rides. These days, people are often caught jumping the turnstiles to get free rides. You can be charged a fine, and some have said police have taken their ID and did not return it.

5. They tried to color code the tiles 

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This didn't really take off the way they thought it would. But originally, the MTA came up with a color-coded tile system so that people could tell where they were on the line and whether it was a local or express stop. It was never advertised or explained to people properly, because even when it originated, people had no idea that the colors meant anything.

6. People have hijacked the trains 

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Back in 1993, a 16-year-old kid named Keron Thomas hijacked an A train. The result? He went on a forbidden THREE HOUR joyride throughout the city. He planned the hijacking for months and studied the MTA manuals to prepare. He learned how to operate the trains so that he could maximize his time. No one was hurt, but he was arrested and charged for the stunt.

7. This abandoned area has a special purpose 

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There are many abandoned parts of the NYC subway system, but the most famous is Track 61. It's said that this area is STILL in use as a secret passageway for when a president is visiting the city. It was never "properly" abandoned and there is still an antique train car parked inside it. Presidents such a Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Bush are said to have used this getaway route.

8. There's a secret exit in Brooklyn 

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Did you know that there's a townhouse in Brooklyn that isn't actually a house - it's an emergency subway exit! It's located on Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights. It looks normal, but if you look more closely, you'll see all the windows are blacked-out. It did once act as an actual residence, and you can't get too close to it as there's a lot of security nearby to prevent people from sneaking into the subway.

9. It was once used as a lab

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There's an Austrian scientist named Victor Hess who received a Nobel Prize for his work in Physics, specifically cosmic radiation. His lab of choice? The NYC subway. He conducted radioactive experiments in the 191st Street station. Don't worry, it was mostly safe! He was measuring the radioactivity of the granite between Fort Tryon Park and his lab 180 feet below. 

10. Old subway cars are thrown into the ocean! 

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The MTA put 2,500 subway cars that had been decommissioned into the Atlantic Ocean between 2001 and 2010. Now, before you get upset, you should know that this was part of a special program to help build artificial reefs. They created homes for tons of creatures and the reefs have 400 square feet of fish food than the ocean floor!

11. 18th Street Station

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18th Street is a subway stop in Manhattan that stopped being used regularly in 1948. Now it's considered an urban catacomb, with lots of graffiti and dirt. You can still see it on a regular commuter trip if you take the 6 train. Artists brave the deadly subway tunnels to reach the abandoned station to cover it in graffiti art.

12. This is a work of art

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The Masstransiscope was created by Bill Brand. He placed 228 painted panels on one side of the platform in Downtown Brooklyn. On the other side, he created a pattern of vertical slits with fluorescent lights. The paintings morph into rocket ships and people as you pass, and the lights created a moving pattern. Pretty cool!

13. This is hidden in plain sight! 

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These musical instruments are hidden in plain sight, and unless you're really looking, you'll probably miss them. There's one on the N/R platform, opposite each other on the tracks. If you reach your hand up in front of one, the holes that look like air ducts are actually motion sensors, and if you move across the sensors, it will play music notes.

14. These colored globes mean something

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If you see a colored light globe at a subway entrance, it means something. A full green or half green globe means that that specific station entrance is indeed open. If it's red or half-red, then it's meant to be an exit only, or it could be permanently closed. If that's the case, you will likely also see a "No Entry" type of sign to make it stand out more.

15. Train conductors point up when the train is stopped

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Conductors do this to indicate that the entire train is at the platform. They're pointing at the indication board, and when that is in front of the conductor's window, it means the train is on the platform. It's a required safety procedure they must do before opening the doors. Imagine what would happen if the doors opened and the train wasn't properly aligned to the platform!

16. This only happens once a year 

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The weekends from Thanksgiving to Christmas are a little extra special for the MTA. They deploy their vintage fleet of trains as part of the Nostalgia Train program. These vintage cars date back to the 1930s, so if you're catching the N line around the holidays, be sure to keep an eye out!

17. An Aretha Franklin tribute 

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When Aretha Franklin died in 2018, DIY memorials started popping up in subway stations across the city. As a result, the MTA permanently installed signs with the word "Respect" at every Franklin Ave sign in the Fulton Street station. What a special tribute to one of the greats!

18. There are thermometers on the ceiling

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If you've ever looked up and saw these tiny thermometer stickers, it's not just there for decoration. It is a decal that was installed in 2008 in every subway car that has air conditioning. Employees can actually scan the stickers to find out the temperature inside the car. They typically try to keep the cars between 58-78 degrees, depending on the season. 

19. These little bronze sculptures are ~iconique~

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Local artists have long been commissioned by the MTA to create unique subway artwork. It's part of a program called Arts for Transit. In the 1990s, an artist named Tom Otterness created these bronze sculptures. There are over 130 of them in the 14th Street/8th Avenue station. The series is called "Life Underground."

20. More secret tunnels! 

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At one point, there was an armored train that moved all the subway and bus fares to a secret room on Jay Street. There were secret tunnels to securely move the money and it was brought down the tunnel to a special elevator to move it to the money room. It was vaulted and had high security! However, it closed in 2006.

21. The Underbelly Project

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Underneath Williamsburg there is a station that never opened. In 2009, over 100 street artists came in and out of the station to create artwork there. It became known as The Underbelly Project. It was supposed to be an underground gallery, and it's said that it happened organically. However, the MTA sealed off the station, so the artwork can't be viewed today.

22. Avenue H Station has a special history

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This station house was originally a real estate office! It's the only MTA station in the city that was originally built for another purpose. When it eventually became the Avenue H stop, it became a stop for the M, D, and Q lines at various points. At one point, it was going to be torn down, but the community rallied, considering it an NYC landmark.

23. There used to be "Miss Subways" pageants! 

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From the years 1941 until 1976, the MTA held a beauty pageant called "Miss Subways." This pageant was to help draw people's attention to ads on the trains. The competition became very popular amongst New York women. They decided to have another pageant in 2014 for one year, to celebrate the subway's centennial. What a fun tradition!

24. Who's the voice of God on the subway? 

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If you've been on the subway, you've heard the "voice of God" saying "Please stand clear of the closing doors." Did you know that there are actually five people who voice the subway announcements? There's been a push to make the announcement sound less automated and more inclusive. For example, instead of the current "Ladies and gentleman...", some announcements are being changed to "Attention everyone" to be more gender inclusive. 

25. The demolished World's Fair subway line 

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As we've said, the NYC subway has changed and evolved a lot over the last several decades. One of the most short-lived lines was the World's Fair line to connect people from Manhattan to the World's Fair in Flushing Meadows. The line was short and cost an additional 5 cents, which at the time was steep. It was demolished pretty much as soon as the fair ended, and it cost $1.7 million to build.

26. There's a boarded up entrance to Clinton Hall

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The NYC subway directly connects to various buildings in the city, and some of the old exits and tunnels still remain. If you're in Astor Place station, you'll see a bricked-in doorway that used to connect to Clinton Hall. The building is still standing, but for whatever reason, they chose to block off this entry. So much history!

27. Let's circle back to the Knickerbocker for a second

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If you're on Track 1 between Grand Central and Times Square/42nd Street station, you might notice it. It definitely just looks like a door, but the sign that says "KNICKERBOCKER" gives it away. It used to lead to a secret entrance to a bar at the Knickerbocker hotel. This hotel used to be one of the most extravagant NYC hotels.

28. The track is REALLY long

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If you laid the mainline track end-to-end, the subway system would stretch 660.75 miles. When you add the track that's used for other things (train storage, etc.) that goes up to 840 miles. To put it in perspective, the track would stretch from New York City all the way to Chicago if laid out!

29. The owner had his own private subway car

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August Belmont Jr., who was the owner of the IRT company, had a private subway car. He never rode amongst the people, and his car had its own bathroom, kitchen, and desk area. It's said he would take people in this car when entertaining guests from out of town. It's currently on display at a museum in Connecticut. 

30. The trains originally ran on pneumatic power

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In 1870, the Beach Pneumatic Transit became the city's first underground transportation. It was only about one city block and ran on pneumatic power - compressed air and water pressure. The track was built in secret to display the power of pneumatic abilities. This tech is what inspired current systems we still use today!

31. Things you need to know about using the NYC subway: let other people get off first

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Using the New York City subway for the first time as a tourist, or even as a local commuter, means you need to know about certain rules, courtesies and tips and tricks to get around properly! Now you know all this is to know about the subway, here are things you definitely need to know about using it. In some countries, you can see people pushing and shoving to get on the subway even while other people are still trying to get out of it, but in New York, there's an unspoken rule that you should definitely step to the side at the doors to let people get off first before you get on,

32. Walk right down the platform

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When you're arriving at the platform to catch the subway, you may end up hovering at wherever the elevator or the staircase have led you to, right at the spot you arrive. This only means that you're going to end up blocking everybody else arriving on the platform, and if you all end up congregating there, it's going to mean people can't get past even though the rest of the platform is blissfully free. Instead, when you arrive on the platform, keep walking down as far as you can go so that everything can gradually fill up behind you.

33. Don't try to hold the doors!

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Apart from the fact this is dangerous, it's also bad manners. Everyone else on the packed subway are just wanting to go home, get to their appointments, or get to work on time, with the carriage leaving the platform when it should. But if you're trying to hold the doors because you know your friend is only moments away, or because you're waiting for your pal to clamber over with all their luggage, you're making the carriage not able to move off which means you're making it - and everyone else on it - late. If you have any reason to hold the doors open and wait, then you should instead just get off and catch the next one.

34. You really should help people with strollers

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We know it can be difficult if you're a commuter in a rush for the subway and you're stuck in a crowd because of a slow moving stroller, or because a stroller pusher is struggling to get it up or down the stairs, or across the platform. But it's going to be a more stressful time for them trying to do it, so the decent thing to do is try and help them if you see anyone with a stroller struggling - especially if they're trying to carry other things like grocery bags or a kid in toe. It can make everyone get to where they need to be faster rather than you standing behind them grumbling.

35. How to use an escalator

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This might sound like the most obvious thing in the world, but there are rules on how to use an escalator when you're moving to and from the subway platform, in a way that keeps everything moving as it should! If you want to stand still on an escalator instead of hurrying up or down it, then you need to stand to the right hand side of it. If you're moving in a hurry or walking along it, you do this on the left hand side. That way, people rushing by can still get past without someone deciding to stand right in the center of the escalator with a huge suitcase to boot.

36. Keep your music to yourself

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Nobody else on the subway wants to hear your latest Spotify playlist being blasted out, even if its music they happen to like! If you're planning on listening to music on the subway, then a good pair of headphones or earphones is your next investment. No tired commuter wants to listen to anybody else's music being blasted out when they've had a stressful day. This also applies to any noise coming from your phone or device - don't play YouTube clips loud as can be, and don't have your phone volume turned right the way up if you're playing a game.

37. Don't eat stinky food!

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We know that there are those days when you get up late and you're trying to multi-task by eating your breakfast during the commute on the way to work. But just like there are rules about eating smelly food in a shared workspace like an office, there are also rules on the subway. No one wants to take a long subway ride - especially when it's a hot day and the carriage is packed to the brim - with someone deciding to eat a plate of sardines, a vindaloo curry or anything else that is going to absolutely stink the place out. Because that smell is going to linger!

38. Don't stand by the doors when you get on

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You might think this is logical, like people on airplanes who want seats by the doors because it means they can jump right off. But if you've boarded the subway carriage, the polite thing to do is to keep moving down to the middle of the carriage, and especially if you have a longer journey where you're going to be riding the subway for a while. If you stand right by the doors, you're only making it harder for people to get on and off, especially people in big groups, and if everyone did it, it would just cause a blockage!

39. Don't hog the pole

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The pole is there for you to hold onto, steady yourself, seek physical comfort, pull yourself up... whatever you need it for. But those are also the reasons other people need to hold onto it, too. You should only hold onto the pole using your hands, and you definitely shouldn't be that person who uses the pole to lean their entire body against like it's a wall. If you do that, then nobody else is going to be able to hold onto the pole - and it might even mean other poles get too crowded as a result when commuters are just trying to find something to hold onto!

40. Offer your seat to people who need it

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This one applies to any method of public transport - it's just one of those rules that we all learn. Even though there are designated seats for the elderly, disabled and pregnant, those might be taken up, which means if you're in a seat and you're young, fit and healthy, it's just the polite thing to do to offer it. This one is a difficult topic because some people think you shouldn't, and sometimes the people you offer it to might take offence - it's hard to judge whether someone is actually pregnant or look too old to stand! - but the best thing you can do is make a judgement call in the moment!

41. Be careful with your wet coat and umbrella!

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If you're catching the subway during rainy season, it's bad enough having to carry a wet umbrella, coat or jacket while feeling all damp on the carriage - especially when everyone around you is dripping wet, too! But just make sure you're not dripping any extra water onto anybody else. If you have your wet umbrella still in your hand when you're reaching up for the hand pole, it could be dripping water onto someone standing beneath it. You might also be dripping water onto someone's shoes if you're holding your raincoat to the side!

42. Your bag doesn't need a seat, too

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We get why you might put your luggage or bag onto the seat next to you if there's no one else around or if the carriage is moving off again and there are loads of empty seats. It's generally acceptable to do this as long as you move it off the seat when the carriage starts to get busy or you see people looking for seats. If the carriage is already busy, then it's an absolute no no to think that your bag needs a seat all to itself! And you especially shouldn't play dumb if someone is looking for a seat and you purposefully avoid eye contact so you don't have to move your bag...

43. If you have long hair, be careful with it!

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People with long hair know the struggles of dealing it on a daily basis, but it becomes a problem for other people, too, when you're dealing with busy public transport! Because the subway is such close quarters, and you could have someone standing very close to you or behind you, they're going to get a big smack of hair in their face if you're tossing it about or flicking it back over your shoulder. At best, somebody will just be surprised and laugh it off - at worst, they'll get a painful hair whipping and hair in their mouths!

44. Don't let everyone on the carriage hear your latest gossip

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Just like it's a big no no to play your music or videos too loud, it's also frowned upon to talk too loudly on a subway, too. Chit chat of course is fine, but you should know what an 'acceptable' volume is when you're talking to a friend you're riding the subway with, or a fellow passenger. The entire rest of the carriage doesn't want to hear what your partner did last night that annoyed you, or hear the latest on that co-worker you don't like. Especially if it's a long subway ride, people just don't want to listen to one person talking REALLY loud for the entire journey!

45. Don't hog any seat space

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There are other ways to hog seats even when you're not putting your bag on spare ones, and it's all about how you choose to seat and how much room you're taking up. Seats are made with enough room for one person, so you shouldn't be spreading yourself over that and taking up two seats just because you're sat slightly off center or because you're spreading your legs too wide. This just means nobody else can sit down on the seats either side of you, and you might not realize that it still counts as hogging even without a bag!

46. Respect people's physical boundaries

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We of course mean the obvious in that you shouldn't touch anyone, lean on them, wrap your arms around them for extra support if the pole is full... you know, general respecting boundaries stuff. But on a busy subway carriage, boundaries can be more easily crossed by commuters who think some things are okay. If there is a tiny space between two people sat on a bench, don't just wedge yourself in there and think it's okay/counts as a seat when your legs are all over them or your face is right up against there's! Think about what you wouldn't want done to yourself, then make sure not to do it to other commuters!

47. Know the right amount of eye contact

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Public transport has to be one of the worst experiences for being stared at by strangers, or feeling like someone is watching you even though you're pretending to scroll through your phone for the tenth time. Nobody wants to be stared at whilst riding the subway. Eye contact is bound to happen, but there are just unspoken rules about how long you should make eye contact with someone, especially if you're facing each other across seats. Make sure to not look at someone blatantly or make them feel uncomfortable with too much eye contact!

48. Don't block the subway map

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The subway map is usually on the wall behind a seat, and you're perfectly entitled to sit in the seat that's in front of the map. This does mean that you have a 'duty' to let people see it, though. Just because you're blocking it doesn't mean the map is now unavailable - if people need to look at it, you need to be willing to move or lean out of the way so that they can see it, and this obviously can also happen a lot during one ride! So just make sure you're prepared to doing that before you fully commit to sitting in the map seat on the subway!

49. Don't bug people who don't want to be spoken to

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Just like too much eye contact, another uncomfortable experience for a lot of commuters can be when someone just won't stop talking to you and you've nowhere to escape to because you're stuck on the carriage until you're journey is over! You can strike up conversations with strangers if you really want to, but just know that most modern commuters definitely don't want to be spoken to. The main thing to remember is not to push it if they've made it clear - either verbally or through body language - that they don't want to be spoken to.

50. Be careful with your backpack, too!

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Just like long hair and wet umbrellas, backpacks can also be an unintentional weapon on the subway if some poor soul is stuck behind you when you're moving around a lot. You risk hitting people with your backpack if you're swinging it onto your back, or if you're still wearing it while you're standing up, and it's full and sticking out quite a bit, you mind end up shoving it in the person behind you's face every time you move or stumble as the carriage moves. It would be best to take it off your back for the journey and just hold it by your legs!