Herb, I once had a real wild experience riding the subway. I was with a friend who once lived in Greenpoint Brooklyn. This guy was the street fighter's streetfighter, he never took an ounce of crap from anyone. Anyway it was always easier to go to Manhattan from Flushing by taking the subway, so that's what we did. We were on our way one cold winter evening to see the wrestling matches at Madison Sq. Garden. Argentina Rocca the worlds champion was wresting. For one reason or another my friend had some words with a guy in the car we were riding in. He was a lot older and bigger than either one of us. As we were getting off the train to make the change at Woodside, the F word was exchanged. The next thing you know the guy got off the train and came at us. My friend was ready for a fight when the guy pulled out a gun and said I"m going to fix you two bastards, get walking. Asking if he was a cop, he wouldn't answer. At that point my legs felt like rubber. Walking along the platform with him behind us my friend said run, and just as we ran,  people were trying to get on the train we just left. We lost the guy by running into the street below. In looking around, we saw him on a far corner looking for us. We both figured he may have been Mafia and we really pissed him off. We got out of that area as fast as we could and were able to get to the matches a lot later. I never forgot that incident and came to realize that you never know who you may be dealing with, so be nice to everyone.
PS Rocca won the match.

Last edited by jimbo (2010-02-06 16:19:28)

My favorite memory is riding the front car on the El. I loved that as a kid & I'd still love it today. Does anyone remember those yellowish-brown seats? They looked like cane or straw or something like that. I hated the subway during the rush hour. Especially in the summer. It was so hot. When you're so packed in, it's so hard to avoid the pervs & their roaming hands. There's 1 incident I've never forgotten. This poor guy was straphanging & you could tell he was sick as a dog--pale, sweaty, about to faint. He was standing directly over a girl in a sundress seated against the window. As the train pulled into the station, he just erupted & puked all over her. He couldn't help it, & the poor girl was covered w/vomit & smelly & crying. When the doors opened, he gave her his handkerchief, said "I'm so sorry" & ran off the train. Good decision on his part. Everybody passed handkerchiefs to the girl. At the next stop, a good samaritan said she'd accompany her to the ladies room & help her clean up. I used to wonder if that was a good decision or not.

I hated the creeping hands in the crowded trains. You didn't really know if it was intentional or and accidental. The best thing the
subway did was to get  AC. The old train with those fans that did nothing but push hot air & smells around was horrible in the
summer My worst scare was when one of he fans caught on fire and the car filled with smoke,everyone was rushing to get out
and  into the next car. What a Mess on a hot summer day

I had two fun things involving the subway.
   1.    Riding in the first car,looking out the window,going from Broad Channel to Rockaway.
   2.    When we were young we would hop on the back of the train as the doors closed,and was pulling out of the Howard Beach Station. We would ride on the Back/outside of the train. It was a blast to go over the bridge that connected Broad Channel and Rockaway. Some times a passenger would spot us and get the conductor. He would then open the door with a key and let us in,and give us a big a-- chewing. Although it was dangerous,as I think about it today,back then it was just a piece of cake,and another one of my many "adventures" that the big apple had to offer. A kid growing up in N.Y.C.----------------------------------- NOTHING COULD BE FINER. If I had it all to do over,I wouldn't change a thing !

Olivia, I sure do remember the old cane seats on the subway, in fact I remember the old trolleys having the same type of seats. That was really back in the olden days.

Electchester: Do you mean to tell me that you never took the number 7 train from main street flushing to Times Square in Manhattan? That train ride is primarily on an elevated line up until you go in a tunnel to go under the east river. Did you only take the E of F train from Jamaica to get into Manhattan? What did you do before the Express Bus came into existence? I grew up primarily in Queens and I utilized both lines depending upon where in Manhattan I wanted to go. I always enjoyed the Flushing #7 train because it was an elevated line. Keep on Trucking, I mean Training.DrSteve

You both crack me up..LOL       Dr. Steve, I NEVER took the #7 Flushing line  or the el on Jamaica Ave...   Of course I use to work in the city back in the late 60's and I took the bus on Jewel Avenue to Continental Ave. and took the F train into Manhattan..  Years later, the best thing was and is the Express Bus right in front of my house..  Worth the $5.50...

Sal, no MTA tour for me! It's either the Express Bus or Jewel Car Service...lol

Herb--that pic of the train is beautiful. I don't ever remember seeing the trains so spiffed up & clean.

jimbo--I don't remember the cane seats on the trolley. I was very young, like pre school & we used to ride the Grand Ave Trolley to see my aunt in Maspeth. I just remember standing on my Dad's lap & looking out. Quite a jump from trolleys to jet planes in the 1st 20-30 yrs of our lives.

Olivia, thanks -- The previous interior photo is of a *very* old car (I believe a museum piece), this is more like what I was looking for, as I remember the first cars I ever rode in, seats configured this way.

Last edited by Herb (2010-02-12 16:50:00)

Great pictures Herb..  Let's wait and see what Lenny has to say..lol

Herb--absolutely gorgeous. Love those seats

Herb, great picture of the two boys in the last car. It can't help but bring a smile to your face.