R33 9017

Location: 125th Street/Broadway, New York, NY
Operator of Vehicle: MTA New York City Transit
Date of Photo: November 27, 2022

For the past 15 years or so, the New York Transit Museum has operated a vintage holiday train once a week (usually on Sundays) between Thanksgiving and New Years.  The holiday train would be made up of “Arnine” cars, start from 2nd Avenue on the Lower East Side, and operate up the 6th Avenue Line, typically terminating at Queens Plaza.  However, there was one year the train terminated at 145th Street in Harlem and another year it terminated at 96th Street on the Second Avenue Subway due to trackwork along the “traditional” route.  In 2020, there was no holiday train and the R32 farewell event effectively replaced the holiday train last year.  This year, the holiday train is making a comeback, but with a twist.  For the first time ever, the holiday train is operating on the A Division (former IRT) and is using the “Train of Many Colors”, a set of “Redbirds” that have been repainted in various paint schemes that these trains wore during their service lives.  I was able to catch the train a few times this past Sunday. 

If you want to ride it this year, it operates between Chambers Street and 137th Street on the 1 line for three more Sundays (December 4, 11, and 18).  Northbound trips depart at 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, and 4 PM, while southbound trips depart at 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM.  While the original plan was to have it make all local stops along the route, for the final three weeks, the holiday train will run express on the local track and only stop at Chambers Street, 14th Street, 34th Street, 42nd Street, 72nd Street, 96th Street, 125th Street, and 137th Street.  Also, there is no free crossover between the uptown and downtown platforms at 137th Street, so be sure to get off at 125th Street to change directions for free.

For more photos of R33 cars, please click here.

NOTE:  This post was updated to reflect the decision to operate express on the local on all trips starting on December 4, 2022.  For the most up to date information, it is best to check the MTA’s website.  The information here is provided as a courtesy but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.