New York Transit Museum

New York Transit Museum Telling the stories of New York’s public transportation and the people who make it possible.
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🪏 : Digging tunnels for the early was dangerous work. Decompression sickness threatened laborers who worked in compre...
09/07/2026

🪏 : Digging tunnels for the early was dangerous work. Decompression sickness threatened laborers who worked in compressed air which was used to keep unfinished tunnels from caving in.

Hyperbaric chambers or “hospital locks” were essential emergency equipment, and tunnel workers were required to wear badges bearing the location of the nearest hospital lock in case of decompression sickness. There, they would receive recompression treatment, which would stabilize their condition and relieve symptoms. Because the chambers were expensive and required specially-trained staff to operate, only a few were located around the city.

These images show:

📸 The hospital lock designated for laborers working on the tunnel for the BMT Canarsie Line at 14th Street and Avenue D. 1917, by Granville Pullis.

✍️ Components of a hospital lock, 1915, including carbon dioxide pipe, compressed oxygen pipe, bull's eye window, control valves, gauge, cot, electric heater, thermometer, telephone, and electric lights.

🧷 Badge worn by a tunnel laborer, directing that he be rushed to the specific hospital lock location shown in the first image.

Happy ! ⛏️ Today, we’re celebrating the thousands of workers, past and present, who built our transit system and keep i...
09/07/2026

Happy ! ⛏️ Today, we’re celebrating the thousands of workers, past and present, who built our transit system and keep it running 24/7.

The early subway system was hailed as an engineering marvel, but despite using the best equipment of the time, progress most often depended on a man with a pickaxe and shovel. Many of the toughest tasks in the creation of the system were accomplished by African-American and immigrant tunnel workers.

These photographs from the show some of the hard work that went into transit in over the years.

As you ride the train or bus today, think of the workers from the early years of the 20th century whose labor made your neighborhood and your commute possible. Their achievement is monumental.

: 🚍 Today, we've got a group of vintage buses most recently seen at last year's . Among other vehicles, these four fav...
09/06/2026

: 🚍 Today, we've got a group of vintage buses most recently seen at last year's . Among other vehicles, these four favorites will be returning again for 2026!

:

Bus 3100 (1956): A prototype bus and one of the first air-conditioned transit buses nationwide.

Bus #9098 (1958): From the last order of “Old Look” buses, this was also one of the first buses equipped with sliding windows, fiberglass seating, and rear door safety exits.

Bus #4727 (1969): Built by the Flxible Corporation and recently restored to its iconic 1970s blue/blue livery.

Bus #5227 (1971): An overhauled “New Look” bus, rebuilt in 1984 - 1985, and known thereafter as a "Blitz Bus."

Step aboard these vehicles and many others at Bus Festival 2026, presented by the New York Transit Museum and Metropolitan Transportation Authority - MTA New York City Transit.

🚌 BUS FESTIVAL 2026
📆 Saturday, September 19, 10am-3:30pm
📍 Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Park
🎟️ FREE

Bus Festival is free! The event runs rain or shine. Learn more and RSVP at nytransitmuseum.org/bus-festival for the chance to win a family membership.

115 years ago! Taken in 1910, this cyanotype photograph shows Fourth Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets in / , ...
09/05/2026

115 years ago! Taken in 1910, this cyanotype photograph shows Fourth Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets in / , during the construction of the BMT Fourth Avenue Line (today’s R train).

Annotations indicating street names and other details are written onto the bird's eye view of the area. In the center of Fourth Avenue, a construction trench runs northward. At right, the large building marked “Public School” still stands today and is the home of PS 124.

Construction on this section of the line (Route 11-A-3) between 10th Street and 27th Street was completed in May of 1912, with the line opening in 1915.

: This 1980 photograph shows riders taking an escalator down to the platform level at Lexington Av/53 St station on t...
09/04/2026

: This 1980 photograph shows riders taking an escalator down to the platform level at Lexington Av/53 St station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line (currently E and F trains). These escalators have moved thousands of people each day for decades.

Though Lexington Av/53 St is connected via passageway to the 51 St station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line (6 train), the two stations were only linked in 1988. When the first photo was taken, the transfer point had not yet been built.

Today, the escalator looks remarkably similar, but many of the people using it are now going to or coming from the passageway to 51 St. This transfer point supports about 50,000 riders on weekdays. Do you pass through it on your commute?

09/03/2026

📺 This 1989 TV commercial from the was one of a series called “The Subway. We're Coming Back, So You Come Back!” The slate of ads from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority - MTA touted the revitalization of the transit system and featured real New Yorkers talking about the improvements they had noticed so far.

At the time the commercial aired, upgrades in the system were undeniable, but public perception lagged behind. Graffiti had been almost completely eradicated. The General Overhaul (GOH) program had been a success, and new programs, like the Scheduled Maintenance System were being introduced to proactively catch mechanical problems.

Do you remember seeing these ads?

09/02/2026

🚍 coming to ! Today we’re featuring Bus #1263, also known as “Betsy.”

Betsy is a beloved, historic double decker bus from the Fifth Avenue Coach Company that ran in Manhattan from 1931 until 1953. Double decker buses were a common sight in the city for decades.

This year, Betsy will not be the oldest bus at Bus Festival. Something new (even older!) is coming. Stay tuned for an announcement about that next week!

Step aboard this vehicle and many others at Bus Festival 2026, presented by the New York Transit Museum and Metropolitan Transportation Authority - MTA New York City Transit.

🚌 BUS FESTIVAL 2026
📆 Saturday, September 19, 10am-3:30pm
📍 Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Park
🎟️ FREE

Bus Festival is free! The event runs rain or shine. RSVP at nytransitmuseum.org/bus-festival for the chance to win a family membership!

09/01/2026

🥸 Until now, his identity was unknown! Secret no. 29 reveals the man behind the microphone.

You've been hearing his voice for years on Metropolitan Transportation Authority - MTA New York City Transit buses. His name is Mark Groce and now you get to meet him.

celebrates the 50th anniversary of the . Join us as we pull back the curtain like never before on New York's transportation system, revealing hidden spaces, untold stories, and the people behind the scenes who keep our city moving.

Theme by Roman Angelos.

🪙 : that bus operators in used to make change for customers? That ended in 1969, when city buses began requiring ...
08/31/2026

🪙 : that bus operators in used to make change for customers? That ended in 1969, when city buses began requiring exact fare or tokens.

This photograph shows Spanish language bus signage on the B41 bus in notifying customers that exact change or tokens would be required.

The second image shows a moneychanger (1967). Bus operators would hang these from their belts or pants waistbands.

Making change took time, so the new policy helped speed up service by simplifying the boarding process. It also reduced possible exposure to robberies, making bus operators' jobs safer.

Do you remember moneychangers on New York City buses?

Address

99 Schermerhorn Street
New York, NY
11201

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+17186941600

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