“Have you ever been on a train that is delayed or stopped in a tunnel, and immediately passengers start to chat?” Roxanne Robertson asks New York Habitat bloggers. “This cordial atmosphere goes on for hours on the Nostalgia Train, minus the delays.” Ms. Robertson is the director of special projects at New York’s famed Transit Museum.
The Transit Museum’s Summer 2007 Nostalgia Train excursions are among the most enjoyable leisure activities of the summer, and New York Habitat can help you find a nearby Brooklyn furnished apartment!
The Nostalgia Train consists of a series of six pre-World War II subway cars that ride along existing New York City subway tracks—it is the merging of vintage with modern.
On August 12, 2007, passengers will board on the Midtown West side of Manhattan to travel nonstop to Coney Island. With 1930s and 1940s ceiling fans, wicker seats and traditional era advertisements, this is truly a special subway ride. The voyage is not merely a point A to point B experience and the ride is pleasant, social and scenic.
“On the nonstop Nostalgia Train, passengers can relax, put their bags down and read — we even had a few knitters last time!” Ms. Robertson said. During the August 12 trip, passengers will do what they normally do on a subway ride, except that the train does not stop until it reaches the famed beaches and boardwalks of Coney Island.
The trip will take place just in time for Coney Island’s last summer before a projected major revitalization takes place. Plans are in the works for redevelopment on the southernmost tip of Brooklyn, a spot that The Washington Post calls “the birthplace of the roller coaster and the American hot dog”. Coney Island and the Nostalgia Train are not just for the kiddies, and families from all over the country and the world have taken the trip. “People that grew up here but moved away return and ride with us. The sights, sounds and smells of the vintage railcars evoke happy memories from their youth, those memories all come rushing back.”
The New York Transit Museum, located in Brooklyn Heights, began as a temporary exhibit in 1976, and then evolved into a permanent exhibit that attracts crowds year-round. New York Habitat has furnished apartments available in Brooklyn Heights as well as accommodations throughout various Brooklyn neighborhoods, including:
- Studio in Clinton Hill (NY-16644)
- 1-bedroom accommodations in Park Slope, Brooklyn (NY-12022)
- 4-bedroom rental in Park Slope, Brooklyn (NY-14755)
Tickets are now available at $10 for children ages 3-17, $30 for adults and $25 for museum members. The Nostalgia Train’s August 12 and September 8 rides will accommodate up to 400 people each, and reservations are suggested but not required. “Although everyone has a guaranteed seat, a lot of people like to stand, to walk around, to talk to people,” Ms. Robertson said. For the specific Midtown meeting place and to reserve, call (718) 694-1867 or visit the Transit Museum’s website at www.mta.info/museum. In addition to the Nostalgia Train excursions, the museum offers exhibitions, special events, and even children’s birthday parties.
For other Coney Island and Brooklyn blog entries, take a look at:
- New York In Song – Living In Brooklyn
- New York Events: The Floating Pool at Brooklyn Bridge
- Apartment Rental Tips: Expand your search to other areas
Have you ever visited the Transit Museum, seen the Nostalgia Train roll by, or tried a Coney Island hot dog? Tell us below!
I was actually part of this experience it was really great!!
The trip brought you back into the old days. So many people were involved in this event. I hope they will renew the event of the Nostalgia Train!!