2024 NYC Nostalgia Train

When Cousin Laura wrote that she and Matt were coming into NYC for a very quick trip, and invited free family members to join them, I immediately thought of the New York City Nostalgia Train. Matt is a train buff. It is a unique NYC holiday experience. The OMNY tap and go system makes it easier to do than in past years. At $2.90 for a subway ride ($2.60 if you use a debit card), it was an affordable activity.   

We first learned about these rides aroud 2015. It took a couple of years before we were able to go. The first year the three of us went (2017). I was blown away by the cosplay. I kept taking pictures and soaking up the experience. Don and returned the following year, since it wasn't the official / unofficial cosplay day, there were many less people dressed up. I'm guessing we were too busy in 2019. Then the pandemic hit. Though this is public transit (which operated during the pandemic), the antique cars draw a crowd. 

One lesson we learned in 2018 was that the trains become more crowded during the day. They make their first appearance at 10 am at the 2nd Avenue - Houston Street station on the F line. About 35 minutes later they end at 96th Street - 2nd Avenue on the Q line. It forms an L-shape. At 96th Street, the train left, and then returned. It stayed within sight, but with the doors closed. Back at Houston, it kept it doors open. People hopped on and off taking lots of pictures.

There were a solid number of people wearing vintage clothing and posing for pictures. I am sure there were many more the week before, but we were busy. 

Another lesson I've learned is to check the NJ Transit website to see if they are offering free transit tickets. They were! So, Don and I took the train from the Princeton Junction station. Getting on a stop earlier, mom went into NYC with us.

Mom enjoyed the trip back in time. She looked at the plastic straps from the earlier cars and said she remembered they were leather straps when she rode the train in the mid-1960s. I think we need a trip to the New York Transit Museum where we could ask someone on a quiet day when the straps were changed. The women dressed up in heels, carrying bags, reminded her of her daily commute.

Here are some pictures of cosplayers from the day. 

Her photographer brought
a light making her luminous

I noticed a lack of tinsel inside the trains, though they did have window decals. The accordion playing Santa was one station from the end. Laura had a great view of him from where she was standing. I could hear him, but not see him.

For the most part, the train was crowded. We started in the second car. Moved to the first. Moved back to the second. As we were only allowed to change cars at the station, and others had the same idea, we hopped out at a station and into the third car. That one was nice and quiet. We could all get seats. Matt was good about finding seats for my mom even when it didn't seem possible.

That first year I noticed a cosplaying photographer taking Polaroid pictures with his vintage looking camera. Noticing similar photographers this year, when the five of us sat down together, I asked him how much ($20) and if he takes cash (yes). As the price has not increased in seven years, that was an easy decision. 

Don's selfie

The Polaroid

Along with everyone else, we got off at the end and waited to be allowed back on. This time we started in the fourth car. I think we were able to change to the fifth car, but that was it. I was glad we were allowed to roam through the cars at the station.

We rode the full distance twice -- once uptown, then downtown. Then we rode it about halfway to the 34th Street -- Herald Square station so we could have lunch together before Laura and Matt had to leave to catch their flight home.

And all was good until we heard shouts there was a man on the tracks.