NYC Subway Marks 100 Years

The city opened a long-closed, vaulted subway station near City Hall, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg took the helm of a vintage train Wednesday to mark the 100th anniversary of the subway system.

Bloomberg's ride was reminiscent of the ceremonial trip taken by Mayor George McClellan in 1904 on the subway's maiden journey. McClellan, son of the Civil War general, unexpectedly seized a ceremonial silver controller and drove the train uptown from City Hall to 145th Street in Harlem.

Passengers waiting for their regular trains Wednesday gawked or glared — depending on whether they were in a hurry — as Bloomberg inched a restored 1917 train past several stations. Just short of Grand Central Terminal, he handed off the controls to other officials.

In the 100 years since McClellan's stunt, the subway has become the city's circulatory system as some 4.5 million passengers a day ride more than 600 trains on 26 lines, getting on and off at 468 stations. The fare over time has gone from a nickel to $2.

The four-car train piloted by Bloomberg consisted of two vintage 1917 cars and two 1925 cars.

"It looks nice and old-fashioned, probably like when my grandfather rode the train," said Mavis Dawson, who met the train at Grand Central to take a look.

The cars had been freshly painted forest green, and inside the seats were cushioned rattan instead of hard plastic. In place of air conditioning and indirect lighting were ceiling fans and bare light bulbs.

"What has changed since then?" Bloomberg asked. "Well, a few things haven't. The Bronx is still up, and the Battery is still down, and we still ride in a hole in the ground."