Under the Sidewalks of New York: The Story of the Greatest Subway System in the WorldSince the first subway opened in 1904, the New York Subway system and its trains have provided millions of New Yorkers with cheap, fast, and remarkably reliable transportation. The New York subway system lacks the electronic complexity of such modern operations as the Washington, D.C. Metro or San Francisco's BART, and New Yorkers have few qualms in admitting that theirs is not the world's most beautiful subway. But as it is in no other city on earth, the subway of New York is intimately woven into the fabric and identity of the city itself. Transportation expert Brian Cudahy recounts the history of the New York subway systems in a book that is full of detail, historical anecdote, and the wonders of twentieth - century technology. Tracing the system from it first short IRT look to the extensive network of today, with information about such fascinating sidelights as the city's traim systems and the PATH trains linking New York and New Jersey, he has produced a complete, thoroughly researched and annotated, and fully illustrated history that will delight subway buffs, students of urban affairs, and all those who love the city of New York. |
Contents
THE SECRET SUBWAY | xvi |
I DECLARE THE SUBWAY OPEN | 1 |
FROM STEAM TO ELECTRICITY | 11 |
THE BIRTH OF THE INTERBOROUGH | 19 |
COMPETITION FOR MR BELMOIMT | 31 |
THE BRT THE TRIBOROUGH SYSTEM AND THE END OF INTERBOROUGH DOMINANCE | 43 |
THE DUAL SUBWAY SYSTEM | 53 |
THE MALBONE STREET WRECK | 71 |
THE NEW MUNICIPAL SUBWAY | 85 |
THE ROAD TOWARD UNIFICATION | 101 |
UNIFICATION THE BOARD OF TRANSPORTATION | 115 |
ENTER THE TA | 123 |
FROM TA TO M TO INFINITY | 145 |
BUT THERES MORE | 165 |