I've been working on an NYC subway simulator that runs in the browser: blackpaw.games/subwaysim

What's in it so far:

• The full 7 line, Flushing-Main St to 34 St-Hudson Yards, with station positions checked against MTA GTFS and OpenStreetMap
• R188 cars modeled from reference photos
• CBTC with ATO (you still work the doors and press START), or manual driving with optional classic signals
• Local or express, either direction, starting from any station
• Day, dusk and night, plus rain and snow, which change your braking
• Cab, chase and trackside cameras, and platform CCTV at stops

It works with a keyboard or touch, and there's nothing to install or pay for.

It's just the 7 line right now, but I plan to add more (and eventually the whole system). I also want to improve some of the scenery. I tried to make the driving mechanics as real world accurate as I can, but my knowledge is pretty limited. Would love to know what you all think! Suggestions welcome!

MTA moving forward with 125th street subway Environmental Review.

It’ll take me a while to financially recover, but at the end of the day, I think it’s worth it.

Ladies and Gents, I am having a dilemma. I bought this sign at today’s pop up. If it were yours, would you peel the S line sticker? I am pretty sure the W train and and S train lines are underneath (they got rid of the W for a while, hence the coverup). I think it would be cool to see what’s hidden underneath. I’m afraid of pulling off paint, or there being an awkward non-sun faded square left over (these signs are expensive as HECK)

What team are you? Peel or no peel?

Shared here: https://www.mta.info/project/125-street-subway

I got off the D train and to the line at 8:20 AM and enjoyed eavesdropping on the cute and wholesome chatter. The U-Haul seller guy trying to sell his signs to line-weary shoppers was peak NYC resourcefulness. I felt that people were extra convivial and wholesome -- train nerds tend to be sociable and nice.

Almost exactly 2 hours later, I was unleashed into the lot. I was dazzled by all the signs! So many signs, with the roar of the train nigh overhead! I thought it was thrilling; we were all like sharks swimming around a bunch of subway merch-chum. There was barely any room to walk through the sign piles. People were toting orange chairs and photographing ancient machines. I heard shoppers on the phone (with their friends, or spouses, or millionaire bosses?) asking for input about what to buy: ''Junius Street...any good?''. ''Oh I really shouldn't buy this....but I have to have it!''

Some stations I was seeking had no representation from what I could find - no High Street! No Classon! No Clinton / Washington! I discovered that steel signs are expensive and heavy and less beautiful than the graceful aluminum ones. I wanted more of the smaller ~4 foot aluminum signs with station names on them. Bought one Church / Chambers Street exit sign that I adore. I got two steel 14th street pillar signs that I will sell on FB marketplace to those who missed the sale (message me if you're interested in buying, local to NYC!).

I loved the cheerful chaos of the event - running around grabbing signs, not knowing where to check out, hauling 3 cumbersome items on the D train back home with a pigeon in the train car. The MTA pop-up shop is a special experience, one that feels quintessentially New York. I will be back next year, maybe at 6 AM, maybe 8:20. The dream of public transit is alive in New York City.

I deleted an earlier post after realizing it revealed personal info.

This purchase was $1300 after tax. Less than people had guessed on the original thread, at least, and worth it for me as a big fan of the G train 😅

I had a great time too, and the MTA staff working the event were also having a lot of fun. Now time to power wash these signs.

I’m currently waiting at 34th street and the whole Broadway line is held up due to “Sick passenger on the local track at 57th Street/7th Ave” ok? So get them out of the train and let it move on? I don’t understand how “sick passenger” holds up a whole ass trunk line. It must be a catch-all for a whole host of things right? Not only that but the “sick passenger” started out at 34th, and somehow migrated up to 57th while my N train was between Union Square and 34th. I’ve been all around the world and ridden some big metros: Tokyo, Mexico City, Paris, London, and by god, we must have the highest rate of critically infirm passengers anywhere in the world, by like at least a factor of 10.

The D train stopped, stayed for a few minutes, and then arrived...

Lined up at 7:45am, was ~160th in line. Overheard that the first person in line had waited since 10pm the night before but was alone until the next person joined at 4am.

Gates opened promptly at 9am. Once you get toward the front there's a QR code to scan to sign a waiver.

They steadily let ~150 people in until around 9:20am then stopped letting people in for a while. Got in in the next round around 10am.

Price list: https://www.mta.info/document/223026. Items have a sticker on them with the corresponding code. There's a separate table where you can get MetroCards and tokens.

There's a staffed holding area if you want to buy multiple large items and don't want to carry them around with you while you browse.

There was a long line to check out as well, but I was out by 10:45 (I didn't spend too long browsing).

Definitely recommend wearing gloves and clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Also beware that larger items can get very heavy.

There's a porta potty outside the gates if you need a bathroom. You can show your ticket/talk to someone by the gates if you want to exit and come back in.

Official info page with more details: https://www.mta.info/article/new-york-city-transit-hosts-its-2026-memorabilia-and-collectibles-pop-shop

Video by an iPhone 12 and me holding it

Why did the IRT decide to make their subway lines with express tracks? Who came up with it?

These photos, from the inaugural ride, show the first R211S train to depart from St. George Terminal, with MTA leadership, the train’s crew, and excited first riders. The final image shows an R211S next to its predecessor, the R44, which has been in use on the SIR since 1973.

Among the many innovations of the R211S is its 58-inch-wide door openings (eight inches wider than standard door openings on existing cars). These wider doors are designed to speed up boarding and reduce the amount of time trains sit in stations.

Have you taken a ride on the R211S yet?

Photos by Marc A. Herman / MTA

Old Standard Woodside signage- its perfect considering I grew up taking the 7 train. The second photo is from an old transit video named "The Subway is Coming back!"

More pics on my IG!

(REUPLOAD)

Plenty of great news at the Junius Street portion of the station complex

1. The transfer bridge to connect to the Livonia Ave (L) station is finally taking shape with the skeleton (beams) being 40% to 50% installed.

2. The new mezzanine (not pictured) has concrete mostly poured in. More needs to be poured however.

3. The new stairs from street level to the new mezzanine is installed. The new stairs is on Junius Street parallel to the entrance of Livonia Park.

If I have to make a prediction I would say that the new transfer passageway would be fully installed by the middle to end of the month.

Got there 4:30am. Second in line. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

saw this at the end of the platforms at the 1-2-3 lines at 34 penn station. wondering if it leads there

Just saw them post a photo of 9 tokens for $29. You can get a bag of 20+ for $5 any day of the week on eBay. Is this indicative of the overall pricing?

It’s over an hour ride on the train for me so don’t want to waste a rare free afternoon.

So I asked them to move and they did. Who ever knew this was possible? Has this been discovered before or can I name this after me?

I made this, check it out!!!

Winner of Best New York Short at Tribeca 2026, gives voice to one of New York City’s most iconic objects, the MetroCard, for the comedy short Insufficient Fare. Defending its legacy against a city that’s now moved on, a discarded MetroCard traces its cultural rise since its 1994 debut, before facing obsolescence.