wooden subway cars: keep your clothes on

Photo courtesy of J. Anastasio

Several ancient wooden subway cars await an uncertain fate on a span of tracks in Brooklyn. These interesting examples of transit design date from perhaps 60-70 years ago. The wooden cars possibly aided in the problem of flooded tracks. In the very last car, there is a contraption consisting of numerous round pegs which presumably held hoses that connected a pump.

The cars are deteriorating rapidly. Most of the windows are broken, the doors hang crookedly off their jambs and the metal straphanger poles have fallen to the floor. Even in all the mess, flaking paint and crumbling wood, the stylish design of years ago still shows through. The wooden seats exhibit stylish molding and even the utilitarian grates have fine craftsmanship.

Presently, the cars provide housing for a few non-habla anglaising men, who happened to be bathing in water from a five gallon bucket the day of my visit. Des nudos were in full view of the passers by, so therefore fair game for photography.

update: These 3 cars were taken apart in February 2004 (update info from nycsubway.org). It is a shame they could not have been preserved.