Hello Everyone !
The New York Transit Museum operated a "Parade of Trains" in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of it's opening at the abandoned Court Street station of the original IND system back in 1976, ostensibly as part of the Bicentennial celebration of US independence.
Four vintage consists were operated for this celebratory event:
1) 3 car BU Wooden El consist s- 1404 - 1273 - 1407 -n
2) 4 car BMT consist s- D-type Triplex 6112C, B, A coupled to 3 BMT B-Type Standards #2392 - 2391 - 2390 -n
3) 4 Car IND consist s- R-1 #381, R-6 #1300 and #1000 and R-9 #1802 -n
4) 6 car B-Division consist also known as "The Train of Many Metals" s- R-40s 4280-4281, R-42 4572-4573, R-38 4029-4028 -n
Note: R-4 #401 served as a single car annex of the Transit Museum Store at Brighton Beach during the event.
The vintage train operations were scheduled to commence at 12 noon with the last departure from Brighton Beach at 4 pm. Actual operations on Saturday began before 11 am with at least one shakedown run of each consist to be sure everything would go smoothly when passengers were aboard.
While it was planned to operate the combined D Type and B Type consist as well as the R-1/9 and Train of Many Metals consists between Brighton Beach and Kings Highway over the express tracks normally used by the B line and limit the operation of the BU elevated cars as a one station shuttle between Brighton Beach and Ocean Parkway, a decision was made at the end of the day on Saturday to allow the BU's to make a run to Kings Highway with passengers aboard to savor a speed run over the Brighton Line. It was a special "treat" for the transit fans in attendance. I took advantage of the opportunity for a ride on the vintage cars. Afterward, all four consists were positioned on the middle 4 tracks just east of Ocean Parkway station and transit fans were given an added bonus in the form of an opportunity to photograph all four trains posed in the brilliant late afternoon sunshine. To make things even better, a work train with a pair of the newer locomotives passed by the line-up as did a couple of regular service Q line trains made up of the latest B-Division subway cars, the R-160. The train crews made the extra effort to set up the line-up shot for all of us. On behalf of the entire railfan community, Thank You !
On Sunday, the BU consist performed its shuttle routine until around 3 pm when it was decided to allow the antique set to operate for two round trips between Brighton Beach and Kings Highway as a final reward for the folks still there at this event. At around 2:30 pm, the railfan grapevine buzzed with news that the BU's were going to be exchanged with the R-1/9's and were to make at least one round trip to Kings Highway. As it turned out, this consist made two round trips in quick succession. The BU, B & D types as well as the R-38/42/40s consists made their final runs with a post-4 pm run made by the BU's as a farewell.
The weather cooperated wonderfully with bright sunshine, the trains behaved themselves reasonably well and the entire operation was professionally run by the dedicated operators, conductors, mechanical staff, dispatchers and the folks who supervised it all. A good time was had by everyone.
Enjoy !
Description written by Ron Yee
Video by Trainluvr (shot entirely on Sat. June 25) using a Canon G15 in 1080P mode.
