The Technology That Changed New York City: The Subway

New York City’s subway is one of the oldest, largest, most-used – and most-complained-about – metro systems in the world. Since the turn of the 20th century the clattering underground cars have transported New Yorkers about the city. But it all may never have happened were it not for a major storm forcing mass transit underground in the Big Apple.

On October 27, 1904, New York City Mayor George McClellan assumed the role of guest engineer, taking an underground train from City Hall to 103rd Street, in the inaugural run of the city’s new rapid-transit system: the New York City subway.

That evening, the subway opened to the public, and 100,000 people paid a nickel each to use the new transport system. That grand opening was the result of years of hard work by thousands of people, and its origins owed more than a little to a great storm that had crippled New York 16 years prior.

The blizzard of 1888 was so severe it was given the nickname The Great White Hurricane. On the morning of March 12, torrential rain turned to snow and brought with it unparalleled whiteout conditions.

By the end of the day, between two and five feet of snow (0.6 to 1.5 meters) had fallen, causing drifts to pile up as high as 30 feet (nine meters) in some areas of the city. The next day the East River froze, meaning New Yorkers could walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

At this time New Yorkers relied on elevated trains to get them around the city, and it was thought no weather could disrupt the towering tracks. But the Great White Hurricane proved those theories wrong, and all business and travel was brought to a complete standstill. Transportation and city officials finally realized the benefits of an underground transport system, and an idea that was once rejected was put into action.

City Hall Subway Station in Manhattan, New York

Alfred Ely Beach built the city’s first subway system in 1869. His Beach Pneumatic Transit was 312 feet long (95 meters) and located under Broadway in Lower Manhattan. However, a larger version of the concept was turned down for both financial and political reasons, and construction on an underground railway wouldn’t begin for more than 30 years.

In 1900, work began on the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) project. Approximately 7,700 men were involved in the system’s construction, which used a variety of methods to dig underwater, including hydraulic shields and digging a trench in a riverbed then sinking a tunnel roof through it. It was four years until McClellan would take the first ride up Manhattan underground.

The IRT traveled just over nine miles (14.5 kilometers) under the busy streets of Manhattan, running from City Hall to Grand Central Terminal in Midtown. From there it moved along 42nd Street to Times Square before heading north up to 145th Street. This first line ran through 28 stations in total.

From there, the subway system grew. The IRT service expanded north to the Bronx in 1905, to Brooklyn in 1908 and Queens in 1915. In 1968, the subway changed hands to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and now has 27 lines and 472 stations in operation. As of 2016, when the last figures were available, over 1.7 billion people used the subway system annually.

The New York City subway has encountered problems in recent years, with Governor Andrew Cuomo declaring a state of emergency over the condition of the trains in 2017. But without it, the city would be a different place. New Yorkers may curse the trains when they run late, shudder at the late-night sights and cringe at the bacteria-laden interiors, but for over a hundred years they’ve relied on the trains for work, business and tourism. That may well continue for another century.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.