November 2009
38 posts
October 2009
19 posts
Subway "Ifs" and "Don'ts" in 1904
Remember that the subway was new and, except for the construction crews and IRT employees, most people didn’t know how to “use” it. The Times published a sort-of subway FAQ that answered most people’s fears and most commonly asked questions about the new subway.
- What is the fastest way to reach any given point along the subway? Take an express train to the nearest express station and there change to a local train.
- If the motorman should die, what would become of the train? It would stop automatically.
- Is subway travel injurious to the eyes? A well known occulist says that looking at the rows of white columns is very straining. Therefore, don’t look at them.
- Don’t try to stick your head out of the window of a subway train. The lower windows are fastened down.
- Don’t walk across the tracks between station platforms. You would have to cross four deadly third rails.
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