I was lucky enough to get the chance to tour New York’s MTA East 180th Street Maintenance Shop. The maintenance shop is located in the Bronx and is one of several shops that service NY subway cars. It was built in 1917 and has been renovated more recently. There are six shops inside the shop and 26 storage tracks outside the shop in the yard. The shop is constantly doing maintenance on the subway cars, and also while we were there at least, had two old trains inside, including one World War II (or possibly older) era train. In short, if you are a transit nerd, this place is totally cool. We got to walk alongside trains and see their underside. We got to see parts of the train that normally you never get to see, or at least you never get to see unless you are about to be hit by one.
The outside storage yard
Two trains inside the shop. The one of the right is clearly a vintage one.
Looking down one of the inside tracks
View underneath one of the trains. Not a view you normally get.
A rail of an inside track. I never did find out where you place the main bugs.
A really cool looking part underneath an older train
A really cool looking part underneath an older train
An older train with fading paint
Underside of an older train, which I find fascinating due to the duct tape and marking to designate two different technologies or parts from when NY had three different subway systems.
An old train which has clearly seen better days
An old rail car that was converted to a rail adhesion train, used to add sand or a coating when leaves start to coat the rails. It is no longer, or rarely used, as contractors are hired to clear the rails of leaves.
Looking down the inside tracks from the rail entrance to the shop
Rail at entrance to shop
Rail inside the shop