Joe F.
I have been to the Coney Island Shops several times during the past 14 years on tours with the ERA and the Transit Museum. About 6 years ago when I was there the Standards and the Tri-plex cars were faded and rust was showing though the bodies and it made me sad to think that they cars may never operate again. Last year at Brighton Beach when speaking to Bill Wall he told me that one of the current subway car builders had donated money to pay for the paint for the exteriors of the Standards and Tri-plex cars. When I was at the Coney Island Shop for a tour last year I noticed that another one of the vintage cars (The IRT 1939 Worlds Fair Car) was not where I had seen it just inside the yard from the McDonald Av. I was told that the car was moved to 207th St. to be considered for restoration. I lived in Brooklyn from 1944 until 1973 and have rode the BMT all that time, even got to operate a Tri-plex train in 1954 with the motorman's hands on mine from Church Av. to Kings Highway Stations. Last year I rode a coupled set of 6 Tri-plex to 4 IND R1-9 Cars. We went followed the A Line under Fulton St., Brooklyn. Then change ends and to W. 4th St. Manhattan. Changed ends again and followed the B Train route over the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn via the Brighton Line to Coney Island. Then the D Line (West End Line) a few station and returned to Coney Island. Had Lunch and back on the D Line and returned to Manhattan. This trip started at the Transit Museum. Also last year a trip that started at the 42nd St. Grand Central Shuttle platform using 4 IRT Low-V's, South and around the City Hall Loop track and north along the Pelham Bay Line to the end and we then boarding one of the vintage buses and went to City Island for a lunch stop. More to follow maybe later.
Ed G.
