"Conquesting" is giving a respectable label to vandalism and destruction of public property. This is criminal behavior and should not be minimized.

I've lived in NYC all my life. I'm 22 years old. I've never heard of Conquesters or saw stuff like this go down. I applied recently to possibly become a Transit Cleaner and trust me when I say this, if I see this sh*t go down, I'm whooping someone's ass. This is unacceptable like wtf.

As a retired TA motorman, I applaud you for bringing these conquestors to light. Put them all on blast. These conquestors give all railfans a bad name.

When committing crime resulting in no consequences, 1000+ cameras won't do much either...

I agree totally with two of your points. There should be cameras everywhere in the system with the ability to immediately dispatch LEO to the scene. Also police brass should be enforcing the no cell phone use while on duty. Problem-I’ve seen their supervisors doing the same thing. I’d fire every one of them

All of this needs to stop 🙄🤦🏾‍♂️. It’s not safe and People can get hurt in a unpleasant way. Thanks Mystic for Trying to bring awareness for this.

Thank you for making more awareness of this, this is honestly part of why I prefer regional rail over subways nowadays. It's really sad what some people have made of themselves and how they would change rollsigns at the expense of others.

I wouldn’t call this “conquesting” as these goons would call it. Instead, I would call this next-level vandalism. Conquesting would be something you would do in an RPG. But this is no RPG. This is just borderline criminal activity, which is truly unacceptable, and thus, these thugs need to be arrested and prosecuted for causing such destruction to the subway system.

I understand why my elderly mother no longer takes the subway, and my father, who was a NYC transit electrician is rolling in his grave. It’s a damn shame that one of the few mass transit systems in the US has been left to deteriorate like this, especially during a time that it should be a shining example for the rest of the nation as a way to combat climate change.

Unauthorized use of transit equipment or vehicles should be a mandatory 5 year prison sentence.

Thank you for raising awareness about this serious issue, and your send off ("you are not a railfan, you are a criminal") is exactly on point.

Lots of the 46s of the A,C,H are still having their cabs broken into. A few months back I had a vandalized cab at high st. The hand brake was applied and the side sign said X to 21st Queensbridge. Also the circuit breakers were dropped. I isolated the car and when I got to 59th st Columbus circle I saw that 2 door panels were normalized on that car I isolated at high st on the cctv monitors. These ppl have keys and everything to takeover a train. They zone up the mdcs in the last car so the conductor is double zoned and loses indication.

Never thought I'd say this, " Back in the day", there was a time when there were more transit police then , I believe , Rochester, Albany, Poughkeepsie,, and Syracuse police put together. They road 2 to a train, every train. Then again, it wasn't such ," great fun ", to vandalize and graffiti the trains. It was just starting. How disrespectful it is. What is the fun of destroying things, I don't get it.

Just as I suspect... these people wanna be all big and stuff. But whenever they get called out for conquesting they would say that "people are crying over what the conquestors do". They wanna brag that they conquested and not get caught which boils my blood! I called out 1 infamous Conquestor whom you might be familiar with. Till this day he still roams around acting tough, when IRL he is a whimp. Anyways I'm glad that you talked about this situation because Conquesting is making US railfans look bad and which makes MTA employees sorta lose trust in us.

If you've heard the news as of recent, a group of conquesters at QBL were on top of an R train a kid lost his balance and his arm came off from hitting the train cars and fell into the tracks disrupting service on Queens Blvd, 0:45 This is something i never want to see happen in the system people who do this don't realize the gravity of the situation on getting parts to put trains back in service costing ALOT of Money.

As a railroad buff, I am glad that you covered a report about people attacking transit workers. There has been emphasis stressed about people attacking other passengers, both revenue and non-revenue passengers. Transit workers are important people, too, and deserve respect and cooperation from the riding public, too. You are right when you mentioned that any person who is considered to be a railfan that destroys transit property on buses, trains, or stations, even meddles with car equipment, such as the train operator controls and conductor door controls and public address system, one is not a real railfan. Also, railfans and railroad buffs would not enter restricted areas that are closed to the riding public. Transit workers are The Best People Around who rolls the big wheels abound.

Nothing is gonna change no matter how many cameras are installed. The city’s leadership needs to change first

I wonder if everybody started saying hello to each other on the train if people would still be brave enough to do silly things once somebody looks at them directly in the eyes and acknowledge their presence. this tactic is used in stores to prevent shoplifting as well as to stop attacks on would be victims.

From one transit KZfaqr to another. Much respect. Stay safe out there.

The day will come when those subway conquesters will be brought to justice.

My biggest fear is if one of the conquesters get bored and deliberately disable the dead man's handle (kinda like from the Pelham 123 movie) during the morning rush to send a fully packed train derailing at a curve, causing hundreds of casualties and injuries...just so they can get views and popularity on TikTok. I feel like what's going on in 2022, anything could happen. Until the MTA improves transit security...I'd be happier taking the express buses and my car.

Motorman here. I can promise you if any of these creatures step to me improperly they risk serious injury. Just saying. There’s way too much going on down there and a lot of us are really pissed.

I honestly feel so bad for the staff at the end of the day cause not only are they dealing with violence against them amongst a rising crime rate but straight up disrespect and vandalism by complete weirdoes and get the brunt. These people need to get arrested or something so that people will just know this shit won't be tolerated. It puts a disgusting stereotype on the railfan community in general

If anyone ever puts me in the conquest group, I will go projects mode on you. If I am on the subway and I run into a "conquestor" hehehe, Bounders are fierce and I have no fear.

Yo MT. Hope you don't get no retaliation bro.... Be Safe..

Thank you for this video! It's good to know. I didn't realize this was even going on around NYC transit. I'll just never understand how someone sees something like metal and decided to put it on the tracks. Like how do you have that much wrong with you that you'd put the lives of so many in jeopardy.

Same ones who removed power from my train and took my entire work bag on the Dyre line when i went to the back to investigate. Dispatcher should pay me what he owe since I was about to clear on board but picked up a job last minute.

I knew a conquester and we railfans still make fun of him from time to time about his paw patrol obsession

I’m not exactly sure what it is about your daily musings on the subway system mean for me but I recognize that you are so dedicated to its efficient function that it’s completely exciting to me. You should be appointed commissioner or something. I’m totally serious. The MTA needs somebody like you.

I had witnessed this kinda of stuff because I actually saw a group of kids kicking the Cab door open of a Manhattan-bound (5) Train and this happened on the last car of the train

This has been a major problem. I’ve been stuck having to wait for a train that were caused by someone pulling an emergency brake. And also because they can’t seem to understand the meaning of not only life, but the meaning of GOVERNMENT’S PROPERTY, which is what these trains are. It’s really becoming unsafe at this point, that we need to call on the penalties to be increased if they broke the rules, like how they are all used to do so. And they really need to start placing some surveillance cameras, like the really small ones so we don’t have to see any of this happening anywhere

Wow! I live in S Fl and never heard of this until I just saw your video. Very informative and sad to see this happening. They know the troubled rail-lines, maybe add some “Rail Marshals” like there are sky marshals on airplanes…

As a railfan I do think its nasty to see how these guys vandalize, I remember being in middle school and high school watching guys using the tools to rotate the signs and turn a B train into a D train or manually open the door with the key right after the door closed just to delay the train. Its a nasty game and I have no clue why they play it, the MTA could've been a good career for them

One of the worst things to happen was the elimination of the Transit Police. The street cops working the system now don’t really know the ins and outs of the subway.

Another point too is that innocent railfans often get lumped in with these vandals. Every fandom has a group of individuals who ruin it for others in the hobby.

I'm surprised there isn't an app for your phones to report the incident as it is happening to get the offenders at the next stop. I understand times are starving stupid these days, but that does not justify making them worse. We all have to learn to get along or we won't have long as a species. Good luck to all of you going through this, I hope things get resolved quickly for you

Thanks Mystic for bringing awareness to this issue. As a TA worker more should be done. I also hear that they get keys from transit off of eBay. That's how they're able to answer the cabs. They also need police to patrol the tunnels to protect vandalism in and outside trains. I also hope you talk about the incidents of Subway surfing that's going on in the system.

Conquesting is pretty much one of the worst things you can do on a subway still don’t know why they still exist conquesting is still illegal I suppose but they still do it

Everyone at 0:22 was so rude you’re supposed to let people off the train first not stand directly with your face near the door 😭💀

I see only one problem here: NearImGreenGetEarRedSmell.

Wow man. As a Locomotive Engineer(train operator) this is wild. These people don’t understand that trains are very dangerous and can really create a lot of harm. Thanks for making the video and making people aware

You should do a vid on CDTA, transit in the Albany area in upstate NY. I think it is NYS second largest TA. They are very big on BRT routes.

I mean relaying R160 on the express track is bad idea on the weekends that leads people breaking in the train getting codebreak & everything including Parson Blvd (F) is better too store them in Coney Island Yard or run for N & Q service for these shortage.

This is the type of stuff where you’d get bored and just want to ruin things out of boredom while being a jerk on top of that. It’s a shame to see that there are people out there who do this. Like, What’s the benefit of just vandalizing transit equipment to just straight-up assaulting transit workers? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! I’d appreciate you for making this video, Keep it up.

A few days a go a person died because he fell off a subway train while SURFING and this is why I will not go into NYC(expect Penn station and grand central) until it is safe but some have no choice(because they live their) it is on yt that the system is in danger of falling into disrepair

Very informative thanks 😊

This is why I left the transit fan community years ago. Also, I'm too busy working, running a business, and spending time with my girl and family to do transit fanning. Now when it comes to these vandals, they need to get caught and arrested. I know the term "conquestor" is used as slang to describe them, but when I think of a conquestor or Conquistador, an image of Hernan Cortez, Christopher Columbus, or Ferdinand Magellan comes to mind, these vandals are anything but those guys.

There’s this note of a warning saying there are conquesters on the loose on the BMT Southern Division [(D)(N)(R)] and on there respective lines (4 Av, Sea Beach, & West End)

Thanks for this. Awareness is key.

I'mma have to say this: These conquestors be makin us look bad in motormen, conductors and bus drivers eyes. We can't let them hooligans win no matter what. You shouldn't have to repeat talking about them hooligans and their shenanigans, but I'm glad you did cause I care about them transit workers as much as you do - particularly them from Mosholu, Pelham Bay Park and the Grand Concourse.

Honestly pulling the emergency brake is the lowest thing they can do, as long as you don't break, destroy or cause any physical damage to property, changing 62A signs aren't bad

Like your videos! mystic transit

Imma put this in the most meanest and controversial way I can I wish for them to please cease these actions and seek therapy to help with their personal life issues

I know a group of conquesters, (not saying names) tried to threaten me by jumping me after i clowned one of their friends since they unfortunately lost their arm while surfing in between the cars, they told me to come to Bowery Station to try and shiv me, im not an idiot trying to lose my life over some stupid criminals.

This isn’t right, the NYC Subway deserves better, it needs to be changed

Hello there my pal. Glad seeing you again as always. Happy September as well.

This video is really good to show how these conquest people break and danger many people who are trying to get to their destination and the conquest era are these conquesters are not even criminals they don’t deserve to be called a New Yorker

Thanks for bringing this to light. Has NYC Transit made a statement?

Omg thanks for talkin about this. The mta should fix this asap. Passengers can be endangered in these situations for example I almost got locked inside one of the D train car. These kids busted a door into the cabin and started messing with things which lock the doors for the past 3 stations. Thankfully they got reopen somehow and i went to the next car. After that the car I was in before had the doors locked for another past 10 stations. I got off at 36th street and the people on the station were waiting for the doors to open but it didnt so the people missed a D train. People inside that D train car was just these kids and a few other people.

I agree my mother was in the D at 9th avenue when the garret gobe thing happened she could have died or worse

THANK YOU!!

I personally have never broken into a cab before but with the permission of a train operator on the (E) Train at Cortlandt St while we waited for the signal to clear , i was inside the cab and honked the horn and he even let me take pictures of all the controls, TOD screen, but i never took a video or photo of him to keep his identity safe and not have him lose his job. It was the best night of my life and what’s even better is he let me sit inside the cab while he pulled the train into Whitehall Terminal. I’ll never forget that day

thank you for this video

Interesting video. Subscribed.

Thanks for bringing this too light I hope the MTA finds and prosecute they need to be put under the jail

destroying property is going way to far I'm ngl

Those MTA Subway conquestors must be stop, period! They are destroying the transit schedules in the MTA. 🙁😡

I worked for septa 25 yrs and I retired from operating trains because it got worse especially around the time of Covid it got so bad I honestly started carrying my 45 in my work bag best decision I ever made leaving the authority

You wanna scoop check out Jackson heights on a weekend. Train gets so overcrowded and you should check out the platform before the train gets there. Unsafe too walk its soo overcrowded feels like you're gonna fall off the platform with so many people

More surveillance… I understand it, but that ultimately means less privacy for those of us who aren’t breaking the law. What we really need is a law enforcement system that is present and actually enforces the law- without violating our rights. Just my opinion 🤷🏽‍♂️

I think I watched the NBC4 broadcast of the NJ busses burning

On the D N and R lines there have been posters saying about how there is a group of people messing up on the D N and R trains and where they have done a lot of vandalism

If you search "Old South Ferry Loop" you'll see the teens sneak in, messing with the switchboard / bells, paperwork and graffiti. It still showed me my down vote.

Some teens recently moved a train out of lay up which was dangerous .

If I am honest, I don't think this is entirely limited to just NYC since I've seen some shit on the LA Metro. But you are 100% right in that transit systems in the US needs better security, especially since the "traditional" methods of policing systems are completely broken.

I haven't been on the 3 train in so long, I forgot where it goes. Lol

Sounds like we’re going to have a sequel to The Taking of Pelham 123.

2:26 WTF driving off with interlock isolated? Trains shouldn't be entering service with interlock isolated and even if the train was broken all the doors should've been closed and locked by staff. Someone's clearly messing around in the cab. What next? Isolating trainstop protection and running through a danger signal? Absolutely reckless.

If A group Of Conquestors Can Do this much damage to operators,They Are More Than Capable Of Taking Out Police In the Transot System.Its Things Like This That makes me afraid to ride trains,And Perfer Buses/Cabs Over The system.We need more security and perhaps more cops in the system.On Trains,Platforms.Even Outside Stations.Thanks For The Awarness Mystic.

I've linked this video in a Twitter conversation that's partially about "crime-infested" subways. I haven't taken the subway myself since quarantine (only once), but that's because of fares; I walk and bike everywhere now. So I'm not 100% sure of all the types of crime people are talking about, but conquesting isn't really in any of the discussions at all. How big is conquesting compared to all other transit crimes?

One more to the comment pot: Thank you for the information. It is sad that the subways are becoming more unsafe to ride.

Gulliani was tough..however, you could safely rife the subway! And, there was plenty of Police presence!

They went thru thru this in 70s too. NYC will survive. This is a reaction to lockdowns and anger against city and feds. Teens are out of control around entire country. Start carrying pepper spray. Learn martial arts and self protection. Carry a loud whistle around neck. Know all exits. Do not ride in a car alone. Take cab home late at night. If economy falters this will get worse before it gets better. All metro subway systems in cities had major hits to budgets due to rider decline because of covid

Okay then this video has got me in deep thoughts.

Ok now this is just stupid. A dude got his FRIGGIN ARM CUT OFF SURFING. Literally why can’t y’all just play video games or eat at a restaurant like normal teens do. WTF!!! Seriously it’s one thing to do incredibly stupid acts like this but another to drag the community in it. It’s time to introduce subway community service. They will clean every subway car and station and will not be allowed to leave UNTIL THE TRAINS AND STATIONS EVEN CLEANER THEN THE WAY THEY FOUND IT Since these hooligans love making a mess of the subway system. THEY COULD CLEAN THEIR SHIT UP

I’ve given up on the MTA and they are my last option when commuting around this city. It’s not safe and I personally love trains and have been riding these trains since I was a teenager. It wasn’t that safe back then either but the stuff I’m seeing is getting completely out of hand now.

A train also is nuts plus rogue stations galore🗽

My first 12-9 was a surfer. RIP Garrett Goble. Friend and co-worker. He was a good man.

Still thinking that the TTC is better than the MTA

Imagine thinking you’re cool because you changed a rollsign to say the train is a Q train running to Jamaica 179

I don't understand why people are still doing this!

Thank you mystic for pointing this out. I mean there is a point of new yorkers never riding the subway again if this conquesting and foaming keeps up.

What they’re doing is vandalism and you can’t clean that up with a slick name! A woman was hit in the leg by a shoe paddle thrown from a moving train! That’s reckless intent!

This is mostly on the NTTs that conquest tend to occur on cuz it’s very open for chaos to happen

I’m probably not gonna look at the subway normal again after this.

If this happened here in Singapore there would be a huge ruckus from both the public and the government over such blatant security and safety breaches, and the people who pull this shit, if caught, would be imprisoned and literally caned for this (contrary to popular belief, chewing gum doesn’t get you caned here, but vandalism is among the offences that do). In fact many years ago there was a pretty huge uproar over metro depot security after at least two cases of train vandalism occurred - one even got put into service and got filmed by rail fans before it was pulled.

I love the name of this channel.

Not every action needs a definition. There are already words for this.

I think the whole NYC Subway is getting worse as a whole.

The subway system really needs to change. It’s infrastructure definitely needs an upgrade.