Hi Thom... This weekend the F line is resuming northbound through service on the 63rd Street tube. Southbound is still under construction. It's the first time since the extensive track work began. However, because of the new roadbed, the CBTC transponders were not in place therefore causing slight operational issues... Nonetheless it was a good work day today...

A permanent shuttle on the NYC Subway is the Rockaway Park Shuttle, which typically goes between Broad Channel (during summers, they've extended it to Rockaway Blvd) and Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street. The shuttle has been in operation since 1956, and has gone by different bullets like HH, an aqua blue E, and the blue H (internally, NYCT operations still designate it as the H). The H bullet was revived after Hurricane Sandy when it operated between Far Rockaway-Mott Ave and Beach 90th Street via the Hammels Wye. Broad Channel is a unique station because of its location on a very small island of the Big Egg Marsh in the middle of Jamaica Bay within a wildlife refuge. The Dutch first established a community on the island in the 17th century and it became a community reliant on harvesting for shrimp, oysters, clams, and fish. It wasn't inhabited again until after the American Civil War. The LIRR built its Rockaway Beach Branch across the bay in 1880, cutting through Broad Channel, leading to fishing villages to be created and Broad Channel station opened in 1881. The railroad trestle across Jamaica Bay experienced around 30 fires between 1942 and 1950. In 1950 the LIRR was bankrupt and couldn't afford to repair, so NYC purchased it in 1952 and the line reopened as part of the subway in 1956.

small correction at 6:20, the F shuttle runs three person train operation with an operator at both ends so they don’t have to delay trains to walk to the other end. the reason why the train continues west is because the train needs to clear a signal block and reset the signals to be able to reverse directions!

I know someone who lives on that island. Because of the shuttle, they’ve been commuting regularly on the “tram”

Definitely an interesting temporary shuttle! Of the permanent NYC shuttles, my favorite is the Franklin Ave Shuttle. So the Franklin Ave Shuttle is probably the most unique of the NYC shuttles. The original purpose of the BMT Franklin Ave Line was as part of a line to Coney Island, but an extension of the D to Coney Island via the Culver Line in 1954 put a dent to this service. It became a full-time shuttle in 1963. The line has Park Place, the only station that is served by just a Shuttle service AND the only station to have a single-track that is NOT a terminal station. It used to have another station only served by it called Dean Street but it closed in 1995 due to low ridership (which they said the fare evasion there didn't help with), it was dilapidated, and close proximity to Franklin Ave. The BMT Franklin Ave Line is single-tracked today, but it used to be double-tracked and they opted to single-track as part of completely rehabilitating the line. In the 1990s, service almost ended altogether because the stations were severely dilapidated but thanks to community opposition which pushed the NY State Assembly to force the MTA to fix the line, it was completely rehabilitated for 18 months and reopened in October 1999. The section of the line between Botanic Garden and Prospect Park was home to the deadliest crash in NYC subway history, as over 90 people lost their lives because a speeding train derailed in that sharply curved tunnel. There was a labor strike against the BRT and the BRT tried to keep service running with non-striking personnel, and decided to use Antonio Edward Luciano, a crew dispatcher who had NO experience operating the line. To prevent another, the BRT phased out wooden cars.

Being a New York Transit Fan, I never realized others found quirks like this to be strange or confusing. It’s so normal

I've heard of the F shuttle, but I didn't know it was temporary! I'm glad you got to ride it, while it is still around. Thanks for the video!

I find it amazing that the train cars and announcement voices remain the same after more than 20 years in the case of the F and M line. Or nearly 40 years in the case of the Q line and others (they look the same as they did in the 1990s). They held up pretty well, and/or were renovated with the same style.

My elderly mother still refers to Roosevelt Island by its former name: Welfare Island 😂

Bro what the F

My father drove from Queens to Roosevelt Island when my grandmother was in the nursing home. Then after they finished the F train, I took it to visit my grandma during my college years. I later took the tram to Roosevelt Island with some family members visiting NYC from Texas.

A few shuttle routes are also different in intervals like the 42 St Shuttle, which is the 0. And the Rockaway Park Shuttle in which is the H

It’s a good day when TRA drops a new video.

Just sound very interesting train line a shuttle in New York City. Sounds very fun to ride an interesting.

I’ve never heard of a train shuttle that’s part of this subway system. It’s nice that they provide them when part of a line is closed or has to be rerouted just like they’d do with pretty much any train system.

i took this june go to tram. i remember they first opened in 2001.

A detached part of the F Line for now!A bit like a country with an exclave like Alaska or Russia and Kalingrad or the very interesting Dutch/Belgian Baarle Nassau/Hertog!

I ride the Queens Boulevard line often for and for many years. The rerouted F train actually takes the F on it's original route before they rerouted it to run through the 63rd street tunnel. I still remember the old days when the F ran under 53rd street. When they rerouted the F to 63rd, the MTA introduced the V line. That was discontinued in 2010 and replaced with the current M line.

Odd thing, last weekend the F to Queens did use the 63rd Street tunnel route, as did the E to Queens. Guess the 53rd Street tunnel needed emergency repairs on the Queens bound side.

Ayyy Thom in my neck of the woods NYC. The aerial tram is definitely one of the coolest gems of the city. I took a college professor from the UK last year and he loved it. It’s also somewhat nostalgic for the F to run on 53rd again.

When are you going to start a touring company? You know your way around many cities, you are a terrific tour guide.

I hope you get to ride the new R 211Ts soon!

I have figured out why the F shuttle carries the S route sign. Most people think that the S is short for shuttle. Actually, because the train runs so slowly, the S is short for snail. That way, people can stand on the platform and watch the escargot. 😉

Temporary lines are weird; I remember when I went to Berlin at Sep 2022, there was some maintenance on the east-west U2 viaduct so a temporary service named U12 which basically ran as the U2 west of Nollendorfplatz and U1 east of it.

Amazing America! Ciao Ciao! Like

As right now the F Train is using it's original route prior to 2001 when 63rd street tunnel finally connected to Queens Bulevard Lines. Once the F Train used the 63 st tunnel the MTA created the V Train to serve the stations that serve F Train and more service prior to 2010 when M Train took over.

Looks like CBTC signal installation in progress

Great video, Thom! It was fascinating to see this historical anomaly which you covered so beautifully. The 64 cent question: If the shuttle doesn't actually run under 6th Avenue, why are its signs colored orange? When I was staying in Park Slope, Brooklyn, I rode the F train into Manhattan. I got on under ground somewhere on the IND Culver Line. And I noticed something curious. There were express tracks, but no express service. Is it true they've restored it during rush hour?

my father rode the F train everyday when he was living in New York. Thanks, Thom! This is Harrison by the way.

Glad you got to ride this awesome shuttle and I’m looking forward to the awesome tramway experience soon!!!

I love the Roosevelt Island tramway! Looking forward to seeing your video.

I liken the oddities of NYC Using “S” for tons of things and replacing letters to how our Light Rail uses “Subway Local” for several things yet countless folks still ask “What’s a Subway Local” ?

I heard that the current service change where the F is running on 53rd St was originally supposed to happen in 2020, before the pandemic occurred. I find it interesting that on the stations on the 53rd Street line, the F bullets are black and not white. This could mean that this service change would remain permanent with the M becoming the new service on 63rd St. This reconstruction effort could be seen as a way for the MTA to test if this service change would be beneficial. I think so since the service prior to reconstruction involved the E (Queens Boulevard Express) to merge with the M (Queens Boulevard Local), which caused multiple delays on these routes that ripple across different routes.

I don't think you need to "worry" about running out of time to take this shuttle. They only just finished the westbound/downtown track, after how many months? And now they've moved the construction to the Queensbound track. I wonder if after all of this work if the trains will be able to run under the East River at a quicker speed.

Awesome transition with the door opening!

In the 1980's, I used to work on 59th and lex, and lived on the west side. I used to take a shuttle from the east side to the west side, and west side to east side. it was a very short ride. I remember the platform sloping at an angle going up/down. Do you know what train this was? was this the "S" train. I just remember it going down, then up on the other side, where I'd catch the #1-2-3 trains up to w 72nd.

Amazing how the F Shuttle is running out of ENY yard and not Jamaica

Did you record this when you were on your day trip with the Dutch friends?

Why was the 63rd st tunnel built in the first place, since it is a redundant route?

Awesome video, but can we talk about the lopsided American flag ok the r160??

They also have F shuttle programs however sometimes they will use this S program instead. you got lucky

FANTASTIC!!! Only a New Yorker can truly understand! Now others can. If they try. THANK YOU , Thom. You are very technically and doctrinally correct with your Lines - Services distinction. BUT, don’t forget: colloquially, New Yorkers don’t refer to the Services as such. We use the term “Lines.” “Which line takes you to the Brooklyn Bridge?”

now the f train via 53 line 😂

Is there a reason why they couldn't do this over a few weekends?

The opening scene of the tram and skyline is so beautiful

Hey there, just a quick question. Is this still ongoing or is it over now?

You made a video about the F train Shuttle from Lexington-63rd to 21st Street-Queensbridge. Yours truly worked here too on New Year's Eve as a standby train operator on that day. It was when they was working on the northbound track. For this line, there are two train operators on both ends of the train with the conductor in the middle. So the one operator on the Lex- 63rd will pull it into spot past the station where they can turn back. And the one thats on the northbound side to 21st Street side will pull it back into the Station and operate to 21st Street. Then the Southbound Train Operator will operate it again from 21st Street back to Lexington-63rd. I'll take the completion of this project with a tiny grain of salt because sometimes things can happen to push it back later, but we'll see in by the end of March. I speak from experience of as a train operator of working through this extensive trackwork on the Subway. Great video as always Thom!!

I enjoyed that video👍👍

Its a bit sad to see r160's running on the F shuttle, thanks to the fact that SMEE trains have orange S bullets (such as the r46's and r68's)

So if you missed the train, you can yell AH F!

toronto could learn from this. instead of closing a whole service for a weekend they can single track between two stations.

Roosevelt island is technicality part of Manhattan, but the only car bridge goes to queens, and students are considered queens for the purposes of bussing (there are no schools on the island).

Bro you have big potential go to asia and tour different cities with rail metro bullet train maghlev monorail tram light rail all the systems you will grow significant amount of subscribers Bro come to asia i love your japan series

7:39 do you have the iPhone 14?

They've been doing this for years.

I got mugged there

Sometimes the train will say F on it, but sometimes not

So, does this mean that the ORANGE S IS BACK!? WOOOO! oh only for a few months? Ok

Who has the better subway system New York or Chicago

NYC subways are so confusing, way too many trains, letters, and stations

i rode this in nyc creative solution

Great video ya daft pair, in the uk there is a KZfaq channel called "Nick Bately" he does train videos too, maybe you should do a team up?