Want to experience old-school New York City without actually traveling back to the 1960s? This November, you can do the next best thing: ride a vintage NYC subway train through the city.
The New York Transit Museum is bringing its beloved nostalgia rides back on Saturday, November 7, 2026, with its Fly Away Redbirds excursions. The special trains will feature the iconic Redbird subway cars, which served New Yorkers from 1959 through 2003.
And this isn’t your average commute.
The vintage train will depart from the historic Old South Ferry station, which originally opened in 1905 and has been closed to the public since 2017. Riders can photograph the vintage cars on the platform and see original architectural details, including mosaics and terracotta artwork, before climbing aboard.
There are two rides scheduled for November 7, with a 10 a.m. morning excursion and a 2 p.m. afternoon ride. Each trip lasts approximately 90 to 100 minutes and travels toward the Bronx, including a special journey through a train yard before returning downtown to Old South Ferry.
The real attraction, however, is the train itself.
Forget sleek digital displays and automated announcements. This is New York subway nostalgia, complete with vintage interiors and the unmistakable character of cars from another era. The Transit Museum says its nostalgia rides let passengers experience historic trains much as New Yorkers did decades ago.
For anyone searching for vintage subway rides NYC, old subway trains in NYC, things to do in NYC in November or New York Transit Museum events, this is one unusual way to spend a Saturday.
Just remember: the train may be vintage, but the Instagram photos are going to be very 2026.
And unlike your regular commute, this is one subway ride you’ll actually want to miss your stop on.
