Under the Sidewalks of New York: The Story of the Greatest Subway System in the World

by Brian J. Cudahy

Book Overview

Since the first subway opened in 1904, the New York Subway system and its trains have provided millions of New Yorkers with cheap, fast, and remarkably reliable transportation. The New York subway system lacks the electronic complexity of such modern operations as the Washington, D.C. Metro or San Francisco's BART, and New Yorkers have few qualms in admitting that theirs is not the world's most beautiful subway. But as it is in no other city on...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823216187
• ISBN13: 9780823216185
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Fordham University Press
• Length: 194 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.0" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

Informative and authoratitive

I recently bought two books on the NY Subway to help me gain a greater understanding of how the system works. The other book ("The Subway : A Trip Through Time on New York's Rapid Transit" by Stan Fischler) was far more anecdotal in nature, and for me the lesser of the two books.This book, however, was very informative and gave a comprehensive history of the Subway system, and seemed to be much easier to read (I got through it over a rainy weekend!). The pictures, while being in black and white, were of a good standard and crystal clear.A most enjoyable book, and I would recommend it highly.

Why can't we have THAT subway system in MY city?

This book contains loads of captivating info on that giant web that is the NY subway. Brian Cudahy seems to have a thorough knowledge of transit affairs, and of NY (he grew up in Brooklyn). This is not his first book on the subject, and he treats it with a personal touch that makes it very captivating to anybody, not just New Yorkers. This book is a treasure of little-known facts, peculiarities and anecdotes. I had a lot of fun reading it along with a map of today's network, to see how it evolved (and sometimes "devolved"). Very lively, with some classic NY politics, some catastrophies (including the departure of the Dodgers), and descriptions of how the subway helped make NY what it is today. Under the Sidewalks of NY made me go to bed late the way The Godfather did! I would recommend this book not only to every New Yorker, but also to anybody interested in NY and/or urban transit.

The best subway book I've ever read

An excelent resource on the building and infastructure of the New York City subway System. It also includes some great pictures.