Mark, I can tell you have been back in a while, they don't call them the IRT or BMT anymore. It's all the MTA (metropolitan transit authority) now. A useful link is the MTA subway map: http://web.mta.info/maps/submap.html The nearest north-south line to the Lucerne will be the A and C trains, which run 8th Ave from 145 St in Harlem to 14th St at the north end of Greenwich Village. It is also the line to take to the WTC path train. The 1, 2, and 3 trains run Broadway to South Ferry where you can catch the Staten Island ferry. Dining totally depends on your style and how much you want to spend. I like the area along 8th Ave north of 46th St to Columbus Circle and the adjacent side streets. Lots of variety, and reasonably priced (for NYC). 46th between B-way and 8th Ave is "restaurant row", and there's just about any style you can imagine there, some reasonable, some quite expensive, but you'll want to avoid it before and just after peak theatre hours. Grand Central Station is a must. And I recommend you buy a tour pass (available from most concierge desks) for an all-day hop-on/hop-off open air tour bus and combine it with a scenic cruise around lower Manhattan at dusk ($65). It's touristy, but it's still breathtaking watching the city come alive with light. Can't really think of that many rail related things to do but it is New York and there is just so much to do and see that you'll most likely not have enough time to do all you want anyhow. Best wishes, have a great wedding, and enjoy your honeymoon in the greatest city in the world (IMHO).
Thank you Mr Hedely! I'll look into those tours. My intent is to make this romantic and fulfilling to her.
A very nice location for a romantic evening is the Rainbow room at the top of the Rock (90 Rockefeller Center). You don't need to purchase a tour ticket to go the Rainbow room, and there's no cover charge as long as you're having cocktails or dinner. A great place for a glass of fine wine and to look out at the city.
Advice from somebody who rides the PATH and also recommends taking it to Newark: While you can't check out the railroads of New York without going to New Jersey, you can't look out the front of PATH trains anymore. However, you can still see the original cast iron tubes Hudson and Manhattan put under the Hudson River in 1908. If you want to take the PATH to Newark, don't leave from midtown, leave from the WTC PATH station. Although it's closed on the weekend for the time being and only the Hoboken platform is completed, it's new and fancy and the only PATH station worth seeing. But, while it will not go to Newark, the Hoboken train will take you to the historic Hoboken Erie-Lackawanna Terminal (It's a NJ Transit station, so you'll have to leave the PATH to see it). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoboken_Terminal Bonus: Hoboken has great Italian food and the ferry back to WTC (from the newly restored, original ferry terminal) is a pretty scenic boat ride. Or, you could just walk back to the Newark train platform. Unless you like what they did to NYs Penn station in the '60s, there's no reason to see the Journal Square PATH station. If you go to the Statue of Liberty, stop off at the Communipaw Terminal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Railroad_of_New_Jersey_Terminal Bonus "hidden" NYC train destination: In NY, if you take the 6 train to the end of the line (City Hall) sometimes they'll let you sit in the car as they pull it around though an abandoned old station so it can head back uptown. I guess it depends if they're taking it out of service or not. Just sit there and if nobody tells you you get off, don't.
Since you'll have a car, thus giving you more mobility, you can check out hobbyshops: The Model Railroad Shop, Piscataway: in business since 1933. About half a mile behind the Dunellen train station (NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line) The Big Little Railroad Shop, Somerville: Located on Main Street, with free parking available behind store. F&M Hobbies, Denville: on Route 10, about six miles west of I-287. All three shops have a presence on the web. If you have GPS available, you'll be able to visit all three, with Big Little and TMRS in one day, along Rte 28. Dieter
mrhedly, I knew about the IRT, IND, BMT all now Metro...I just can't let it go, the old names. Figured if honeymooners used these most folks there will know what you mean anyway (well, maybe not 22 yr. olds). .. One question if you don't mind: Is South Ferry still the same, with the moving platform as trains screech to a stop on loop back uptown ? Or, is it refurbished and say, realigned? Or, is it a completely new situation ?
The Subway is still has three divisions, IRT, IND and BMT. At least in the minds of the employees. The newer South Ferry Station was damaged during Hurricane Sandy. Salt water was all the way up to the street and destroyed the Signal system and the Feds will not pay for rebuilding until the TA finds a new place for the relay room that will never again be flooded. Since the park above is a landmark, the TA cannot erect a building there for the signals. They went back to the old station and you still have to be in one of the first four cars if you want to get off there. Ran my set of Red Birds at the club last night. Memories.
OH, so you mean the old sharp curve is still there and platform still rolls up to doors ! Yes ? If so, I find that amazing, with all that has happened at Wall street....
Well, on an other site there is a long list of places to eat, walk, and go. The only definites are: Museum of Natural History - for me Sacks 5th Avenue, (argggg) Macy's - Ok, fine The 'Coach' store - just to look. yes, really. Museum of Modern Art - Arrrrgh Central Park Zoo - Yaaaayyy Serendipity - They have a $1000 Sundae there As for trains? Well, um, er, you know.
