Track 61 is just the tip of the iceberg. NYC underground uncovered

Urban oddities

Track 61 is just the tip of the iceberg. NYC underground uncovered

The New York City subway is used by millions of people every day, but most are simply trying to get from point A to point B, unaware of the secrets a simple subway may be holding. Behind the noise, the rush, and the endless announcements, the subway also keeps a number of hidden wonders. Abandoned stations, hidden doors, vintage trains, and even lesser-known features like Track 61 are waiting to be discovered. Once you know where to look, the subway becomes far more interesting.

Mysterious Track 61

Beneath the famous Waldorf Astoria hotel lies an abandoned platform called Track 61. Over the years, rumors have swirled about its purpose. According to local lore, the platform was occasionally used to transport US presidents into the hotel quietly. A private railcar could pull in, and an elevator, large enough for a limousine, would carry the vehicle up to the building. But how much of this is actually true?

Holiday Nostalgia Train

Every December, something special rolls through the New York City subway system. The Holiday Nostalgia Train features vintage subway cars from the 1930s to the 1970s, complete with rattan seats, old advertisements, and ceiling fans. It’s just another way the Big Apple celebrates the most magical time of the year.

The Avenue H station

Have you ever wondered why the Avenue H station in Brooklyn looks nothing like a typical subway stop? Instead of a concrete booth, the station house resembles a small cottage. That’s because it originally served as a real estate office: developers used it to sell homes in the surrounding area when the subway line first arrived. Over time, the charming building became part of the system itself.

Secret door to a famous hotel bar

When we said secrets, we meant it. Back in the early 1900s, the Knickerbocker Hotel was one of the city’s most glamorous spots, attracting politicians, celebrities, and other prominent figures. What people don’t know is that there was once a private subway entrance leading straight into the hotel. Guests could step off the train and enter discreetly, without setting foot on the street.

So where is it? The passageway is believed to be located at the end of the platform on Track 1 of the S shuttle between Grand Central and Times Square–42nd Street.

Subway animation

If you ride the B, N, or Q lines, you’ll likely notice a strange effect along the tunnel wall. As the train moves, a series of images flickers past and suddenly appears animated.

This installation is called the Masstransiscope. It works like an old-fashioned flipbook stretched along the tunnel. The faster the train moves, the smoother the animation appears.

Brooklyn townhouse exit

In Brooklyn, there’s a quiet residential street where an ordinary-looking townhouse hides a surprising secret: the building actually functions as a subway exit. From the outside, it looks like any other brownstone. Inside, however, a staircase connects directly to the station below.

Beautiful station nobody uses

New York’s original subway station, City Hall, opened in 1904 and looked more like a ballroom than a transit stop. It featured elegant tilework, skylights, and curved platforms lined with chandeliers. The use of the past tense is intentional: despite its beauty, the station closed in 1945 because its platform was too short for newer trains.

The abandoned 18th Street station

There’s more than one abandoned station in the New York City subway system, and this is just one of them. If you’ve ever ridden the 1 train through Manhattan and suddenly noticed an old platform flash by, you weren’t imagining things. That’s the abandoned 18th Street station. It closed in 1948 when stations were lengthened to accommodate longer trains. Because the stop was too close to its neighboring stations, it wasn't worth renovating and was simply left behind.

Musical tunnels hidden under Manhattan

Deep in the subway tunnels of Manhattan, a pair of unusual instruments is installed right along the tracks. As trains rush by, they create sounds that echo through the tunnel like a strange conversation. This public art installation, REACH: New York, was designed by Christopher Janney so that vibrations from passing trains make the instruments "sing." The installations are located on opposite platforms of the N and R lines, facing each other across the uptown and downtown tracks.

The hidden remnant of Clinton Hall

Inside the Astor Place subway station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line sits a small piece of New York history that many people walk past without noticing. It’s connected to the old site of Clinton Hall, once a popular gathering place. The area also played a role in the infamous Astor Place Riot of 1849, when rival Shakespearean actors and theater fans turned a cultural dispute into a violent clash. Have you ever noticed it?