Redbird Subway Train Ornament
Train cars were painted a deep red to combat graffiti, which had become a major problem in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The final trip made by a train consisting of Redbirds was made on November 3, 2003. Hand-painted and glittered, this special glass ornament is perfect for subway enthusiasts and long-time New Yorkers.
4 1/4" long x 1 3/8" tall x 1 1/4" wide; Handmade in Poland
Out of stock
Description / Redbird Subway Train Ornament
Train cars were painted a deep red to combat graffiti, which had become a major problem in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The final trip made by a train consisting of Redbirds was made on November 3, 2003. Hand-painted and glittered, this special glass ornament is perfect for subway enthusiasts and long-time New Yorkers.
4 1/4" long x 1 3/8" tall x 1 1/4" wide; Handmade in Poland
What's The Story
| The Redbirds were some of the longest running cars in the history of the New York subway system, beloved by rail fans and instantly familiar to longtime IRT passengers. Built by St. Louis Car Company for the World’s Fair, they were introduced when a ride on the subway only cost 15 cents! Part of the last pre-stainless steel fleet, the cars originally sported the powder blue and off-white color scheme of the 1964 Fair. After a brief period in the early 1980s when they were painted white, graffiti prompted a change in 1984 to the distinctive dark red color for which they are known today. The Redbirds were eventually replaced by modern R142 and R142A cars, but in retirement many saw new life, recycled as part of the MTA’s artificial reef program off the Eastern Seaboard. |
