A Subway for New York

by David Weitzman

A behind-thescenes look at an underground miracle
On October 27, 1904, the first section of the most famous subway system in the world was opened for business. Thousands of passengers paid the nickel fare to experience what it was like to ride beneath Broadway and other traffic-clogged city streets from lower Manhattan to the Upper West Side. Here is the story of the daring and demanding construction project that made it possible for the city’s first “straphangers” to travel miles in minutes.
In a lively fact-filled text and incredibly detailed pictures, gifted technical artist David Weitzman brings the mechanics of this incredible public works project to life and captures the can-do spirit of engineers and workers. This is a book for any fan of trains, tunnels, and tracks.

40 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2005

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating introduction to the building of the New York City subway system in the first decade of the 20th century. The text is informative, but the cross-section drawings of the construction techniques and final product are what will keep you lingering over this book.

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting, and detailed, telling of the original building of the New York City subway. If you flip through you may not be impressed by the pictures at first glance because they are black and white and not completely overboard on details like some. A closer look reveals just how amazing they are. One of my favorites was almost a graph showing how the contours of the land on the island of Manhattan affected the depth of the subway stations below.

[Mayelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for not only young readers, but transit geeks and urban design curious individuals. It is fueled by good storytelling and informative (numbered) illustrations made it an interesting slice of New York's transportation history.

[Ms. Tongate, TLC Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read on the New York Subway. Incredible details and great artwork on the building of the NY Subway. Must read before you head to NYC!

Today the NY Subway is the world's longest with 722 miles of track along 224 miles of routes. Over a billion riders each year pay up to $2 a trip. Beneath the sidewalks of New York, the subways have created a second city. Over 100 years after it opened, the subway remains the fastest way to get around NYC.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

lots of details on the history of the ny subway system with good drawings

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read; an interesting history and engineering lesson. It would be great for a middle schooler's curriculum.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many details, yet so accessible to kids!

[Amy Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful picture book describing, with detailed cutaway illustrations, the construction of the first NYC subway. I wish I had discovered this book before visiting NYC recently.