It's time for the MTA service changes for November!

The Flushing-bound (7) trains are expecting lots of construction to replace tracks. <7> trains will be suspended for the month of November. During most weekends of November, (7) trains will not serve Flushing-Main Street; there will be shuttle bus service to replace service.

Long Island Railroad is expecting heavy service changes as they replace switches at Hicksville this weekend. Trains wil not run between Mineola and Huntington or Farmingdale. Shuttle buses will replace service at stations that are shut down.

The (L) has construction with replacing tracks along the Canarsie-bound. Trains run a more limited service between Broadway Junction and Canarsie for most of November.

Watch out in Staten Island! Staten Island Railway is experiencing slower speeds due to leaves falling on the tracks. The laser train is running to burn off leaves on the tracks, but expect slower speeds as a caution.

Written By: Mieszko Pekala

Source: NYC Subway

101 years ago, in 1924, the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started at 145th street and Convent Avenue in Manhattan. Each year, Macy’s puts out large, innovative window displays. To match, they decided to put on a children's parade. Taking place on Thanksgiving Day, the parade ended with Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause, following the massive inflated balloons, on their magical sleigh to usher in the Holiday season.

This year, tune in for the 99th annual parade, where dozens of balloons are led along by hundreds of workers and volunteers, celebrities are singing and dancing, marching bands from schools across the country perform, and floats celebrating movies and franchises go along a 2.5 mile long route. The lineup consists of 34 balloons, 5 of which are new, 29 floats, 6 of which are new, 26 performances, 11 marching bands from across the country, and 9 performance groups/organizations, along with many other additional productions.

This year, between the football games, cooking, dog show, and other celebrations, turn on the television and put on the parade! Or go in person and hang out in Central Park to be closer to the festivities.

Written By: Lucinda Wilson-Petty

Sources: Macy's, History.com 

   This Saturday, we have an R32 train that makes two trips to/from 96th Street-2nd Avenue and makes a tour around the East New York Yard. Although a pretty underwhelming trip, these R32s are very interesting cars when it comes to their past.

The R32 cars were built back in 1964. They were built by the Budd Company and nicknamed the "Brightliners". They would run on every B Division route through its time throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s. They would primarily serve the IND system with some on the Eastern Division during the 2000s. 

The R160s would arrive in 2006 and was meant to replace the R32 fleet. However, the R44 that was supposed to retire later would be extremely problematic with its structure deteriorating, so they extended the R32s to run until the R179s replace them. The R32 would slowly retire on the when the R179s arrived, having their last runs on the (A)(C)(J)(Z). 

However, the R179s would have an incident that would force all of them out of service for inspection. The R32 so were brought back into service on the (J)(Z) to help out while the R179s were away, continuing to run for a year. Eventually, the R32 so would accomplish its final retirement runs on the (D) and the (Q) in 2022, running 58 years in service!

Many were preserved by the MTA and the MTA has many frequent trips, so you can ride these cars! Just watch over the New York Transit Museum website for any updates with trips!

Written By: Mieszko Pekala

Source: NY Transit Museum