These NYC transit trivia questions are all about the subway: the pneumatic tunnel that came first, the line that opened in 1904, the three systems the city joined in 1940, and the trains, maps and fares since.
Read the full guide
NYC subway trivia questions, in order of time
Before the subway runs from a railroad tunnel of 1844 to Tunnel Day in 1900. The first line and the three systems covers opening day, the five-cent fare, the city-owned system of 1932 and the takeover of 1940.
For riders
Lines, trains and maps asks what marks out a route, which tracks the express uses and what the R on a car means. Fares, storms and traditions has the money trains, Miss Subways and the holiday train. Tap a choice to check it; the reason appears with the answer.
Lines, trains and maps is the round for daily riders; the two history rounds suit visitors and rail fans.
Questions and answers
When did the New York City subway open?
The first underground line opened on October 27, 1904. It ran 9.1 miles from City Hall station to 145th Street in Harlem, and more than 150,000 passengers paid the 5-cent fare on the first day.
Was there a subway in New York before 1904?
There was a demonstration. Alfred Ely Beach opened a pneumatic subway under Broadway in February 1870. Its tunnel was 312 feet long and it ran a single car; a stock market crash in 1873 was the final blow.
Do these questions cover buses and ferries?
No. Every question is about the subway: what came before it, the first line, the three systems the city joined in 1940, and its trains, maps and fares.
How were the answers checked?
Each was read on October 3, 2026 in the English Wikipedia article New York City Subway or History of the New York City Subway, linked under the question. The page is unofficial and is not affiliated with the transit authority.
A plan to build the subway was approved in 1894. In which year did construction begin?Answer: 1900. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
An earlier underground railroad had existed since 1844, though it had no underground stops. What was it called?Answer: The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
By what name was the groundbreaking of March 24, 1900 celebrated at the time?Answer: Tunnel Day. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
The first elevated line in New York City was built decades before the subway. Along which avenue did it run?Answer: Ninth Avenue. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
How long was the tunnel of the demonstration subway of 1870?Answer: 312 feet. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
How many rides did the demonstration subway give in its first year?Answer: 400,000. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
In how many days was the tunnel of the demonstration subway built?Answer: 58. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
In which year did the oldest structure of the subway that is still in use open, as part of an elevated line in Brooklyn?Answer: 1885. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
The oldest right-of-way of the subway was in use in 1864 as what?Answer: A steam railroad. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
Under which street did the demonstration subway of 1870 run?Answer: Broadway. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
What kind of subway was the demonstration line of 1870?Answer: A pneumatic subway. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
Which event of 1873 was the final blow to the demonstration subway?Answer: A stock market crash. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
Which storm helped show New Yorkers the benefits of an underground transportation system?Answer: The Great Blizzard of 1888. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
Who built the first demonstration of an underground transit system in New York City, opened in February 1870?Answer: Alfred Ely Beach. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
The first line and the three systems 13
About how many workers built the original subway lines?Answer: 7,700. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
The first subway line began at City Hall station. At which street in Harlem did it end?Answer: 145th Street. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
How long was the first subway line?Answer: 9.1 miles. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
How many miles of sewers had to be moved to build the first subway?Answer: Twelve. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
In which year did the city take over the two privately run subway systems?Answer: 1940. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
In which year did the first line of the city-owned Independent Subway System open?Answer: 1932. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
In which year did the first underground line of the New York City Subway open?Answer: 1904. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
In which year was the New York City Transit Authority created to take over the subways, buses and streetcars?Answer: 1953. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
The subway was planned during the war of the currents. Which kind of current did it adopt?Answer: Direct current. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
What was the fare on the first day of the subway?Answer: 5 cents. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
Which mayor, who had once worked as a motorman for one of the private transit companies, was a strong advocate of public operation of the subway?Answer: John F. Hylan. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
Which method was the typical way to build a subway tunnel in 1904?Answer: Cut-and-cover. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
Who funded the company that won the contract to build the first subway in 1900?Answer: August Belmont. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
Lines, trains and maps 15
A subway train typically has two staff on board. The operator is at the front. Where is the conductor?Answer: At the center of the train. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
About how much of the track of the subway is above ground?Answer: 40 percent. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
Cars of the A Division are about 8 feet 9 inches wide. About how wide are the cars of the B Division?Answer: About 10 feet. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
For how many hours a day has the subway run through most of its history?Answer: 24 hours a day, every day. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
How many boroughs have subway service?Answer: Four. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
How many cars does a typical subway train have?Answer: 8 to 11. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
In 2025 the official subway map changed to one based on whose design of 1972?Answer: Massimo Vignelli's. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
In subway language, what marks out a route, where a line has a name?Answer: A letter or a number. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
In which color are many of the staircases down to subway stations painted?Answer: Green. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
In which year was the first diagram of the subway produced?Answer: 1958. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
On a subway line with four tracks, which tracks do the express trains normally use?Answer: The inner ones. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
Subway cars bought by the city since 1948 are known by the letter R and a number. What is the number?Answer: The number of the contract they were bought under. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
To whom does the subway system belong?Answer: The government of New York City. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
Which letter is used for the shuttle services of the subway?Answer: S. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
Which machines do more recent subway projects use to dig tunnels with less disruption at street level?Answer: Tunnel boring machines. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
Fares, storms and traditions 11
Before the arrival of which hurricane was the whole subway closed on October 29, 2012?Answer: Hurricane Sandy. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
Between which years did the transit authority run the publicity campaign called Miss Subways?Answer: 1941 to 1976. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
By 1939 work on a long-planned line had been put off, and it was left with the status of proposed. Under which avenue was it to run?Answer: Second Avenue. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
By 1975 the number of riders had fallen to the level of which earlier year?Answer: 1918. Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway
From 1951, fares were carried by money trains to a money room in which borough?Answer: Brooklyn. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
In which year was the fare card with a magnetic stripe introduced on the subway?Answer: 1993. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
In which year were fare cards with unlimited rides added?Answer: 1998. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
On August 8, 2007 the subway flooded and the morning rush stopped. How much rain had fallen within an hour?Answer: More than 3 inches. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
On which day of the week has the Holiday Nostalgia Train usually run in November and December since 2003?Answer: Sunday. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
There have been three strikes over contracts by the transit union. How long did the one in 1966 last?Answer: 12 days. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway
What replaced the money trains of the subway in 2006?Answer: Armored trucks. Source: Wikipedia: New York City Subway