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Check out these historical photos of NYC's subway cars and buses

Go for a ride back in time with these beautiful vintage photos of the MTA subway system, trolleys and more

Written by
Tazi Phillips
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In a city as fast paced as New York, it's easy to get frustrated with the constant MTA delays, fare hikes, annoying commuters and dreadful line closures (we missed you, L train!). But once in a while it's important to remember how amazing our public transportation system really is. We've got one of the oldest, biggest, most expansive subway systems in the world, not to mention that it also runs 24 hours a day every day of the year. Rekindle your love of the MTA (however briefly) with our favorite historical and vintage photos of NYC's subway cars, trolleys and buses to remind you why NYC is the greatest city in the world.

RECOMMENDED: See more New York photo galleries

Photograph: Courtesy New York Transit Museum

36th Street Station/Union Depot circa 1890
Photograph: Courtesy New York Transit Museum

A Metropolitan Street Railway trolley navigates through construction on the first subway line at 17th Street and Fourth Avenue, 1902.
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Photograph: Courtesy New York Transit Museum

Fifth Avenue circa 1910
Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress

4th and Madison Avenue streetcar, 1910
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Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress

Fifth Avenue bus, 1910
Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress

Thomas Edison and two other men standing by a bus, 1913
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Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress

Fifth Avenue bus, 1913
Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress

Boarding a Broadway trolley circa 1920
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Photograph: Courtesy Library of Congress

Subway car, 1920
Photograph: Courtesy New York Transit Museum

Car number 1064 on the Third Avenue Railway System's 42nd Street crosstown line, 1940
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Photograph: ClassicStock / Alamy

Buses outside Port Authority Bus Terminal, circa 1940s
Photograph: Courtesy New York Transit Museum

Subway car circa 1940
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Photograph: ClassicStock / Alamy

Buses, taxis and cars outside New York Municipal Airport–LaGuardia Field circa 1940
Photograph: Courtesy New York Transit Museum

Interior of World's Fair subway car, 1946
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Photograph: Courtesy New York Transit Museum

Bus circa 1950
Photograph: Courtesy New York Transit Museum

Trolley at Prospect Park West and 15th Street, 1951
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Photograph: Courtesy New York Transit Museum

Bus, 1961
Photograph: Courtesy Jack Stewart/New York Historical Society

Subway car circa 1970
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Photograph: Coutesy Creative Commons/Wikimedia Commons/ Guyspeakwell

Kingsway Theatre on Kings Highway in Brooklyn, 1977
Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/Olivier Nade

Subway car interior circa 1980s
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