Uploaded April 2009 | Updated September 2026, 12 hours ago
For my music fans and train buffs, I think you'll enjoy this video. April 29,2009 marked the 110th Anniversary of Duke Ellingtons' birth and to celebrate the occasion, MTA New York City Transit appropriately ran their Pre-War "R1/9" series subway cars, built in 1930. These were the same cars that ran on New Yorks' Independent System in the '30's through 1977 and were the inspiration for the Billy Strayhorn song "Take The A Train" made famous by Duke Ellington. The festivities began at the 125th St. station in Harlem with an orchestra playing in the mezzanine followed by the museum train picking up the guests, which included Duke Ellingtons' grandaughter Mercedes, members of the press, the musicians and passengers. This video began at 125th St. showing the vintage 'A' train as it arrived in the station,then picks up at Brooklyns' Jay St.-Borough Hall station where the band breaks into the Ellington classic "Take The A Train". The band had such a groove going that it felt like the music was moving the train, or perhaps the train was moving to the music!
For my music fans and train buffs, I think you'll enjoy this video. April 29,2009 marked the 110th Anniversary of Duke Ellingtons' birth and to celebrate the occasion, MTA New York City Transit appropriately ran their Pre-War "R1/9" series subway cars, built in 1930. These were the same cars that ran on New Yorks' Independent System in the '30's through 1977 and were the inspiration for the Billy Strayhorn song "Take The A Train" made famous by Duke Ellington. The festivities began at the 125th St. station in Harlem with an orchestra playing in the mezzanine followed by the museum train picking up the guests, which included Duke Ellingtons' grandaughter Mercedes, members of the press, the musicians and passengers. This video began at 125th St. showing the vintage 'A' train as it arrived in the station,then picks up at Brooklyns' Jay St.-Borough Hall station where the band breaks into the Ellington classic "Take The A Train". The band had such a groove going that it felt like the music was moving the train, or perhaps the train was moving to the music!
