Deep Dive: The R46s and the Museum, 1976 – 2026

Event Date Thursday, August 27, 2026
Time: 6pm-7:30pm ET
New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn
$15 General Public / $10 Members

Tickets

Bicentennial Train car in the museum in 1976

Image: New York City Transit Exhibit, New York Transit Museum Collection

On July 4, 1976, the New York City Transit Exhibition opened at Court Street Station with a pair of brand-new R46 cars on its platform, dressed in bicentennial stars and stripes. Fifty years later, the Museum is celebrating its milestone anniversary with special programming, including Ode to the Orange Seats, an exhibit honoring the retirement of the R46s and their now-iconic orange and yellow bucket seats.

Join transit historian Andy Sparberg, author of From a Nickel to a Token: the Journey From Board of Transportation to MTA, for a look back at the history of the R46 fleet, the Museum’s founding, and New York City Transit’s challenges in the 1970s

Additional Information and Policies

Member Discounts

To receive the member ticket price, click the register button and sign in on the ticketing page to verify membership. The discount will appear at checkout.

All Ticket Sales are Final

If you cannot attend the program on the date you reserved or do not submit security materials in time, the total price of unused tickets will be treated as a donation to the Transit Museum and is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another date.

Age Requirements 

Children ages 2 and over must have their own ticket.

Children ages 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.  

Program Experience

The Museum is located in a decommissioned subway station.

When you arrive, look for a subway station entrance on the Northwest corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street—that’s us! The stairway will lead you down to the Museum.
There is Wi-Fi, but no cell phone service in the Museum. If you plan to visit with others, we recommend coordinating in advance and entering together.
The Museum does not have a bag or coat check. Please do not bring large bags to the Museum to allow more space for visitors in exhibits.
While the main program space and a few of our exhibits on the mezzanine have air conditioning and heat, a majority of the Museum (including the entire platform level with our historic trains), does not have climate control.
Eating is not allowed anywhere in the Museum.

Accessibility

Pets, or comfort, therapy, or emotional support animals are not permitted at Museum programs. Only service animals as defined by the ADA are permitted.

The Museum is located down a set of stairs. It’s wheelchair-accessible entrance is located at the corner of Schermerhorn and Court Streets. For the best service, we recommend emailing before your visit.

For information on American Sign Language interpreter requests, Assistive Listening Devices, or other accessibility matters please visit nytransitmuseum.org/accessibility or email [email protected]. If you secure tickets, please request any accommodations via email at least two weeks in advance.

More Policies

Please click here to learn more about this program and its policies.

Questions? Email [email protected].