New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other dignitaries Wednesday marked the centennial of the city's subway system by riding a vintage train along the maiden route, from the old City Hall station to Grand Central Terminal.

After a ceremony above ground, officials descended into the elaborate station beneath City Hall, which closed in 1945 because it could not accommodate modern trains, and rumbled uptown. As then Mayor George McClellan did for the first trip on Oct. 27, 1904, Bloomberg took the controls of the 1917 train, which was painstakingly restored, completed with ceiling fans, leather straps, rattan seats and old ads.

"I did see a couple of grimaces when the horn went off, but most people had big smiles on their faces and were waving and pointing, "the mayor said. Vintage trains will be making regular stops on routes throughout the city for the rest of the week to celebrate the subway system's 100th birthday.

"I think the subway is a part of New York," said Peter Kalikow, chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). "I think it's what makes New York, a 24-hour/7-day subway, and we're a 24-hour/7-day city. So everything kind of goes together."

The Postal Service is also celebrating the city's subway system. On Wednesday officials unveiled four commemorative prints in hono rof the anniversary. In addition, all mail sent from the New York City, Brooklyn and Queens processing centers will have the special100th anniversary postmark for the day.

New Yorkers can also buy four vintage subway maps that show how the system has developed over the years.

The first subway line was just over nine miles long and had only 28 stations, stretching from City Hall to 145th Street. Its slogan back then was "City Hall to Harlem in 15 minutes." It only cost a nickel.

The impact was felt immediately throughout the city. The subway system now includes 25 different lines serving 468 stations with 230 miles of track.

But some observers noted that the centennial comes at an inauspicious time. The MTA is in a financial crisis, and transit officials are talking about the possibility of having to raise fares in each of the next three years.

Source: Xinhua