New York's Air-Powered Subway

[00:00:00]Before New York City had the subway, everyone knows it had this.

[00:00:05]A passenger car inside a tube moved by air pressure.

[00:00:10]In 1870, Alfred Ely Beach built a short pneumatic railway under Broadway.

[00:00:16]Not a full subway system.

[00:00:18]One block, roughly 90 m.

[00:00:21]A huge blower pushed air through the tunnel, moving the car along the track.

[00:00:26]Reverse the air flow and the car came back.

[00:00:30]The station had mirrors, a fountain, and an upholstered passenger car.

[00:00:35]For one beautiful moment, New York's transit future looked like a bank tube big enough for people.

[00:00:41]The public liked it. More than 11,000 rides in its first 2 weeks.

[00:00:47]But the line never expanded.

[00:00:50]By 1873, the experiment was finished.

[00:00:54]Electric subways eventually won.

[00:00:57]Which feels unfair because giant fan train under Broadway is exactly the kind of nonsense cities should be legally required to preserve.