TV program on manufacturing subway cars for New York City

Christopher lets us know that those of us with cable or satellite television can watch the National Geographic Channel tonight and see a program from the Ultimate Factories series on subway car manufacturing. See "Behind the Scenes: Subway manufacturing" from the New York City blog "Second Avenue Sagas."

Of course, that means not going to either a presentation on Washington regional planning or on DC area cultural heritage, tourism, and interpretation.

From the TV show website:

Join us as we follow the creation of the car that moves millions. The R-160 Subway car is the newest member of the New York City Transit fleet -- bringing 21st Century safety and technological innovations to a mass transit system over 100 years old. These innovations include LCD screen maps, a passenger emergency intercom system, soundproofing and a braking system that actually generates electricity and returns power to the third rail. It starts as sheets of metal in Sao Paulo, Brazil where human skill, fire, and steel come together to build the body shell. After a month-long voyage, the body arrives in Hornell, NY for final assembly, motor installation, and testing. Once assembled the R-160 weighs nearly 85,000 lbs and contains 24 miles of wiring. This car is built to last 40 years, to withstand the force of 1.6 billion riders per year, and survive in one of the worlds toughest environments New York City.

-- Read more
-- New York Times review of the episode, "New Cars for the Subway, Old Ones for the Deep