“The I.R.T. #1 line was not just the first subway line to be built, but it was the first subway line to experience graffiti. The I.R.T. #1 line begins its service in The Bronx. After only three stops in the Bronx it crosses the Harlem River and travels through Washington Heights, an ethnically diverse neighborhood on the northern most tip of Manhattan. From there, the line heads south through Harlem and continues underneath Broadway and 7th Avenues, through the length of Manhattan, ending at South Ferry on the southern most tip of Manhattan. Until the end of the New York City subway writing culture, the #1 line, known affectionately among writers as “Broadway”, remained a special target.” excerpt: Steel Wheels 1986 - 1997
feature photo: Photo by Henry Chalfant, detail from an end to end by Skeme Dez and Mean 3. “Back on Broadway” suggests that Skeme had been painting other lines, perhaps The Lexington Ave. Line (#4, 5 and 6) and came back to Broadway to burn.
post photo: Photo By Steve Zabel (nycsubway.org) Feb2, 1982. Car# 5935 posts up at 125th Street Station which later became a popular writers bench in later years. This R-14 class car was nicknamed “the helmet tops” by writers. Graffiti was cleaned from the #1 line in 1987.
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