Ralph Curcio slides
Scope and Contents
Many of the photographs in this collection were taken on fan trips, including some special commemorative rides such as the last ride on the Jamaica Elevated (Sept. 11, 1977), the last Redbird trip on the Flushing IRT (Nov. 3, 2003), and the Subway Centennial (2004). Curcio also photographed the New York Transit Exhibit shortly after it opened to the public, and made detailed photos of cars in the museum fleet. Curcio’s photographs also show many stations that have since been demolished (such as those on the Jamaica Elevated line) or extensively rehabilitated (Stillwell Avenue).
Not content to just document the subway, this collection also contains over 500 photographs of commuter rail, including an impressive roster of Metro-North locomotives, particularly those on the New Haven line.
Dates
- 1976 - 2006
- Majority of material found within 1976 - 1980
- Majority of material found within 1995 - 2005
Conditions Governing Access
Access to the collection is at the discretion of the archivist.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright maintained by the New York Transit Museum.
Biographical / Historical
Born in Queens in 1949, Ralph Curcio became interested in railroads early on, when he glimpsed a LIRR train steaming by him. His interest was fueled further by his daily commute to Stuyvesant High School (on a BMT Standard). Besides railroading, Curcio enjoyed classic rock ‘n’ roll, and had a large record collection.
Curcio’s photographs show a love for detail and an understanding of composition that any rail fan can appreciate.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (Approximately 2561 photographs)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Ralph Curcio (1949-2012) was an employee of the Times of Trenton for over 40 years, taking on many roles as his career progressed. He had a lifelong love of trains and trolley cars, and often spent his vacations photographing them. This collection is approximately 2561 chromes of New York City Subway revenue and work cars, stations, and yards. Also included are photographs of many fan trips on vintage rolling stock, and LIRR and Metro-North commuter rail.
System of Arrangement
Because of the nature of fan trips, which often operate rolling stock on tracks they might not have run on originally, or with line designations that do not coincide with current line designations, this collection is arranged into six series:
Series I: Fan Trips/Special Events 2016.12.1.
This series contains photographs of non-current (at the time of photograph) rolling stock taken on fan trips and special events between the years 1976-2006.
Series II: IRT 2016.12.2
Series III: BMT 2016.12.3
Series IV: IND 2016.12.4
These three series contain photographs of then-current rolling stock operating on their regular routes. Each series is subdivided into route designations.
Series V: Yards/Shops 2016.12.5
Series VI: Work Cars 2016.12.6
These two series contain photographs of yards, shops, and work cars.
Series VII: Commuter Rail 2016.12.7
This series contains photographs of the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North commuter rail systems.
Individual slides were arranged by date using the handwritten or stamped dates on the slide mounts. In the absence of handwritten or stamped dates, the date of processing embossed on the slide mount was used to determine the month and year photographs were taken. Slides were sequenced in numerical order (as written or embossed on slide mounts) when possible.
Other Finding Aids
PDF URL
Provenance
Gift of Daniel G. McFadden.
After the death of Mr. Curcio in 2012, longtime friend and frequent excursion partner Daniel McFadden became caretaker of his extensive photographic archive.
- Commuter railroads
- Locomotives
- Locomotives--North America--History.
- Locomotives--Pictorial works.
- Railroad stations--New York (State)
- Railroad stations--New York (State)--Long Island.
- Railroad stations—Connecticut
- Subways--New York (State)--New York--Pictorial works.
- Subways—Rolling Stock—New York (State)—New York
- Title
- Finding aid for the Ralph Curcio slides
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Jodi Shapiro, Collections Researcher
- Date
- Ca. 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Revision Statements
- 2022: Edited and reformatted by Elise Winks
- 2023: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Joanna Satalof
Repository Details
Part of the Archives and Reading Room Repository