Photos and text by Sheryl Williams
Snaking through the tunnels of Manhattan, offering views of the skyline from the Manhattan Bridge and rambling through Brooklyn, the Q train travels through the exuberant life of many neighborhoods, providing a moving tableau of the diversity of New York City.
Among the areas served by the Q line are the Upper East Side, midtown Manhattan, Union Square and SoHo, downtown Brooklyn, Flatbush, Ditmas Park, Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach and Coney Island.
At each station, riders can stop to see changing demographics, preserved and overlooked history and colorful communities.
Since debuting in 1924, the Q line has undergone many changes, which continue today. Three new stations opened along Second Avenue on the Upper East Side on Jan. 1, 2017.
More funding is needed for a second phase of expansion that would extend service to 125th Street at an estimated cost of $6 billion.
Experience a trip on the Q train with this interactive map (hover mouse over map):