New York City modernized its subway by starting its first unmanned trains.
On this day, January 4th, in 1962, the first automated, driverless subway cars officially began carrying passengers between Times Square and Grand Central station. The short route was chosen because it would least impact the other train services. The train was not completely driverless – in deference to the Train Workers’ Union, a representative was on board at the controls, in case anything went wrong.