New Year's sign part off to Times Square

[Trainspotter]

New Year's sign part off to Times Square

New York Daily News

Friday, December 14th 2007, 4:00 AM

 

The 8 for the New Years celebration in Times Square rode the 6 and R trains from the Bronx.

 

The number 8 on the No. 6?

 

Puzzled straphangers did a series of double takes yesterday when they spotted a 500-pound, 7-foot-tall metallic number 8 on the downtown 6 train.

 

"It's a riot!" gushed upper East Sider Aliza Kaplan, 46, as she stood gawking on the platform at 59th St.

 

"It's so New York. It's so excellent that it's going on a train."

 

The number, which will complete the "2008" illuminated New Year's sign in Times Square, was shuttled from Landmark Signs in the Bronx to midtown via the 6 and R trains.

 

Ilya Katz was headed to work in midtown on the crowded R when Landmark workers packed the larger-than-life, 180-bulb numeral into his train car alongside commuters.

 

"It's not every day you ride with an 8," said the 30-year-old from Rego Park, Queens. "It's going to be the first thing I mention when I get to work."

 

The numeral and its counterparts are outfitted with halogen energy-saver bulbs and will be on display at the Times Square Information Center through Wednesday.

 

"It's exciting," said Karl Kowalzik, 56, Landmark's project manager, who helped maneuver the numeral in and out of the trains.

 

"Who else could say they've taken a No. 8 for New Year's on the subway? It's a first."

[R1Toasty]

I bet that was (6x)

[DOB2RTO]

I guess they didn't do this during the rush hour. It would of been bad but still yet funny if the C/R were to close the doors on the sign, breaking some of the bulbs, or snapping it in half.

 

As Nelson from the Simpsons would say. "Ha-Ha".