Announcing —
Second Avenue Subway: Building New York City’s Most Famous Thing Never Built
A new book capturing the inside story of NYC’s newest subway line
Big Dig Productions has officially released Second Avenue Subway: Building New York City’s Most Famous Thing Never Built — a remarkable 350-page hardcover book that chronicles the triumphs, setbacks, personalities, and engineering breakthroughs behind one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in New York City’s history.
For decades, the Second Avenue Subway was the subject of jokes, broken political promises, and endlessly shifting timelines. But in 2017, Phase 1 finally opened to the public, transforming mobility on Manhattan’s East Side.
This new book offers the most comprehensive visual and narrative account created to date — and The Launch Box Blog is thrilled to share its arrival.
BUY THE BOOK
A Collaboration of Infrastructure Storytellers, Engineers, and Historians
The book is the product of a team deeply familiar with megaprojects and the people who build them:
Dan McNichol — Author
A bestselling writer and infrastructure advocate, Dan McNichol has dedicated his career to telling the stories behind America’s most complex public-works projects. With past titles such as The Roads That Built America and The Big Dig, McNichol brings unmatched historical insight and storytelling skill to the Second Avenue Subway narrative.
Bill Goodrich — Co-Author
Bill Goodrich brings an insider’s perspective few can match. A former senior executive at New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Goodrich had direct involvement with the Second Avenue Subway construction program. His experience grounds the book in technical accuracy and firsthand understanding of the decisions, challenges, and people at the heart of the project.
Patrick Cashin — Photographer
MTA photographer Patrick Cashin contributes more than 250 photographs — most of them never before published. Cashin has spent years documenting New York’s transit system from the tunnels to the boardrooms. His images offer intimate access to the construction sites, machinery, crews, and the massive underground spaces that most New Yorkers never get to see.
A Deep Dive Beneath Manhattan
The book blends engineering details, political context, community history, and construction logistics. Readers will find:
- Behind-the-scenes images of blasting caverns below the Upper East Side
- Technical explanations of tunnel boring, station excavation, and structural design
- Profiles of the crews, engineers, and city officials who brought the project to life
- Reflections on the future phases of the Second Avenue Subway
- A visual and historical record of a rare modern megaproject completed in America
Printed as a 10"×10" hardcover and weighing over 4.5 pounds, the book is as substantial as its subject.
To buy the book
Purchase directly from the publisher Big Dig Productions
or
