It’s safe to say that average New Yorkers ride the subway at peak morning and late afternoon rush hours, on their way to and from work. The slog might be long and tiring—multiple transfers, overcrowding, cars that become miserably hot or cold—but when they emerge, the night, or morning, will still be young. But what about the hardy bunch riding the train at untraditional hours? Why are they aboard when others are asleep?

137th Street is one of 10 stops in Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood along the 1 line. (Photo by Joshua Tapper)

Four Uptowner reporters hit the platforms in the wee hours of a recent Friday night to find out. They rode the uptown 1 train between 125th Street and 215th Street from 1:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.

Click on the following subway stops – 125th, 137th, 145th, 157th, 168th, 181st, 191st – to see who was riding the late-night rails. Then, click on the tabs below to hear what they had to say.

Hear Eric and Xavier Perez at 125th Street

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Hear the Guardian Angels at 137th Street

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Hear Will and Alison at 145th Street

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Hear K at 191st Street

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Text by Joshua Tapper

Graphics by Sarah Butrymowicz

Audio and Photos by Joshua Tapper, Sarah Butrymowicz, Shane Show and Lisa Waananen