The public used to be able to ride the Congressional subway "trains" unless there was a vote in progress in either house. It was a great way to get to see members casually. Sometimes you might even be able to share a compartment on one of the cars with them if they didn't have staff along. Now it's getting to the point that they have to be afraid of the next person who walks up to them to shake hands.

Other relics not included in the post include the below grade street car loop at the Bureau of Engraving, and the cable wheel in a vault under Pennsylvania Avenue.

Wesley

Here is an interesting 1915 photo of the subway:

http://www.shorpy.com/node/7344

One of the cars has been preserved:

http://www.clouse.org/capitol1.html

I believe the preserved car has a GE K-type controller.

Back in 2003, I was a summer intern for a Senator. Overall, it was a good expierence. I took the subway quite a bit from the main office in the Russell Senate Office Building to the Capitol.

Members are the only ones allowed to sit in the extreme front or back. Some members would motion to allow staffers to ride up front, if it was busy, others would not. Overall an interesting summer.