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Mego 1974-1977

Star Trek 1974-1977

Mego released their Star Trek action figure line in 1974, and ran until 1977. The line consisted of three separate waves with 14 total action figures. Playsets of the USS Enterprise and Mission to Gamma VI were also released for the series, along with several accessories. The Star Trek line was incredibly successful for Mego, and turned out to be one of their best selling lines of the 1970’s.

For more information about Mego’s Star Trek Original Series products, see bottom of page for a complete summary.

Star Trek (1974 -1977): Series 1 Basic Figures

Mego initially released five brand new figures for their first series of Star Trek characters in 1974. Lt. Uhura was added to the Series 1 roster in early 1975. All Series 1 figures were re-released each year that Mego produced Star Trek toys .

Market Value: Carded $100 – $140 Loose $20 – $35

Capt. Kirk Accessories: Cloth Shirt w/ Emblem, Pants, Belt, Phaser, Communicator Years Released: 1974 – 1977 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: Captain Kirk is a true pop culture icon, famously portrayed by William Shatner in the television show and movies. The action figure of Kirk is a staple that every Mego collector in the world should most definitely own. The head sculpt for the figure is pretty spot-on, as it actually resembles Shatner. Like the other crew members, Kirk’s boots are painted on and not removable. The original issue of Kirk has a card with the original five character portraits on it, and white logo lettering. When Uhura was added to Series 1 in early 1975, the card was changed to match, with the Uhura portrait being added and the Star Trek logo lettering changing to blue.

Dr. McCoy (Bones)

Market Value: Carded $135 – $200 Loose $30 – $45

Dr. McCoy (Bones) Accessories: Cloth Shirt w/ Emblem, Pants, Belt, Phaser, Communicator, Tricorder Years Released: 1974 – 1977 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: Dr. McCoy or Bones was famously portrayed by DeForest Kelley in the television show and movies. The head sculpt for the figure is pretty spot-on, as it really captures the likeness of Kelley. Like the other crew members, Dr. McCoy’s boots are painted and not removable. The original issue of McCoy has a card with the original five character portraits on it, and white logo lettering. When Uhura was added to Series 1 in early 1975, the card was changed to match, with the Uhura portrait being added and the Star Trek logo lettering changing to blue.

Market Value: Carded $60 – $100 Loose $20 – $35

Klingon Accessories: Cloth Tunic, Pants, Boots, Belt, Phaser, Communicator Years Released: 1974 – 1977 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: The Klingon figure was actually based off the Captain Koloth character from the classic television show. The Klingons, of course, changed their entire appearance for the future movies and beyond. The head sculpt for the figure is quite nice with the outfit also being fairly accurate. Unlike the Enterprise crew members, The Klingon has actual boots instead of being painted on. The original issue of Klingon has the card with the original five character portraits on it, and white logo lettering. When Uhura was added to Series 1 in early 1975, the card was changed to match, with the Uhura portrait being added and the Star Trek logo lettering changing to blue.

Market Value: Carded $100 – $150 Loose $30 – $45

Lt. Uhura Accessories: Cloth Dress w/ Emblem, Tights, Boots, Tricorder Years Released: 1975 – 1976 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: Lt. Uhura was famously portrayed by Nichelle Nichols in the television show and movies. The head sculpt for the figure is not bad, but nowhere the accuracy of the others. Unlike the crew members, Lt. Uhura has removable boots instead of being painted on. Female characters were not very in demand from the target audience for these figures, so kudos to Mego for even producing Uhura at all. Uhura was not available with the initial release of the first five figures but was added late to the series in late 1974, thus she was never available on the five character portraits card with the white logo lettering.

Mr. Scott (Scottie)

Market Value: Carded $175 – $250 Loose $40 – $60

Mr. Scott (Scottie) Accessories: Cloth Shirt w/ Emblem, Pants, Belt, Phaser, Communicator Years Released: 1974 – 1977 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: Mr. Scott or Scottie was famously portrayed by James Doohan in the television show and movies. The head sculpt for the figure is pretty good, but it is definitely more like the animated Scottie than the live action show. Like the other crew members, Mr. Scott’s boots are painted on and not removable. The original issue of Mr. Scott has the card with the original five character portraits on it, and white logo lettering. When Uhura was added to Series 1 in early 1975, the card was changed to match, with the Uhura portrait being added and the Star Trek logo lettering changing to blue.

Market Value: Carded $100 – $150 Loose $20 – $35

Mr. Spock Accessories: Cloth Shirt w/ Emblem, Pants, Belt, Phaser, Communicator, Tricorder Years Released: 1974 – 1977 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: Mr. Spock is a true pop culture icon, famously portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the television show and movies. The action figure of Spock is a staple that every Mego collector in the world should most definitely own. The head sculpt for the figure is pretty spot-on, as it really resembles Nimoy. Like the other crew members, Spock’s boots are painted on and not removable. The original issue of Spock has the card with the original five character portraits on it, and white logo lettering. When Uhura was added to Series 1 in early 1975, the card was changed to match, with the Uhura portrait being added and the Star Trek logo lettering changing to blue.

Star Trek (1975 ): Series 2 Basic Aliens Figures

After massive success with the first series of Star Trek figure, a 2nd series was released the following year in 1975, that contained four more new figures. All figures were Aliens from the classic television show .

Market Value: Carded $200 – $275 Loose $70 – $95

Cheron Accessories: Cloth Jumpsuit, Black Boot, White Boot Years Released: 1975 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: Of the four figures in this series, Cheron is the most true to the actual character from the television show. The Cheron figure is based on the character portrayed by Frank Gorshin on the show. The split colors actually make for a pretty cool look for the figure. It should be noted that the white half of the suit has a tendency to look awful on loose figures due to a natural staining.

Market Value: Carded $225 – $300 Loose $75 – $100

Gorn (The) Accessories: Cloth Tunic, Pants, Boots, Belt, Phaser, Communicator Years Released: 1975 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: The Gorn was a case where Mego seriously dropped the ball. He was one of the most iconic Aliens from the Star Trek television show, but Mego used a re-painted head from the Lizard figure and the same outfit as the Klingon, complete with weapons belt, phaser and communicator. This figure does not resemble the classic character from the show at all, not even in the least bit, which was a rare miss for Mego.

Keeper (The)

Market Value: Carded $185 – $235 Loose $65 – $90

Keeper (The) Accessories: Cloth Robe Years Released: 1975 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: The Keeper is another weird choice for Mego because the figure is kind of a combo of two different characters. The actual Keeper name was used as a title for the Talosian character in the Pilot episode, the Cage, but the appearance is modeled after a character that appeared on the screen from the Corbomite Maneuver episode. This figure literally came with one accessory, his robe.

Market Value: Carded $300 – $400 Loose $85 – $115

Neptunian Accessories: Cloth Jumpsuit, Webbed Boots, Webbed Gloves Years Released: 1975 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: Neptunian is a bit of an anomaly because the character never actually appeared in either the classic or animated Star Trek shows, but it is a beautiful figure. The boots and gloves are solely unique to this figure and had never been used before. Also the head sculpt is really well done for an original figure.

Star Trek (1976): Series 3 Basic Aliens Figures

After great success with the first wave of Alien action figures released in 1975, Mego decided to released a 2nd wave of Aliens for their Series 3 of the Star Trek line. These figures were all based on characters from the classic television show .

Market Value: Carded $1,000 – $1,500 Loose $200 – $300

Andorian Accessories: Cloth Bodysuit, Vest, Belt, Boots, Gloves Years Released: 1976 Scarcity Factor: This is somewhat rare and does not come up for sale very often Notes: Like the Romulan, the Andorian figure really captures the actual character from the show with a truly beautiful head sculpt, probably among the nicest that Mego had done for this line. The Andorian comes with a Super Knights like bodysuit and a brown vest with belt to complete the outfit. Like the other figures in this series, it is a very rare piece and considered bit of Holy Grail item for Star Trek Mego collectors.

Market Value: Carded $500 – $750 Loose $150 – $250

Mugato Accessories: Cloth Shirt, Pants, Belt Years Released: 1976 Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market Notes: The Mugato was actually a creature featured in one of the classic Star Trek television episodes, but he was a beast from the wilds, and certainly not wearing any kind of clothes. The head sculpt actually does resemble the creature itself. There is a color variation to Mugato’s shirt with it being either a darker or light green. Like the other figures in this series, it is a very rare piece and hard to find.

Market Value: Carded $1.200 – $1,700 Loose $400 – $500

Romulan Accessories: Cloth Bodysuit, Boots, Helmet, Belt, Phaser, Communicator Years Released: 1976 Scarcity Factor: This is somewhat rare and does not come up for sale very often Notes: The Romulan figure is largely considered among the holy grail items from Mego’s Star Trek line. The figure is based off the Romulan Commander character in the show portrayed by Mark Lenard with a really great head sculpt. This is a very attractive figure with a unique Super Knights looking bodysuit but what really stands out is that beautiful helmet! Like the other figures in this series, it is a very rare piece and hard to find.

Market Value: Carded $500 – $750 Loose $175 – $225

Talos Accessories: Cloth Jumpsuit, Belt, Boots Years Released: 1976 Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market Notes: Here is the other part of the Keeper figure, because this character should’ve actually been named the Keeper because that is what he was called in the episode. Instead Mego elected to call him Talos due to the planet he was from, but technically, it should’ve been Talosian. Still, the head sculpt is quite nice and this is a very rare figure for Star Trek and Mego collectors.

Star Trek (1974-1977): Accessories

There were several accessories released by Mego for their Star Trek line, but none were specifically made for the action figure series. Mego took advantage of their Star Trek toy license by producing several different types of products for their line .

Communicators

Market Value: Boxed $175 – $250 Loose $40 – $65

Communicators Accessories: Walkie Talkies x 2 w/ Flip Cover and Antenna Years Released: 1974 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: The Communicators set was the first accessory released by Mego for their Star Trek line in 1974. They were actual working walkie talkies that ran off 9V batteries. These were really great looking pieces and Mego did an excellent job of making them look like actual Communicators.

Command Communications Console

Market Value: Boxed $200 – $300 Loose $50 – $100

Command Communications Console Accessories: Communication Console w/ Light up Screen Years Released: 1977 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: The Command Communications Console actually worked in conjunction with the Communicators and would act as sort of a base station for communicating with them. Once again, Mego did a really great job of making the console look as if it belongs in the Star Trek universe.

Super Phaser II Target Game

Market Value: Boxed $60 – $85 Loose $20 – $35

Super Phaser II Target Game Accessories: Phaser, Target w/ Reflector Years Released: 1976 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: The Super Phaser II Target Game was basically Laser Tag before Laser Tag was Laser Tag. The premise was simple enough. It required you to set up the target, which was a portrait of a Klingon ship with a red reflector on it. Then, you would shoot the phaser at the reflector to register hits. It was a simple but fun game.

Telescreen Console

Market Value: Boxed $425 – $500 Loose $150 – $225

Telescreen Console Accessories: Game Screen and Console, Figure Chair Years Released: 1977 Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market Notes: The Telescreen Console was essentially a 1970’s style shooter game that was so primitive, it didn’t even keep score. The really cool thing about this set was it acted as part game and part playset due to the Console resembling a Enterprise Bridge computer with one of the chairs attached to it.

Market Value: Boxed $250 – $350 Loose $90 – $120

Tricorder Accessories: Tape Recorder w/ Flip Feature, Strap Years Released: 1976 Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market Notes: Since Mego had already released the Communicators, it only made sense that a Tricorder would be made. This was an actual tape player/recorder that was made to look like a Tricorder, complete with flip-out screen and all. Overall, this was a pretty cool thing to have strapped around your chest, just like the crew of the Enterprise.

Market Value: Boxed $500 – $700 Loose $200 – $250

Trekulator Accessories: Calculator Years Released: 1976 Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market Notes: Who wouldn’t want a Star Trek Calculator back in 1976? I never knew about this back in the day, but if I had, I would’ve been bugging my mom to get me one. The calculator was designed to look like a science officer type computer that Spock might use on the show. It’s actually a tough item to find in boxed condition.

Star Trek (1974-1977): Playsets

Mego released two large scale playsets for their 8″ Star Trek line, with the U.S.S. Enterprise and Mission to Gamma VI playsets. A gift set version of the U.S.S. Enterprise was also released, along with a UK released Transporter Room accessory .

U.S.S . Enterprise Action Playset

Market Value: Boxed $200 – $300 Loose $50 – $75

U.S.S . Enterprise Action Playset Accessories: Plastic Fold-Out Playset, Captain’s Chair, Navigational Console, Stools x 2, Spinning Transporter Years Released: 1974, 1975, 1976 Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but it’s getting tougher each year Notes: The U.S.S Enterprise Action playset was the first released for the Star Trek line in 1974, and would go on to become one of most iconic large scale playsets that Mego ever created for their 8 Inch figures. The playset itself was not incredibly accurate to the actual bridge from the Enterprise, but it definitely captured the spirit of it, and it was just plain fun. It included a computer console with two crew member stools and of course, a captain’s chair. The coolest part of the playset was hands-down, the transporter room. A figure would be placed inside the transporter, and then you would spin it by using the buttons on top of it, then you mash the stop button and the figure would disappear…..….or at least be on the other side of the transporter. This set sold extremely well and usually can be found on the secondary market for a reasonable price.

U.S.S . Enterprise Action Gift Set

Market Value: Boxed $1,000 – $1,500 Loose $125 – $200

U.S.S. Enterprise Action Gift Set Accessories: Plastic Fold-Out Playset, Captain’s Chair, Navigational Console, Stools x 2, Spinning Transporter, Figures x 5 – Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Mr. Scott, Klingon Years Released: 1977 Scarcity Factor: This is somewhat rare and does not come up for sale very often Notes: The U.S.S Enterprise Action playset sold so well, that Mego decided to bundle it with the remaining overstock of Series 1 figures (minus Uhura) and release it as the U.S.S. Enterprise Action Gift Set in 1977. It was essentially the same exact playset as the basic release, just with the figures added. The figures themselves came inside individual clear bags and again, were the exact same ones as the basic issue. This means that the only way you could prove that you own an Enterprise Gift Set is to have a boxed version with the bagged figures inside because a loose version would be the same as the regular release. That being said, this is an extremely rare piece from the Star Trek line and can command BIG dollars on the secondary market if you are even able to locate one in box.

Mission To Gamma VI Playset

Market Value: Boxed $1,200 – $1,500 Loose $600 – $750

Mission To Gamma VI Playset Accessories: Plastic Playset, Stairs, Trap Door, Cloth Glove, Trap Plant, Cardboard Floor and Cavern Pieces, Aliens x 4 Years Released: 1976 Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market Notes: The Mission to Gamma VI playset was partially based on the Star Trek episode, “The Apple”. In that episode, there is a serpent looking head with glowing eyes and yes, there are man-eating plants and a subterranean cavern system too, so that was definitely the basis for this playset. All the décor and other features were all inspired from that as well. The miniature aliens were a new addition though because they never appeared in the episode. All of that being said, this is a strange playset for the 8 Inch figures. There is a rumor that a 3.75 Inch Star Trek line was planned and this playset was part of that, but the figures never actually made it to market and the playset was converted to the 8 Inch figures. I’m, not sure if that is true or not, but it does actually explain quite a bit. This is a tough find on the secondary market and can command top dollar if you can find a boxed version.

Transporter Room

Market Value: Boxed $600 – $800 Loose $100 – $150

Transporter Room Accessories: Spinning Transporter Years Released: 1976 Scarcity Factor: This is somewhat rare and does not come up for sale very often Notes: The USS Enterprise Playset was extremely popular and sold very well everywhere. The coolest thing about the playset, without a doubt, was the spinning Transporter Room. This got the attention of the Mego foreign brand company, Palitoy, who was their toy distributor in the UK and Canada. Palitoy took this super popular feature from the Enterprise and made it into a solo accessory simply called, The Transporter Room. It was basically the same spinning transporter from the bigger playset, except now it was by itself with no other pieces. The foreign released Transporter was also made famous by a 2012 episode of the Big Bang Theory, when Sheldon Cooper got one as a Christmas gift from Penny. I’m not sure how much Penny paid for the one she got, but these things are pretty rare and can fetch top dollar on the secondary market.

Star Trek (1974-1977): Vehicles

No actual vehicles were released for the Star Trek 8 Inch line during its run. A Vulcan Explorer motorized vehicle was actually proposed, but sadly never made it to market .

By 1974, Mego Toys was quickly becoming a global name in the toy industry. With the World’s Greatest Heroes line already proving to be a huge success, Mego turned their sights on other licenses from the the big and small screens with Planet of the Apes and now Star Trek, which were both released in 1974. The original Star Trek television series ran from 1966 to 1969 and spanned 79 episodes. In late 1969, Star Trek began running old episodes in syndication in over 200 markets, which sparked a revival of interest in the show from old and new fans alike. This renewed interest took off like wildfire and even spawned the first ever Star Trek Convention in June of 1972. Star Trek became so big, the original actors returned to voice their characters in the Animated Series from 1973 to 1974. Paramount’s strategy to syndicate Star Trek was paying off big time and the country was thrust into Trekkie mania. Mego took notice of this and quickly signed a licensing deal for a Star Trek toy line, for an extremely reasonable price. Mego had high hopes for the line from the very beginning, and put a lot of attention to detail into Star Trek, which really showed with the first series of figures and accessories released in 1974. Since Star Trek Mania was at a fevered pitch, the Star Trek action figure line turned out to be one of the biggest selling lines that Mego ever produced. It did well enough that a second and even third series of figures were released in following years. Star Trek Merchandise exploded into every retail store in the country, and even across the world, but none of them ever achieved the success that Mego did with their iconic toy line.

During its four year run, Mego gave us some truly iconic and classic figures and accessories for the Star Trek line from 1974-1977. In total, Mego released 14 different figures across three waves during its run, along with some great accessories and playsets. The first series initially contained five figures that included Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Mr. Scott, and the Klingon. Lt. Uhura was added to the Series 1 lineup late, but she is still considered part of Series 1. The fact that Mego chose to release a female character (that traditionally did not sell as well to the target audience) over more well known characters, such as Sulu or Chekov was a bold but progressive move for Mego. Also released as part of Series 1 was the U.S.S Enterprise Playset and the Communicators set. The figures proved to be so popular that a second series was released in 1975, which was added four new Aliens characters to the set. Included in Series 2 were Cheron, The Keeper, Neptunian, and The Gorn. Four additional Alien characters were released in Series 3, which contained Talos, Mugato, Andorian and The Romulan. The last series of Aliens were released late, and are among the hardest to find Mego figures ever produced. Several other accessories and playsets were also released during Mego’s Star Trek action figure run, such as the Tricorder, Super Phaser II Target Game, Command Communications Console, and the Mission to Gamma VI playset. These all made for a lot of great fun, playing with the Star Trek action figure line, and remains beloved by that generation of children, myself included.

The packaging for the basic assortment of the Star Trek figures were colorful and extremely eye catching with beautiful artwork, which would remain a staple with Mego’s figure packaging. The Series 1 packaging in 1974 had each figure on a standard carded blister pack with the figure to the right side and a small beautifully drawn portrait of each character in the series to the left. The classic Star Trek logo was at the top of the left side of the card with each character’s name just above the blister bubble. The color of the character’s lettering varies, depending on which wave it was released in. Beginning in 1975 with Series 2, Mego changed the look of the cards to reflect the new Alien figures that were released in series 2 and 3. The Aliens cards featured a nice looking planet surface landscape with two planets or moons above it. Also, the word “Aliens” is placed below the Star Trek logo in huge yellow letters. All alien figures featured the same card as well with only the backs slightly different from Series 2 to series 3. All in all, the regular issue and Alien issue packaging was very attractive for the figures and even the sets and accessories were nice looking. Mego really did a good job with the Star Trek line and it paid off big time for them.

Series 1 Card Back

Gold Key Comics # 1

Series 3 Card Back

Star Trek: The Animated Series

Mego Back to School Ad

1st International Star Trek Convention

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• Bridge Crew
• Alien Series 1
• Aliens Series 2
• Other Trek Toys
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture
• Accessory Check
• CREW SERIES
• Captain Kirk
• CLOSE MENU •
• ALIENS SERIES 1
• ALIENS SERIES 2
• Enterprise Gift Set
• Mission to Gamma VI
• Telescreen Console
• Transporter Room
• Command Console
• Communicators
• Phaser Game
• STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE
• 12 Inch Figures
• 3 3/4 Inch Figures
• 3 3/4 Prototype

          It is not known for certain exactly why this UK Transporter substitution was felt necessary by Palitoy, but the following theory has been put forth: It is possible that this was a shipping cost-saving measure.  The vinyl housing of the Enterprise was manufactured in the United States, but the plastic accessories--including the Transporter Unit--were made in Hong Kong.  Assuming that Palitoy would have had to assemble any Enterprise Playsets themselves once all of the components arrived in the UK, the economical aspect of this choice becomes clear.  Palitoy avoided the exorbitant manufacturing and freight costs altogether by instead focusing on what was arguably the coolest part of the playset--the Transporter Room--and just released that.

          * In a further example of Palitoy economy, there is no instruction sheet included with the toy.  The operating directions are, instead, printed on the outside of the box.

          * Like its cousins, the French and Canadian Enterprise Playset s, the stylized "Transporter Effect" stickers were not included as six separate strips that had to be applied onto the toy by the child.  Instead, two large labels--one on each side of the tumbler--were applied as part of the manufacturing process.

          * The only other thing contained within the box besides the Transporter itself is a square cardboard "spacer" which sits at the bottom of the package underneath the Transporter.  This is worth mentioning because it is often missing.

          * Interestingly, Mego had originally intended for the "Transporter Effect" labels on the Enterprise to be printed in magenta and black.  This is evidenced by the prototype picture of the playset on the back of "6-face" cards.  For reasons unknown, Mego changed their minds and went with a yellow/black motif.  It would take another manufacturer in another country to finally make good on Mego's original design intent.

          * The British were apparently very keen on the design and play-value of this toy, as Denys Fisher would later employ the same mechanism ,albeit in a slightly larger scale, in the TARDIS accessory for their "Doctor Who" line of 9" action figures.

The box for the Transporter Room accessory.

Want to see the Transporter do its thing?  Glide your mouse over the picture above!

We're happy to report that the word "Mego" was pronounced correctly.

Pictures and commentary graciously provided by Kevin (MirrorSpock).

Collectibles and Vintage Toys

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The Top Ten Star Trek Toys of the Original Series

When NBC canceled the original Star Trek series in 1969, few imagined that syndicated reruns would generate enough fans to build one of the current tentpoles of Science Fiction. Before the series even aired, executives expressed concerns that the content would be too cerebral to become a hit. Still, the persistence of Gene Roddenberry and the crew behind Star Trek helped build the series into a grand franchise. Luckily, the fan support from the 1970s helped reunite the original cast in a series of films that launched the series to greatness.

Now, fans have a plethora of Star Trek media to indulge in. Over the decades, new Star Trek series launched, such as The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. Then, the films moved from the original generation to the next to a rebooted series that starred Chris Pine. Star Trek has also successfully launched books, comics, and video games. Above all, several toy companies have risen to the challenge of creating multiple toy lines for the franchise.

Even though Star Trek has moved on to new casts and generations, fans still love collecting the toys for the original series. Their love for the original cast that launched it all keeps these toys in high demand. So, which toys best represent the original series and its terrific cast?

Presenting the top ten toys that depict characters and vehicles from Star Trek: The Original Series

10. pez’s star trek limited edition collector’s series (2008).

When delectable candy treats meet toys, the ever-popular Pez dispensers emerge. Unbelievably, the creator of these candies, Eduard Haas III, invented them as an alternative for smoking, which likely explains why they are so addictive. By the late 1950s, American distributors began decorating Pez dispensers with fun designs like space guns and Popeye. Over the decades, Pez has taken note of popular franchises, creating new dispensers in their likeness.

So, it should come as no surprise that Pez released a complete set of special dispensers that resembled the cast of Star Trek’s original series. In 2008, Pez created only 250,000 units of the Star Trek Collector’s Series. Within the pack, fans could pick from their favorite characters from the 1960s show, such as James T. Kirk and Spock. Other characters included Nyota Uhura, Pavel Chekov, Montgomery Scott, and Hikaru Sulu. There even was a dispenser that featured the U.S.S. Enterprise on it.

9. Playmate’s Star Trek Collector Edition Montgomery Scott (1996)

When it came to keeping the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 in top shape, no man was more crucial to the operations than Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott. While casual fans may remember him for the phrase “Beam me up, Scotty”, his duties included much more than acting as the main transporter technician. As chief engineer, Mr. Scott kept the warp drive engines running in top condition. His work on the Enterprise even led him to claim that he understood the warp engines better than even the men who designed them.

Above being a brilliant engineer, Montgomery Scott was a capable commanding officer who took command only when Kirk or Spock left their posts, whether on a planet or incapacitated. While he could competently handle command decisions, he held no ambitions of becoming anything more than an engineer. With his one true passion laying in engineering, he placed all his efforts in staying up to date with the newest technology and principles.

Playmates understood that any Star Trek collection would be incomplete without the Enterprise’s chief engineer. So, they made certain to include Montgomery Scott in their 1996 Collector Edition line of figures for the Original Series’ cast. This nine-inch figure resembled Mr. Scott as he appeared during the 1966 pilot episode, “Where No Man Has Gone Before”. He came with a phaser, communicator, and tricorder. This figure also included a “Starfleet Action Base”.

8. Mego’s Klingon (1974)

Even in a utopian future for humanity, the Federation faced trials against reminders of Earth’s brutal past. Gene L. Coon understood that few would relate to his vision without a group that would reflect the evils that humanity has seen through history. Thus, he introduced the Klingons as adversaries to the Federation in the 1967 episode, “Errand of Mercy”. Their name originated from a man who served with Gene Roddenberry when he was a police officer, Lt. Wilbur Clingan.

Back in the original series, the Klingons lacked the iconic brow ridges that they are now known for. Instead, the species was known for having an oriental appearance with a hard edge. Thus, the crew applied shoe polish to the actors who portrayed Klingons on screen. As a warrior people, the Klingon ways appeared unnecessarily cruel to the Federation. Thus, the Federation opposed any incursion of the Klingon Empire during this era.

As such crucial opponents to Captain Kirk and his crew, Mego would have been remiss to leave out Klingons from their 1974 toy line. While their Klingon action figure did not resemble any specific character from the series, this toy easily portrayed the general appearance of the species. As in the original series, this toy lacked the brow ridges that would later define the species. Mego packaged this action figure with a single blaster accessory.

7. Playmate’s Classic Star Trek Galileo Shuttlecraft (1996)

The crew of the Enterprise used more than their transporters to visit the various planets that they explored. Sometimes, conditions interfered with the stability of the transporter systems. Other times, certain crew members, like Dr. McCoy, disliked or feared the use of transporters. Otherwise, they may have planned to transport cargo that required a shuttlecraft over molecular scrambling. No matter the reason, the U.S.S. Enterprise occasionally deployed their Galileo Shuttlecraft over the transporter.

This shuttle first appeared in the episode “The Galileo Seven”, serving as Spock’s first command during an investigation of Murasaki 312. Unfortunately, the quasar effects from the star caused the shuttle to crash down on Taurus II. While the Montgomery Scott repaired the shuttlecraft enough that it achieved orbit, the shuttle was in no shape to return to the Enterprise. Thus, Spock had to jettison and ignite the shuttle’s fuel to create a distress flare. While the Enterprise successfully rescued the crew, the shuttle was unrecoverable.

In 1996, Playmates created a replica of the Galileo Shuttlecraft for their Classic Star Trek toy line. This toy helped celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the original Star Trek series. The toy opened to reveal a detailed cockpit, including co-pilot components. The shuttlecraft also came with a spring-powered laser cannon. Most importantly, Playmates packaged an exclusive Captain Kirk action figure along with the shuttlecraft.

6. Mego’s Lt. Uhura (1974)

Nichelle Nichol’s role as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura will forever remain pivotal as one of the first major roles for an African American woman on American network television. Not only did she play a leading role in the series, but she also held a respected position where her expertise guided the mission. As a communications officer, Lt. Uhura stood as one of the first positions to make contact with new and unexplored civilizations. Her understanding of linguistics and cryptology helped guide the crew as they investigated new planets.

On several occasions, Lt. Uhura took a lead role when other members of the crew were unavailable. For instance, she took charge of the search for the Galileo after it crashed with Spock on board. Her understanding of the communications equipment and mathematics gave her the expertise to try rewiring the communications systems when interference blocked transmissions. No matter the situation, Lt. Uhura proved to be a crucial component of the U.S.S. Enterprise’s command staff.

As an important character in and outside of the series, Mego made sure to include her in their 1974 Star Trek toy line. This action figure came with a light blue tricorder that slung over her shoulder, somewhat resembling a purse. Unlike the male Starfleet officers, the Lt. Uhura action figure wore her iconic red dress uniform.

5. Playmate’s Classic Star Trek Classic Communicator (1994)

Back in 1966, no one even fathomed the idea that telephones would become mobile, let alone smartphones. Still, radios had been in use for decades, especially during the last few wars. Thus, the production team behind the original Star Trek series dreamed up a hand-held radio communication device that the Enterprise’s crew would use when on missions. This small device would flip open so that the staff could communicate with each other.

Otherwise, the Enterprise came equipped with several communication panels on the walls, or sometimes on desks. Thus, the bridge could communicate with the various decks of the ship, especially engineering and medical.

In 1994, Playmates made certain to include a replica of the original hand-held communicator in their Classic Star Trek toy line. This toy could produce three sounds from the series: the opening activation, hailing, and high-frequency noises. The unit also came with working lights. Playmates even included a technical blueprint along with a certificate of authentication with the toy.

4. Playmate’s Star Trek Collector Edition Mr. Spock (1996)

In many ways, Mr. Spock stood as Captain Kirk’s equal on the decks of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Both commanded admiration and respect from the rest of the crew. Where Captain Kirk led with passion and enthusiasm, Mr. Spock followed the teachings of his people and let logic dictate his decisions. Still, Mr. Spock was only half-Vulcan, so his emotions would occasionally cloud his decisions. He even admitted that emotions confused him, partially because he rejected his human side as a child. With logic ruling over his decisions, Spock made an excellent Science Officer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. Likewise, he made an excellent first officer under Captain Kirk.

In many ways, Spock’s legacy surpassed any other Starfleet officer, including Captain Kirk. Spock was integral to the reunification of the Romulan and Vulcan people. After his time with Captain Kirk, Spock became the primary ambassador for the Federation, forging several peaceful relationships across the galaxy.

When Playmates created their Collector Edition Star Trek toys in 1996, they made certain to include Mr. Spock in the line. This action figure reflects his appearance in the original series’ pilot episode, “Where No Man Has Gone Before”. Mr. Spock came with a federation-issued phaser and communicator, along with a Vulcan harp. As with other figures in this line, this toy came with a Starfleet Action Base.

3. Playmate’s Classic Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 (1995)

Without an iconic ship, Star Trek may have wasted away in obscurity. Luckily, Gene Roddenberry and his production team designed the unique design for the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 would become the flagship for the series. Where many productions may have been content to show a spaceship with a saucer design, Star Trek’s creators decided to expand on the concept. They cleverly designed the ship’s dual warp engines to create a unique profile for the ship.

The NCC-1701 became the first Federation vessel with the Enterprise name. With its legacy of making several first contacts and being involved in multiple military engagements, the Enterprise became the flagship vessel for the Federation. While Captain Kirk set off the Enterprise’s self-destruct functions to prevent it from falling into Klingon hands, the ship’s legacy continued with the Enterprise-A. Even past Kirk’s time, the Enterprise name passed on, leading to Captain Pickard captaining the Enterprise-D in the Next Generation.

Playmates created the U.S.S. Enterprise toy of any fans’ dream in their Classic Star Trek toy line from 1995. This vessel boasted light-up and sound effects that helped the toy stand out on any shelf. The sounds included the photon torpedoes, phasers, warp drive, and bridge interior noises. Meanwhile, the engine nacelles lit up. Playmates also included a display stand for this vehicle.

2. Mego’s Captain Kirk (1974)

No matter the situation, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise always knew that they could turn to the firm leadership of their captain for guidance. Captain James T. Kirk earned his legacy as a renowned Starfleet officer through his career of heroic and courageous acts, all in the name of peace. While Captain Kirk was a lady’s man, he always respected all no matter what gender or ethnicity they were. He also fought for equality and freedom on any planet that he encountered.

As captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Captain Kirk faced several trials that cemented his place as a historic captain. Above all, he was the first to meet Khan Noonien Singh and his group of augmented humans when they revived from their slumber. He saw the danger these relics from the Eugenics Wars posed to the rest of the Federation, so he exiled them to Ceti Alpha V. Later, Kirk once again had to face Khan as the man sought vengeance against the captain.

No matter the situation, James T. Kirk remained suave and composed. His charisma helped him maintain the respect of his crew and those around him.

Mego did not miss out on the chance to include an action figure of Captain Kirk in their 1974 Star Trek toy line. This action figure gave Kirk the standard appearance from the original series, especially past the second season. Thus, Kirk wore his standard yellow Captain’s uniform from the series. This toy also came with a single phaser accessory.

1. Mego’s U.S.S. Enterprise Action Playset (1975)

In addition to the multiple action figures of the crew, Mego knew that the bridge of the enterprise was an important set on the original Star Trek Series. Not only did many first contacts and showdowns occur in the bridge, but it was the major hub for all activity on the Enterprise. From the Bridge, Captain Kirk commanded the rest of the crew, guiding them through their various trials and tribulations. Each member of the command staff had a station present on the bridge as well.

Thus, Mego’s U.S.S. Enterprise action playset became an integral part of any Star Trek collection, especially ones with their action figures. While the playset did not faithfully recreate the bridge, it had enough elements to remain recognizable. Captain Kirk could sit down in his command chair while the rest of the crew sat at their stations. This version of the bridge had a single command console, unlike the show’s set.

While the transporter was not a part of the bridge on the show, Mego saw fit to include it in this playset. Thus, owners could place any Mego action figure of their choice into the transporter to have its spin-action make the figure vanish. Unfortunately, the actual technology to transport any object, even a toy, was not feasible in 1975. This technology sadly stays unfeasible.

What were your favorite Star Trek toys?

We have shared our picks for the greatest toys that brought the excitement of Star Trek: The Original Series to homes across America. We choose each figure due to its semblance to the show as well as its playability. Still, we would love to hear what toys excited you the most. Let us know in the comments below whether you agree with our list or not.

Do you have old and used Star Trek toys?

If you have a collection of old and used toys, you can turn those toys into cash. There is no reason to let those old toys collect dust. Contact us today to sell your Star Trek toy collection.

Made in Collaboration with:

Chris Ingledue 

Contact :  email

Bio : I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!

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Most Beautiful Metro Stations in Moscow

Visiting Moscow? Get yourself a metro card and explore Moscow’s beautiful metro stations. Moscow’s world-famous metro system is efficient and a great way to get from A to B. But there is more to it; Soviet mosaic decorations, exuberant halls with chandeliers, colourful paintings and immense statues. Moscow’s metro is an attraction itself, so take half a day and dive into Moscow’s underground!

The best thing to do is to get on the brown circle (number 5) line since the most beautiful metro stations are situated on this line. The only exception is the metro stop Mayakovskaya one the green line (number 2). My suggestion is to get a map, mark these metro stops on there and hop on the metro. It helps to get an English > Russian map to better understand the names of the stops. At some of the metro stops, the microphone voice speaks Russian and English so it’s not difficult at all.

Another thing we found out, is that it’s worth taking the escalator and explore the other corridors to discover how beautiful the full station is.

Quick hotel suggestion for Moscow is the amazing Brick Design Hotel .

These are my favourite metro stations in Moscow, in order of my personal preference:

1. Mayakovskaya Station

The metro station of Mayakovskaya looks like a ballroom! Wide arches, huge domes with lamps and mosaic works make your exit of the metro overwhelming. Look up and you will see the many colourful mosaics with typical Soviet pictures. Mayakovskaya is my personal favourite and is the only stop not on the brown line but on the green line.

2. Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya metro station is famous for its yellow ceiling. An average museum is nothing compared to this stop. Splendour all over the place, black and gold, mosaic – again – and enormous chandeliers that made my lamp at home look like a toy.

3. Novoslobodskaya Station

The pillars in the main hall of Novoslobodskaya metro station have the most colourful stained glass decorations. The golden arches and the golden mosaic with a naked lady holding a baby in front of the Soviet hammer and sickle, make the drama complete.

4. Prospect Mira Station

The beautiful chandeliers and the lines in the ceiling, make Prospekt Mira an architectural masterpiece.

5. Belorusskaya Station

Prestigious arches, octagonal shapes of Socialistic Soviet Republic mosaics. The eyecatcher of Belorusskaya metro station, however, is the enormous statue of three men with long coats, holding guns and a flag.

6. Kiyevskaya Station

The metro station of Kiyevskaya is a bit more romantic than Belorusskaya and Prospect Mira. Beautiful paintings with classical decorations.

7. Taganskaya Station

At the main hall Taganskaya metro station you will find triangle light blue and white decorations that are an ode to various Russians that – I assume – are important for Russian history and victory. There is no need to explore others halls of Taganskaya, this is it.

8. Paveletskaya Station

Another and most definitely the less beautiful outrageous huge golden mosaic covers one of the walls of Paveletskaya. I would recommend taking the escalator to the exit upstairs to admire the turquoise dome and a painting of the St Basil’s Cathedral in a wooden frame.

Travelling with Moscow’s metro is inexpensive. You can have a lot of joy for just a few Rubbles.

• 1 single journey: RMB 50 – € 0,70
• 1 day ticket: RMB 210 – € 2,95

Like to know about Moscow, travelling in Russia or the Transsiberian Train journey ? Read my other articles about Russia .

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Wow! It is beautiful. I am still dreaming of Moscow one day.

It’s absolutely beautiful! Moscow is a great city trip destination and really surprised me in many ways.

My partner and I did a self guided Moscow Metro tour when we were there 2 years ago. So many breathtaking platforms…I highly recommend it! Most of my favorites were along the Brown 5 line, as well. I also loved Mayakovskaya, Arbatskaya, Aleksandrovski Sad and Ploshchad Revolyutsii. We’re heading back in a few weeks and plan to do Metro Tour-Part 2. We hope to see the #5 stations we missed before, as well as explore some of the Dark Blue #3 (Park Pobedy and Slavyansky Bul’var, for sure), Yellow #8 and Olive #10 platforms.

That’s exciting Julia! Curious to see your Metro Tour-Part 2 experience and the stations you discovered.

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The past on wheels: Moscow's old public transport (PHOTOS)

Moscow a 1954 MTB-82 trolleybus.

‘F’

Electric trams appeared in Moscow in 1899, but the most popular of the first models was created in 1908. It was the model ‘F’ (‘Fonarny’, “The one with a lantern”), a motor carriage produced in St. Petersburg. The name comes from a special build-up with glass units on the roof. It served to let additional light from the street inside the carriage and was commonly called a ‘lantern’. The chassis of the ‘F’ was wooden with a steel coating. The carriage had no doors and passengers often hopped on and off while it was going through turns at minimum speed. The ‘F’ also operated with a motor engine with several attached modifications and was only taken out of service in Moscow in the 1950s.

‘RVZ-6’

The ‘RVZ-6’ was a special case: This successful model had spread all over the USSR and was in use for decades, but it was still considered really exotic in Moscow. The reason was that the capital had chosen the ‘Tatra’ trams (see below) instead of this one. The ‘RVZ-6’ was designed in Riga in the Soviet Republic of Latvia. From 1960, its mass production had continued for practically 30 years - the Latvian engineers did everything to update the construction. The ‘RVZ-6’ had a light body made of aluminium sheets riveted together. Also, it had a driving system with pedals, which was quite unusual for trams. As Moscow underestimated this model, it was only used there in 1960-1966 and then, all eight carriages were given to Tashkent in the Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan.

‘Tatra T2’

The ‘Tatra’ tram was inspired by a U.S. model and produced from the 1950s in Czechoslovakia under a license. A modified ‘Tatra T2’ first appeared in Moscow in 1959. It was the beginning of a new era in the history of Moscow trams. It was much more convenient than any other Soviet model: the driver had a comfortable seat and the carriage was equipped with resilient wheels, instead of full-metal ones - the ‘Tatra T2’ passed through the streets without making a loud noise. All the carriages of this modification also had an improved winter heating system. On top of that, the recognizable design of the model didn’t resemble any other trams. The ‘Tatra T2’ was taken out of service in 1981 and replaced by the next generation - the ‘Tatra T3’, which wasn’t less successful.

‘AMO-4’

The first buses that appeared in Moscow in 1922-1924 were imported from England, but Soviet engineers quickly designed a local model. This was the ‘AMO-4’, named after the AMO plant (“Automobile Society of Moscow”). The name of the model also actually stands for bus chassis and had two body modifications. The second had a fourth door at the back, so it could be turned into an ambulance. The chassis was improved, too: It was made of boards instead of beams and became more flexible, so the bumpy Moscow pavings didn’t wear it out too fast. 

‘ZIS-8’

In the 1930s, the AMO plant was renamed in honor of Iosif Stalin, so its new common abbreviation was ZIS (‘Zavod imeni Stalina’, “Plant named after Stalin”). After this, engineers designed a new bus called ‘ZIS-8’. It was based on an American bus model, which was significantly altered: the construction was made simpler and the front brakes were made more reliable. Like the ‘AMO-4’, the ‘ZIS-8’ had a small window to display the route number above the windscreen. At the sides of the window there were two lamps showing the color code of the route to make it recognizable from a distance - an idea borrowed from the tram system. The ‘ZIS-8’ had turned out to be convenient and easy to produce, so it was used in other cities of the USSR and even made for export. ZIS then began to design many bus modifications.

‘LiAZ-677’

One of the next greatest hits among Moscow buses was first designed in 1962 at a plant in Likino-Dulyovo, Moscow Region. It was called ‘LiAZ-677’ and was actually used all over the USSR. Appearing in 1967 in Moscow for the first time, the ‘LiAZ-677’ was in operation until the 2000s. This bus had a flexible suspended span based on pneumo cylinders, so people started calling the ‘LiAZ-677’ a ‘lunokhod’ (“lunar rover”). The motor was placed in the front part of the chassis and the exhaust gas pipe went under the floor - this construction solution also heated the compartment. However, as this system got old, it started filling the bus with the smell of the exhaust gas. The ‘LiAZ-677’ is also remembered for its shaky motion and specific sound of its worn parts, which resembled the tinkling of empty bottles.

‘Ikarus-180’

The ‘Ikarus’ buses from Hungary were very popular in the USSR. They started appearing at the end of the 1960s, but only the biggest models were operating in Moscow. One of them was the ‘Ikarus-180’ - the first stretch bus in the Soviet Union. It just had 37 seats, but could carry 169 passengers in total, thanks to its two-section construction. The center of the ‘Ikarus-180’ made the Soviets nickname this model ‘garmoshka’ (“accordion”) or a “vacuum cleaner”. Also, its diesel engine was a sensation on the back of other Soviet buses that had petrol fuel-hungry motors. Later, the ‘Ikarus-180’ became the basis for the improved ‘Ikarus-280’ model.

Trolleybuses

‘lk’.

Moscow saw its first trolleybuses in 1933. The model was called ‘LK’ after Lazar Kaganovich, who was the man behind the idea to equip Moscow with electric transport. The first trolleybuse of the capital had a wooden chassis covered with metal. It had two doors that opened manually by the driver and the bus conductor. The ‘LK’ was comfortable for passengers: there were padded seats with heaters and baggage nets. At the same time, the driver’s cab had no heater and the wooden chassis made terrible creaks during motion. In any case, this new type of transport gained a lot of popularity over the years.

‘YaTB-3’

Appearing in 1939, the ‘YaTB-3’ was the most unusual of Moscow’s trolleybus models, as it was a double-decker. It was the Soviet equivalent of an English model bought for the capital of the USSR in 1937. It fit 100 people inside, but wasn’t easy to operate. All trolleybus cables had to be raised a meter higher and the trolley poles (power collectors) of the usual models often lowered. The ‘YaTB-3’ was uncomfortable for tall passengers, because the ceilings of both decks were very low. Also, it was only possible to ride the second deck sitting down - extra standing passengers could alter the center of gravity, which threatened the steadiness of the bus. The number of these trolleybuses slowly declined until 1953, when they were finally taken out of service for good.    

‘MTB-82’

The ‘MTB-82’ first appeared in Moscow in 1946. It was quite different from previous models. For example, it had a universal chassis that could be used as a trolleybus, tram or bus. Its chassis was made of aluminium and covered with the same metal, so it didn’t make any creaks and was considerably lighter in weight. The doors didn’t have to be opened manually, as they had the pneumatic drive. Additionally, all the parts could be repaired easily. The ‘MTB-82’ could carry 100 people like the ‘YaTB-3’ and it also had problems with its size: it was wider than all the other trolleybuses, so the drivers often hit passing vehicles and lampposts.This is why the production of the ‘MTB-82’ was eventually stopped in 1961, but it was in operation until 1972, when it finally was taken out of service. In fact, nowadays, any trolleybus is a part of history - in 2020, Moscow stopped using this type of public transport and, in September of that year, a museum route was opened.

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2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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