13 pictures reveal what it was like to ride the New York City subways in the 1970s

The Big Apple seemed to be rotting from within during the 1970s.

Crime was everywhere and the city was struggling to deal with a major fiscal crisis.

The city's subway system wasn't faring much better. Crime, graffiti, and frequent mechanical breakdowns were mainstays of New York subways throughout the decade.

Photographer Erik Calonius snapped several shots of the bleak situation in April of 1973. These pictures, along with many others, can be viewed in the Flickr album of the U.S. National Archives

These 13 photos allow us a glimpse into what it was like to ride the New York City subway system during this troubled time.