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New York City Subway rolling stock

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The "2007 Holiday Shopper's Special", which ran on December Sundays in 2007, consists of a group of R1, R4, R7A, and R9 cars
The "Holiday Shopper's Special", a train of R1, R4, R6, R7A, and R9 subway cars running in special service at the 23rd Street station on the IND Sixth Avenue Line
The empty interior of a newer R142A car on the 5 train
An R142A series car interior in service on the 4 route
A "Vaktrak" vacuuming train
A Vaktrak track vacuuming train[1]

The New York City Subway is a large rapid transit system and has a large fleet of electric multiple unit rolling stock. As of November 2016, the New York City Subway has 6418 cars on the roster.

The system maintains two separate fleets of passenger cars: one for the A Division (numbered) routes, the other for the B Division (lettered) routes. All A Division equipment is approximately 8 feet 9 inches (2.67 m) wide and 51 feet (15.54 m) long. B Division cars, on the other hand, are about 10 feet (3.05 m) wide and either 60 feet 6 inches (18.44 m) or 75 feet 6 inches (23.01 m) long. The A Division and B Division trains operate only in their own division; operating in the other division is not allowed. All rolling stock, in both the A and B Divisions, run on the same 4 foot 8.5 inches (1,435 mm) standard gauge and use the same third-rail geometry and voltage. A typical revenue train consists of 8 to 10 cars, although in practice they can range between 2 and 11 cars.

The subway's rolling stock have operated under various companies: the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT), Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit (BMT), and Independent Subway System (IND), all of which have since merged into the New York City Transit Authority. Cars purchased by the City of New York since the inception of the IND and for the other divisions beginning in 1948 are identified by the letter "R" followed by a number. Various kinds of cars are also used for maintenance work, including flatcars and vacuum trains.

Total fleet

[edit]

As of November 2016, the New York City Subway has 6418 cars on the roster.[2][a] The system maintains two separate fleets of passenger cars: one for the A Division routes, the other for the B Division routes. All A Division equipment is approximately 8 feet 9 inches (2.67 m) wide and 51 feet (15.54 m) long. B Division cars are larger, about 10 feet (3.05 m) wide and either 60 feet 6 inches (18.44 m) or 75 feet 6 inches (23.01 m) long. The 75-foot cars, the R44s, R46s, R68s, and R68As, are not permitted on BMT Eastern Division – the J, L, M, and Z trains – because of sharper curves on those tracks.[3]: 57 

All rolling stock, in both the A and B Divisions, run on the same 4 foot 8.5 inches (1,435 mm) standard gauge and use the same third-rail geometry and voltage. However, trains operate only in their own division; operating in the other division is not allowed. A Division sections have narrower tunnel segments, tighter curves, and tighter platform clearances than the B Division sections, so B Division trains cannot fit in the A Division tunnels and stations, while A Division trains would have an unacceptably large gap between the platform and train if they were allowed in service on B Division lines. Also, the safety train stop (trip cock) mechanism is not compatible between divisions, being located on opposite sides of the track and train in each division. However, service and maintenance trains are composed of A Division-sized cars, so they can operate with either division's clearances and have safety train stops installed on both sides of the trucks.

A typical revenue train consists of 8 or 10 cars. The exceptions are the Franklin Avenue Shuttle, which runs 2-car trains; the Rockaway Park Shuttle, which runs 4-car trains; the 42nd Street Shuttle, which runs 6-car trains; the G, which runs 5-car trains; and the 7, which runs 11-car trains.

When the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company entered into agreements to operate some of the new subway lines, they decided to design a new type of car, 10 feet (3.05 m) wide and 67 feet (20.42 m) long. The subject of several patents, the car's larger profile was similar to that of steam railroad coaches, permitting greater passenger capacity, more comfortable seating, and other advantages. The BRT unveiled its design, designated BMT Standard, to the public in 1913 and received such wide acceptance that all future subway lines, whether built for the BRT, the IRT, or eventually the IND, were built to handle the wider cars.

When the R44s and R46s were rebuilt, the rollsigns on the side of the cars were replaced with electronic LCD signs while the front service sign remained as a rollsign. In sharp contrast, the rebuilt R32s and R38s retained rollsigns on the sides, but a flip-dot display was placed in the front. The MTA has been incorporating newer subway cars into its stock in the past two decades. Since 1999, the R142s, R142As, R143s, R160s, R179s, R188s, and R211s have been added into service.[4][5] All cars built since 1992 (including the now out-of-service R110As and R110Bs) are equipped with digital signs on the front, sides, and interior (except for the R110Bs, which had rollsigns on the front).

Old cars, some from the original companies (IRT, BMT, and IND), are preserved at the New York Transit Museum, while others have been sold to private individuals and/or other railway/trolley museums. Private companies include Railway Preservation Corp., whose equipment is often used on New York Transit Museum-sponsored excursions.

Between 1984 and 1989, some of the IRT trains were painted red, giving them the name Redbirds.[b] By January 2022, various older B Division cars, such as the entire fleets of R32s, R38s, R40s, R40As, R42s, and NYCT R44s, were similarly retired and replaced by newer models, including the R160s and R179s.

General Overhaul Program

[edit]

The General Overhaul Program (GOH) was a mid-life overhaul program for neglected subway cars, which involved a thorough rebuilding of the fleet. Since the completion of the GOH program, the new Scheduled Maintenance System (SMS) program has replaced the GOH program by ensuring that trains do not reach a state in which they would need such an overhaul. The car types, which were part of the MTA NYCT GOH program, are the IRT Redbirds (R26, R28, R29, R33, R33S, R36), as well as IND/BMT cars (R30 GE, R32, R38, R40, R40A, R42, R44, and R46). These cars were rebuilt between 1985 and 1993. Some cars in various classes from R10 to R46 were also given lighter overhauls during this period.

"R"-prefixed orders

[edit]

Cars purchased by the City of New York since the inception of the IND and for the other divisions beginning in 1948 are identified by the letter "R" followed by a number, e.g., R46. This number is the contract number under which the cars were purchased. Cars with nearby contract numbers (e.g., R1 through R9, or R21 through R36, or R143 through R179) may be virtually identical, simply being purchased under different contracts.

The New York City Board of Transportation settled on a system of documentation that is still in place under MTA New York City Transit. This included a prefix letter or letters that indicated the department that the specific documentation, followed by a series of numbers of a length defined by the specific department concerned. For example, the Surface Department used the letter "S", while the Rapid Transit Department used the letter "R". A new R- number is assigned for any vehicle purchase involving a bidding process. Since the 1970s, the system has suffered from "R- inflation" going through only 46 R- numbers in its first 40 years, but over 114 in its subsequent 30. Possible reasons include an increased number of specialized maintenance vehicles that were previously made in house or a lower floor for requiring a formal bidding process to reduce waste and abuse.[citation needed]

Disposal at sea

[edit]
Retired subway cars being transported to the ocean, where they will be dropped into the water to create an artificial reef

In 2001, the New York City Transit Authority started disposing of retired subway cars by dumping them at sea to create artificial reefs, with the intention of promoting marine life. This option was chosen because it was less expensive than removing asbestos from the cars; the asbestos was determined to not be a hazard in the ocean.[6]

The artificial reefs would provide environmental and economic benefits, such as providing shelter for marine animals and creating new fishing opportunities. The first reef constructed was Redbird Reef in Delaware. Eventually, multiple states received retired subway cars for reefs.[7] The program was discontinued in 2010, after more than 2,500 cars were reefed, because newer cars contained more plastic, which was too expensive to economically remove before reefing.[8][9]

Current fleet

[edit]
Contract # Division Year Built Builder Car
Length[c]
Car
Width
Photograph Fleet numbers
(Total ordered)
Number in service CBTC Assigned Services Yard
assignment
Notes
R44 B 1971–1973 St. Louis Car 75 feet (22.9 m) 10 feet (3.0 m)
  • 388–435
  • 436–466 (even
    numbers only)
    (64 total)
56
SIR only
No
  • Single cars; even numbered cars ("A" cars) have single full-width cabs, odd numbered cars ("B" cars) have blind ends.
  • New York City Subway car numbers were originally 100–387 and renumbered 5202–5479 (see here).
  • New York City Subway cars retired.
  • Staten Island Railway cars currently being replaced.
R46 1975–1978 Pullman Company
  • 5482–6207
    (4-car sets)
  • 6208–6258
    (even numbers only)
    (754 total)
692 No "A" train "C" train "N" train "Q" train "W" train Rockaway Park Shuttle[10][11]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • 5482–6207 are in A-B-B-A configuration as 4-car sets.
    • Even numbered cars have single full-width cabs, and are known as "A" cars
    • Odd numbered cars have blind ends, and are known as "B" cars.
  • 6208–6258 are in A-A configuration (even numbers only).
  • Car numbers were originally 500–1227 and 1228–1278 (even numbers only).
  • Two cars (941 & 1054) wrecked and scrapped prior to General Overhaul.
  • Remaining cars currently being retired, aside from additional wrecked cars.[12][13][14]
R62 A 1983–1985 Kawasaki 51 feet (15.5 m) 8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m) 1301–1625
(325 total)
315 No "1" train "3" train[15][16]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • Originally single cars, now 5-car sets.
  • 10 cars (1366–1370, 1435–1437, 1439–1440) retired.
    • 1366–1370 were wrecked in 2000 due to an accident. Car 1369 was scrapped in 2005. Car 1366 and half of car 1370 are at the FDNY Randall's Island training center. Cars 1367 and 1368 were reefed in 2008.
    • 1435–1437 and 1439–1440 were wrecked in 1991 due to a derailment. 1437 and 1439–1440 were scrapped in 2001. Car 1436 was reefed in 2008. 1438 is now part of a 5-car set with 1431–1434.
R62A 1984–1987 Bombardier 1651–2475
(825 total)
823 No "1" train "6" train 42nd Street Shuttle[17][18]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • Originally single cars, most cars linked in 5 or 6-car sets.
    • 1651–1905, 1961–2475, and select other 1900s have full-width cabs at ends of sets.
  • 1909 was wrecked and scrapped.[19]
  • 2176 was wrecked in 2024 sideswipe and derailment.
R68 B 1986–1988 Westinghouse-Amrail Company 75 feet (22.9 m) 10 feet (3.0 m) 2500–2924
(425 total)
425 No "B" train "D" train "N" train "Q" train "W" train Franklin Avenue Shuttle[20][21]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • 2500–2915 originally single cars, now in 4-car sets.
  • 2916–2924 still single cars; used for the Franklin Avenue Shuttle.
R68A 1988–1989 Kawasaki 5001–5200
(200 total)
200 No "B" train "N" train "Q" train "W" train[22][23]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • Originally single cars, now in 4-car sets.
R142 A 1999–2003 Bombardier 51 feet (15.5 m) 8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m) 1101–1250,
6301–7180
(1,030 total)
1025 Future installation[24] "2" train "4" train "5" train[25][26]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration as 5-car sets.
    • Cars ending in 1, 5, 6, and 0 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars.
    • Cars ending in all other digits have no cabs and are known as "B" cars.
  • Cars 6346–6350 were taken out of service after suffering fire damage in an arson attack.[27][28]
R142A 1999–2005 Kawasaki 7591–7810
(220 total)
220 "4" train[29][30]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration as 5-car sets.
    • Cars ending in 1, 5, 6, and 0 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars.
    • Cars ending in all other digits have no cabs and are known as "B" cars.
  • Original order was 7211–7810; cars 7211–7590 were converted to R188s between 2010 & 2016 for the IRT Flushing Line.[31]
R143 B 2001–2003 60 feet (18.3 m) 10 feet (3.0 m) 8101–8312
(212 total)
212 Yes "L" train[32][33]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-A configuration.
  • Cars with single full-width cabs are known as A cars.
  • Cars with no cab are known as B cars.
R160 2005–2010 Alstom (R160A)
Kawasaki (R160B)
8313–9974
(1,662 total)
1662 Yes "J" train "Z" train "L" train "M" train[34][35]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
"E" train "F" train "G" train "R" train
(1 train is also used in Q service during the morning rush hour, but is shown in the R assignment)[36][37]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • 4 car sets (8313–8652, 9943–9974) are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-A configuration. All are classified under R160A-1 and are powered by Alstom ONIX 800 IGBT–VVVF.
  • 5 car sets (8653–9942) are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration.
    • 8653–8712, 9233–9802 are classified under R160A-2 and are powered by Alstom ONIX 800 IGBT–VVVF.
    • 8713–8842, 9103–9232, 9803–9942 are classified under R160B-1 and are powered by Alstom ONIX 800 IGBT–VVVF.
    • 8843–9102 are classified under R160B-2 and are powered by Siemens SITRAC IGBT–VVVF.
  • Cars with single full-width cabs are known as "A" cars.
  • Cars with no cabs are known as "B" cars.
R188 A 2010–2016 Kawasaki 51 feet (15.5 m) 8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m) 7211–7590,
7811–7936
(506 total)
506 Yes "7" train[38][39]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • All cars are in 5-car or 6-car sets to form 11-car trains for IRT Flushing Line service.
  • Order consists of a combination of 126 new cars & R142A conversions by the manufacturer, totaling 380 car conversions.[31][40]
    • Conversion sets numbered 7211–7590 are numbered as follows:
      • Cars ending in 0, 1, 5, and 6 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars.
      • Cars ending in all other digits have no cabs and are known as "B" cars.
    • Cars 7811–7898 are eight new 11-car trains (split into four 5-car trains and four 6-car trains), with cars sequentially numbered.
      • Cars whose numbers give a remainder of 0, 1, 5, and 6 when divided by 11 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars.
      • Cars whose numbers give other remainders when divided by 11 have no cabs and are known as "B" cars.
    • Cars 7899–7936 are "C" cars that link with converted R142A sets to expand the sets to six cars.
R179 B 2016–2019 Bombardier 60 feet (18.3 m) 10 feet (3.0 m) 3010–3327
(318 total)
318 Future installation[41][d] "A" train "C" train "J" train "Z" train Rockaway Park Shuttle[42][43]
Assignments as of June 30, 2024
  • 4-car sets (3050–3237) are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-A configuration.
  • 5-car sets (3010–3049, 3238–3327) are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration.
  • Cars with single full-width cabs are known as A cars.
  • Cars with no cab are known as B cars.
R211A 2021–present Kawasaki 4060–4499
(440 total)[44]
240 Yes "A" train
  • All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration as 5-car sets.
    • Cars ending in 0, 4, 5, and 9 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars.
    • Cars ending in all other digits have no cabs and are known as "B" cars.
R211T 2022–present 4040–4059
(20 total)[44]
20 Yes "C" train
R211S 100–174
(75 total)
0
(testing)
No

Maintenance vehicles

[edit]

Various kinds of cars are used for maintenance work, including flatcars and vacuum trains.[45]

Track geometry car

[edit]
The "track geometry car", a work car that measures the dimensions of subway tracks
The track geometry car at Jay Street–MetroTech.

There are four track geometry cars on the New York City Subway that measure the system's track geometry to ensure that safe train operation is maintained. The cars are numbered TGC1–TGC4. TGC1 was ordered under contract R59 in 1984 for $1.4 million,[46] TGC2 was ordered under contract R63 and cost $2.5 million,.[47][48] Contract R-34152 purchasing TGC3 was awarded on December 29, 2004, for $9,610,963, and after additional funding was later authorized by the Board, Modification 1 exercising the Option for TGC4 was awarded on January 18, 2006, for $9,622,858. Subsequent modifications added newer equipment, such as a more advanced laser scanner, to TGC4 prior to its delivery to NYCTA.[49] The cars use sensors, measuring systems, and data management systems to get a profile of the tracks. The train crew consists of two-track equipment maintainers, one maintenance supervisor, and two to three engineers. The trains typically operate during off-peak weekday daytime hours so as to not interfere with more frequent rush hour service. A single car weighs 45 tons.[48] The cars measure:

  • Alignment – "Alignment is the projection of the track geometry of each rail or the track center line onto the horizontal plane," (FRA Definition).[50] Also known as the "straightness" of the tracks.
  • Crosslevel – The variation in the cant of the track over the length of a predetermined "chord" length (generally 62 feet or 18.90 meters). On straight or tangent track, ideally, there should be no variation, while on curves, a cant is generally desired.
  • Curvature – The amount by which the rail deviates from being straight or tangent. The geometry car checks the actual curvature (in Degree of curvature) of a curve versus its design curvature.
  • Rail gauge – The distance between the rails. Over time, rail may become too wide or too narrow. In North America and most of the world, standard gauge is 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm).
  • Rail profile – Looks for rail wear and deviations from standard profile.
  • Warp – The maximum change in crosslevel over a predetermined chord length (generally sixty-two feet).[51]
  • Corrugation of running rail surface
  • Tunnel and station platform clearances
  • Third rail height and gauge
  • Vertical gap between third rail and protective board [52]

The track geometry car typically checks each stretch of track about 6 times a year; the car is manually operated, and there are no plans to automate inspection of the track geometry, which is done manually with the help of high-tech equipment aboard the car.[53]

Future fleet

[edit]
Contract # Division Year Built Builder Total Photograph
(mock-up or rendering)
Notes
R262 A 2025–2030 (projected) TBA 504 cars (proposed); 1,364 cars (all options) To replace all R62s and R62As, and to expand the fleet. CBTC-equipped. All cars are expected to feature open gangways.[24]: 25 
R268 B TBA TBA TBA Briefly mentioned in pre-award plan in MTA document along with the R262.[54]

Retired fleet

[edit]

IRT Pre-Unification listing

[edit]
Designation Year built Builder Fleet total Car numbers Year
retired
Denotes
Composite 1903–1904 Jewett,
St. Louis Car,
Stephenson,
Wason
500 2000–2159,
3000–3339
1916
1950
2000–2159: Non-powered trailers
Retired from subway service in 1916;
re-equipped with lightweight trucks and components and continued in elevated service until 1950.
Hi-V "Gibbs" 1904–1905 American Car & Foundry 300 3350–3649 1958
Hi-V "Deck Roof" 1907–1908 50 3650–3699
Hi-V "Hedley" 1910–1911 American Car & Foundry,
Standard Steel,
Pressed Steel
325 ACF: 3700–3809
SS: 3810–3849
PS: 3850–4024
1915 Pullman 292 4223–4514 Non-powered trailers
4223–4250 in their last years were motorized as blind motors with no controls.
Lo-V "Flivver" 178 4037–4214 1962 Were built with the original trucks and electrical components removed from the Composites.
Lo-V "Steinway" 1915–1916 113 4025–4036,
4215–4222,
4555–4576,
4700–4770
1963 Equipped with special gearing for the steep grades of the Steinway Tunnels.
Lo-V "Standard" 1916–1917 695 4515–4554,
4577–4699,
4771–5302
1964 4515–4554 and 4811–4965 were non-powered trailers
1922 100 5303–5402 1969 Non-powered trailers
5303–5377 equipped with air compressors for brakes
1924–1925 American Car & Foundry 225 5403–5627 1964
Lo-V "Steinway" 1925 25 5628–5652 1969 Equipped with special gearing for the steep grades of the Steinway Tunnels.
Lo-V "World's Fair" 1938 St. Louis Car 50 5653–5702 Single-ended cars used for the 1939 World's Fair.

BMT Pre-Unification listing

[edit]
Designation Year built Builder Fleet
total
Car numbers Year
retired
Denotes
AB Standard 1914–1919 American Car & Foundry 600 2000–2599 1969
1920–1922 Pressed Steel 300 2600–2899
1924 50 4000–4049 Non-powered trailers
BMT-SIRT (ME-1) 1925–1926 Standard Steel 25 2900–2924 1961 25 motor cars purchased from the Staten Island Railway in 1953–1954.
D-type Triplex 1925–1928 Pressed Steel 121 6000–6120 1965
Green Hornet 1934 Pullman 1 7003 1941 Experimental unit; scrapped in 1942 for World War II.
Zephyr Budd 1 7029 1954 Experimental unit
Multi 1936 St. Louis Car 10 7004–7013 1961
Pullman 15 7014–7028
Bluebird 1938–1940 Clark 6 8000–8005 1955

R-type listing

[edit]
Contract # Year built Division Builder Fleet
total
Car numbers Year
retired
R1 1930–1931 IND American Car & Foundry 300 100–399 1976
R4 1932–1933 500 400–899 1977
R-6-3 1935–1936 250 900–1149
R-6-2 1936 Pullman 150 1150–1299
R-6-1 Pressed Steel 100 1300–1399
R7 1937 American Car & Foundry,

Pullman

150 ACF: 1400–1474,
Pullman: 1475–1549
R7A 1938 100 Pullman: 1550–1599,
ACF: 1600–1649
R9 1940 IND,

BMT

American Car & Foundry,

Pressed Steel

153 ACF: 1650–1701,
PS: 1702–1802
R10 1948–1949 American Car & Foundry 400 1803–1852[e]
3000–3349
1989
R11 1949 Budd 10 8010–8019 1977
Test trains; rebuilt into R34 cars in 1965.
R12 1948 IRT American Car & Foundry 100 5703–5802[f] 1981
R14 1949 150 5803–5952 1984
R15 1950 100 5953–5999,
6200–6252
R16 1954–1955 BMT,

IND

200 6300–6499 1987
R17 1954–1956 IRT St. Louis Car 400 6500–6899 1988
R21 1956–1957 250 7050–7299 1987
R22 1957–1958 450 7300–7749
R26 1959–1960 American Car & Foundry 110 7750–7859 2002
Semi-married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R27 1960–1961 IND,

BMT

St. Louis Car 230 8020–8249 1990
Married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R28 1960–1961 IRT American Car & Foundry 100 7860–7959 2002
Semi-married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R29 1962 IRT St. Louis Car 236 8570–8805 2002
Married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
Rebuilt into R99 cars from 1985 to 1987.
R30 1961–1962 IND,

BMT

St. Louis Car 320 R30: 8250–8351
8412–8569
R30A: 8352–8411
1993
Married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R32 1964–1965 IND,

BMT

Budd Company 600 R32: 3350–3649
R32A: 3650–3949[g]
2022
Married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R33 1962–1963 IRT St. Louis Car 500 8806–9305 2003
Married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R33S 1963 IRT St. Louis Car 40 9306–9345 2003
single cars, built for IRT Flushing Line
R34 see R11
R36 1963–1964 IRT St. Louis Car 424 9346–9769 2003
Married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R38 1966–1967 IND,

BMT

St. Louis Car 200 3950–4149 2009
Married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R39 Never built IRT,

BMT

Intended to replace old equipment running on the BMT Myrtle Avenue Line in Brooklyn and the IRT Third Avenue Line in The Bronx
Would have been built to IRT dimensions of the R38 and ordered in the late 1960s or early 1970s
Order scrapped when the Myrtle Avenue Line south of the junction with the BMT Jamaica Line was discontinued in 1969 and the remaining Third Avenue Line in 1973
The Budd Company used a possible outline of this car as U.S. patent 3,151,538.
R40 1967–
1968
IND,

BMT

St. Louis Car Company 200 4150–4349 2009
Slanted ends, married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
Car numbers were originally 4150–4249, 4350–4449
R40A 1968–1969 IND,

BMT

St. Louis Car
Company
200 4350–4549 2009
Married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
Car numbers were originally 4250–4349 (straight ends),[55] 4450–4549 (slanted ends)[56]
R42 1969–1970 IND,

BMT

St. Louis Car
Company
400 4550–4949 2020
Married pairs
Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R44 (NYCT cars) 1971–1973 IND,

BMT

St. Louis Car
Company
288 100–387 2010 (NYCT cars)
4-car sets (A-B-B-A) formation. A cars have cabs on one end, while B cars have no cabs. Car numbers were originally 100–387. 278 cars were renumbered to 5202–5479 between 1991 & 1993.
R55 Never built IND,

BMT

The R55 was a proposed car[57] for the B Division (IND/BMT).
It was considered in the early 1980s, but never left the drawing board.
This order later evolved into the future R68.
R99 see R29
R110A 1992 IRT Kawasaki 10 8001–8010 1998
(Built as Contract R130)
New Technology demonstrator
Cars ending in 1, 5, 6, and 0 have single full-width cabs, and are known as "A" cars.
Cars ending in 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 have no cabs, and are known as "B" cars.
All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration as 5-car sets.
All cars were converted to pump train cars between 2013 and 2022.
R110B 1992 IND,

BMT

Bombardier 9 3001–3009 2000
(Built as Contract R131)
New Technology demonstrator, 67-foot (20 m) car
Cars 3002, 3005, and 3008 have no cabs and were known as "B" cars.
Other six cars have single full-width cabs, and are known as "A" cars.
All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-A configuration as 3-car sets.
Cars 3002–3003, 3007, and 3009 are stored at 207th Street Yard as of 2022; remaining cars are used for training at various facilities.

Miscellaneous

[edit]
The Train of Many Colors in 2008, during the last game at Shea Stadium in Queens
The "Train of Many Colors" makes another appearance on the 7 train in 2008, commemorating the last game at Shea Stadium
  • Air conditioning is standard on all cars R42 and later. R38s 4140–4149 and R40s 4350–4549 were also delivered with A/C, and all cars not equipped with A/C from classes R26–R40 (with the exception of the R27, R30, and R33S) were later retrofitted with A/C. All active cars are equipped with air conditioning, and cars with malfunctioning air conditioning are not supposed to be put into service.[58]
  • During World War II, a group of late-19th-century New York elevated cars was sent west to the San Francisco Bay Area by the United States Maritime Commission for use by the Shipyard Railway, a temporary wartime electric line transporting workers to the Kaiser Shipyards. After the war, most were sold to be used as units in a local motel, but their whereabouts afterward is unknown. Two of them, however, were acquired and have been restored by the Western Railway Museum in Rio Vista, California.[59]
  • There are many examples of rolling stock built under contract that are not intended for revenue services, such as the R95 money train, R65 pump train, R127/R134 garbage train, and R156 work locomotive.[60]
  • After the September 11th attacks, an American flag decal was added to every active subway car in the system. This practice continued with new car orders through the early 2020s.[61][62]
  • The table below shows what year the TA had expected to retire several car models in 1981.[63]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ See:
    • Korman, Joe (December 4, 2017). "IRT Car Assignments". JoeKorNer.
    • Korman, Joe (January 12, 2018). "BMT-IND Car Assignments". JoeKorNer.
  2. ^ Redbirds are R26, R28, R29, R33, and R36. All of these cars were replaced by more modern subway trains (R142/R142As) between 2001 and 2003, though many R33 cars are still in use as work trains. Sometimes, the term "Redbird" would also be used on the R27 and R30 cars as they were repainted Gunn red during the late 1980s and early 1990s before their retirement in 1993. These were known as the BMT Redbirds. Sixteen R17s were also given this paint scheme in 1985/86, but were retired by 1988, well before the name "Redbird" caught on.
  3. ^ All A Division cars are 51 feet (15.5 m) long; B Division cars are 60 feet (18.3 m) or 75 feet (22.9 m).
  4. ^ Some R179 cars have undergone or are currently undergoing CBTC installation in preparation for CBTC on the IND Eighth Avenue Line.
  5. ^ Car number series selected to bracket pre-unification BMT number series (1853–2999). Renumbered to 2950–2999 in 1970
  6. ^ Car number series to continue from pre-unification IRT number series (5702).
  7. ^ Car 3659 was renumbered to 3348 after being converted to an even-numbered car.
  8. ^ The New York City Subway R44s were retired in 2010. The Staten Island Railway R44s are still in service.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ more photos at http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/R-137_Vacuum_Train
  2. ^ "New York City Subway Car Fleet Jan 2012 through January 2016". TheJoeKorner. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  3. ^ Broadway Junction Transportation Study (Complete) (PDF) (Report). NYC Department of City Planning. November 2008. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  4. ^ "Showing Image 59931". www.nycsubway.org.
  5. ^ "Showing Image 59998". www.nycsubway.org.
  6. ^ Kennedy, Randy (August 22, 2001). "End of Line for Subway Cars: The Ocean Floor". New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  7. ^ Urbina, Ian (April 8, 2008). "Growing Pains for a Deep-Sea Home Built of Subway Cars". New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  8. ^ Parke, Phoebe (February 26, 2015). "Dumping subway trains into the ocean ... in a good way". CNN. New York: Warner Bros. Discovery. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  9. ^ "For Subway Cars, the Final Trip". New York Times. May 15, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  10. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  11. ^ 'Subdivision B Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  12. ^ Thomas Tracy; Rocco Pascandola; Wes Parnell; Clayton Guse (September 20, 2020). "Manhattan subway train derails after laughing saboteur puts metal clamps on tracks: police sources". New York Daily News. New York: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  13. ^ "Subway Derailment In Harlem Caused By 'Human Error,' MTA Says". CBS News. New York: CBS News and Stations. June 27, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  14. ^ "New York City Subway Car Update" (PDF). The Bulletin. 63 (12). Electric Railroaders' Association, Incorporated: 20. November 2020.
  15. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  16. ^ 'Subdivision A Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  17. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  18. ^ 'Subdivision A Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  19. ^ Barron, James (November 21, 1997). "87 Are Hurt as Subway Train Runs Into Another in Queens". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  20. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  21. ^ 'Subdivision B Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  22. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  23. ^ 'Subdivision B Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  25. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  26. ^ 'Subdivision A Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  27. ^ Dan Rivoli [@danrivoli] (March 27, 2020). "The aftermath of the fatal subway fire" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2020 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ Jose Martinez [@JMartinezNYC] (March 27, 2020). "Photos obtained by @THECITYNY of this morning's fatal subway fire at the Central Park North-110th Street station the level of destruction" (Tweet). Retrieved March 28, 2020 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  30. ^ 'Subdivision A Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Schedule I: Modifications to Purchase and Public Work Contracts. i42.tinypic.com.
  32. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  33. ^ 'Subdivision B Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  34. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  35. ^ 'Subdivision B Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  36. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  37. ^ 'Subdivision B Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  38. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  39. ^ 'Subdivision A Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  40. ^ "Page 32 (Footnotes)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  41. ^ "New York City Transit and Bus Committee Meeting October 2018" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 19, 2018. pp. 188–189. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  42. ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  43. ^ 'Subdivision B Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
  44. ^ a b MTA Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting: January 2016 (PDF) (Report). New York: Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  45. ^ "New Vacuum Trains Aim to Suck Trash Right in its Tracks". www.ny1.com.
  46. ^ Levine, Richard (February 13, 1987). "A SUBWAY WALKER SEARCHES THE LABYRINTH FOR PROBLEMS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  47. ^ "www.nycsubway.org: Track Geometry and Inspection Cars". www.nycsubway.org. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  48. ^ a b Kennedy, Randy (February 19, 2004). Subwayland: Adventures in the World Beneath New York. Macmillan. ISBN 9780312324346.
  49. ^ NYCTA Contract R-34152
  50. ^ Track Safety Standards Compliance Manual. Federal Railroad Administration, 2009. Print, Web. Track Safety Standards Compliance Manual Archived July 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  51. ^ Uzarski, Dr. Don. CEE 409 - Railroad Track Engineering, Class Notes. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. Print.
  52. ^ "MTA | news | New York City Transit's Wonder Train Car!". www.mta.info. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  53. ^ Adam Clark Estes (May 6, 2014). "This Superheroic Train Keeps New York City's Subway Safe". Gizmodo. Gawker Media.
  54. ^ "NON-CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT SOLICITATION NOTICE". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  55. ^ "Showing Image 5292". nycsubway.org.
  56. ^ "Showing Image 12845". nycsubway.org.
  57. ^ "Roster Summary By Type". Retrieved August 25, 2009.
  58. ^ Jaffe, Eric (August 15, 2012). "A Brief History of Air-Conditioning on the New York Subway". The Atlantic Cities. Archived from the original on August 16, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  59. ^ "Richmond Shipyard Railway 1943–1945" Retrieved on April 16, 2008 Archived July 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  60. ^ "www.nycsubway.org".
  61. ^ "Six-car 'pump train' helps get subways back on track in wake of Sandy superstorm". New York Daily News. November 2, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  62. ^ Frishberg, Hannah. "Brooklyn Movie Mistakes -- Saturday Night Fever, Do the Right Thing". Brownstoner. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  63. ^ "www.nycsubway.org".

Further reading

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