New York City Subway rolling stock

Not to be confused with List of New York City Subway R-type contracts.

File:Centennial Holiday Shopper’s Special.jpg

The "Centennial Holiday Shopper's Special", a train of R1, R4, R7A, and R9 cars that ran during the Subway Centennial in late 2004 on the Brighton Line

An R142A series car on the 4 service

A Vaktrak track vacuuming train

The "2007 Holiday Shopper's Special", December Sundays, a train of R1, R4, R7A, and R9 subway cars running in special service at the 23rd Street (Sixth Avenue) station

The New York City Subway is a large rapid transit system and has a large fleet of rolling stock.

Overview

As of January 2012, there are 6,293 cars on the NYCT roster. Train assignments can be found here: A typical revenue train consists of 8 to 11 cars, although shuttles can be as short as two, and can range from 150 to 600 feet (46 to 183 m) long. As a general rule, trains on A Division lines inherited from the IRT (designated with numbers, plus the 42nd Street Shuttle) are shorter and narrower than those that operate on B Division lines inherited from BMT/IND (designated with letters). The A Division and B Division trains operate only in their own division; operating in the other division is not allowed. This is mainly because the IRT sections have narrower tunnel segments, tighter curves, and tighter platform clearances than the BMT/IND sections. IRT Division trains would have an unacceptably large gap between the platform and train if they were allowed in the BMT/IND Division. Likewise, BMT/IND trains would not fit in the IRT tunnels and stations. The safety train stop (trip cock) mechanism between divisions is also incompatible, being located on opposite sides of the track and train in each division. Service and maintenance trains are composed of IRT sized cars, do not carry passengers, and can operate on either division as the safety train stop is built on both sides of the trucks.

The system maintains two separate fleets of cars, one for the IRT lines, another for the BMT/IND lines. All BMT/IND equipment is 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 whereas IRT equipment is approximately 8 feet 9 inches (2.67 m) wide and 51 feet (15.54 m) long. There is also a special fleet of BMT/IND cars, used for operation in the BMT Eastern Division, which is the J, L, M and Z trains. The BMT Eastern Division has sharper curves and shorter platforms, so these trains can only use eight 60-foot (18.29 m) long cars. As of June 2013, R32 / R42 married pairs and R143 / R160A four-car sets are assigned to the BMT Eastern Division. 75-foot (22.86 m) long cars, like the R44s, R46s, R68s, and R68As are not permitted on BMT Eastern Division trackage.

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.: R32. 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 WF, or R143 through R160B) may be virtually identical, simply being purchased under different contracts.

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, whose larger profile was more 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 an LCD display was placed in the front. The MTA has been incorporating newer subway cars into its stock in the past decade. Since 1999, the R142s, R142As, R143s, R160As, and R160Bs have been added into service. 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 R110B, which has rollsigns on the front).

Old cars, some from the original companies (IRT and BMT), are preserved at the New York Transit Museum, while others have been sold to private individuals, rail and trolley museums. Between 1984 and 1989 some of the IRT trains were painted red, giving them the name Redbirds. Since then, all of these cars have been replaced by more modern subway trains (R142/R142As) between 2000 and 2005. As of July 2010, many older BMT/IND cars (R32, R38, R40, R40A/M, R42, and R44) have been retired and replaced with the R160s.

A track geometry car work car at Jay Street – Borough Hall

General Overhaul Program

The General Overhaul Program (GOH) was a mid-life overhaul program for neglected subway cars which involved thorough rebuilding of the fleet. Recently, 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, R33 WF, R36, R36 WF), as well as IND/BMT cars (R30 GE, R32, R38, R40, R40A, R40M, R42, R44 and R46). These cars were rebuilt between 1985 and 1992. Some cars in various classes from R10 to R46 were also given lighter overhauls during this period.

The "R" Prefix

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 in order to reduce waste and abuse.

Current fleet

A Division

Contract #	Year built and Builder	Photo	Fleet numbers (Total ordered)	CBTC	Assigned Services	Yard assignment	Notes
R62	1983–1985 Kawasaki Heavy Industries		1301–1625 (325 total, 315 in service)	no	As of June 30, 2024	Livonia 240th Street	Originally single cars, now 5-car sets. 10 cars retired and scrapped.
R62A	1984–1987 Bombardier Transportation		1640, 1651–2475 (826 total, 825 in service)	no	As of June 30, 2024	240th Street Corona Livonia Westchester	Originally single cars, 1900s still singles, all other cars in 5-car sets. 1661-1900 and 2156-2475 (plus select 1900s) have full-width cabs at ends of sets. 1651-1660 and 2001-2155 have half-width cabs at ends of sets. One car (1909) retired and scrapped.
R142	1999–2003 Bombardier Transportation		1101–1250, 6301–7180 (1030 total)	no	As of June 30, 2024	East 180th Street 239th Street Mosholu	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.
R142A	1999–2004 Kawasaki Heavy Industries		7231–7590, 7596-7810 (600 total, 575 in service)	no	As of June 30, 2024	Mosholu Westchester	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. 380 cars (38 trainsets) to be converted to R188 by 2015 for the IRT Flushing Line.
R188	2011–2016 Kawasaki Heavy Industries		7211–7230, 7811–7936 (506 total) (Delivery in progress)	yes	Not yet in service (to be assigned to the Template:NYCS-bull-small)	Testing	Cars in 5-car and 6-car sets for IRT Flushing Line service. Order consists of a combination of 126 new cars & R142A conversions by the manufacturer, totaling 380 car conversions.

B Division

Contract #	Year built and Builder	Car Length	Photo	Fleet numbers (Total ordered)	CBTC	Assigned Services	Yard assignment	Notes
R32 / R32A	1964–1965 Budd Company	60 ft or 18.29 m		R32A: 3350–3649 R32: 3650–3949 (600 total, 222 left in revenue service)	no		207th Street East New York	Married pairs; even numbered cars have motor generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor. Mismatched pairs common due to accidents and scrapping. Many cars have been retired and replaced by R160A/R160B car order. Retirement of remaining cars postponed to facilitate retirement of the R44s.
R42	1969–1970 St. Louis Car Company	60 ft or 18.29 m		4550–4949 (400 total, 50 left in revenue service)	no		East New York	Married pairs; even numbered cars have motor generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor. Many cars have been retired and replaced by R160A/R160B car order. Retirement of remaining cars postponed to facilitate retirement of the R44s.
R44	1971–1972 St. Louis Car Company	75 ft or 22.86 m		388–435 436–466 (even numbers only) (352 total, 63 left in revenue service)	no		Clifton	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. All R44 New York City Subway cars were in A-B-B-A configuration as 4-car sets. Staten Island cars are all singles. New York City Subway car numbers were originally 100–387 and renumbered 5202–5479. All NYCS cars retired by the end of 2010 due to structural integrity issues.
R46	1975–1978 Pullman Company	75 ft or 22.86 m		5482–6207 (4 car sets) 6208–6258 (even numbers only) (754 total, 752 in service)	no	As of June 30, 2024	Jamaica Pitkin	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. Most cars are in A-B-B-A configuration as 4-car sets. Higher numbered cars are in A-A configuration (6208–6258), with one pair being an A-B (6206–6207). Car numbers were originally 500–1227 and 1228–1278 even numbers only. Two cars scrapped prior to General Overhaul: 941, 1054 (original numbering).
R68	1986–1988 Westinghouse Electric Corporation & AMRail	75 ft or 22.86 m		2500–2924 (425 total)	no	As of June 30, 2024	Concourse Coney Island	Originally single cars, 2500–2915 are now in 4-car sets. 2916–2924 are singles used for the Franklin Avenue Shuttle.
R68A	1988–1989 Kawasaki Heavy Industries	75 ft or 22.86 m		5001–5200 (200 total)	no	As of June 30, 2024	Coney Island	Originally single cars, now 4-car sets.
R143	2001–2003 Kawasaki Heavy Industries	60 ft or 18.29 m		8101–8312 (212 total, 208 in service)	yes	As of June 30, 2024	East New York	All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-A configuration as 4-car sets. "A" cars have single full-width cabs, "B" cars have no cabs. Four cars (8277–8280) taken out of service in 2006 due to bumper block overshoot incident.
R160A / R160B	2005–2010 Alstom Transportation & Kawasaki Heavy Industries	60 ft or 18.29 m		8313–8652, 9943–9974 (4-car sets) (372 cars)	yes	As of June 30, 2024	East New York	All car sets are sequentially numbered. "A" cars have single full-width cabs, "B" cars have no cabs. 8313–8652, 9943–9974 are in A-B-B-A configuration as 4-car sets. 8313–8376; CBTC compatible 8653–9942; ending in 3, 7, 8 and 2 are "A" cars. 8653–9942; ending in 4, 5, 6, 9, 0 and 1 are "B" cars. 8653–9942 are in A-B-B-B-A configuration as 5-car sets.
				8653–9942 (5-car sets) (1290 cars) (1662 total)	no		Coney Island Jamaica

Future fleet

Contract #	Division	Builder Year To Be Built	Total	Notes
R179	B	Bombardier Transportation 2014–2016	300 cars (65 four car sets + 8 five car sets)	To replace the remaining R32s and R42s, and to provide a fleet for the Second Avenue Subway.
R211	B	TBA 2010s–	An amount roughly equivalent in capacity to 900 75-foot cars, with 752 cars for R46 replacement plus 84 additional growth cars and SIR fleet replacement cars.	To replace R46s and the remaining R44SIRs, and to provide a fleet for the Second Avenue Subway and to expand the fleet for communications-based train control.

Retired fleet

IRT Pre-Unification listing

Designation	Year built	Division	Builder	Fleet total	Car numbers	Year retired	Denotes
Composite	1903–1904	IRT	Jewett, St. Louis Car, Stephenson, Wason	500	2000–2159, 3000–3339	1916 1950	2000–2159: Non-powered Trailers only 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	IRT	American Car & Foundry	300	3350–3649	1959
Hi-V "Deck Roof"	1907–1908	IRT	American Car & Foundry	50	3650–3699	1959
Hi-V "Hedley"	1910–1911	IRT	American Car & Foundry, Standard Steel, Pressed Steel	325	ACF: 3700–3809, SS: 3810–3849, PS: 3850–4024	1959
Hi-V "Hedley"	1915	IRT	Pullman	292	4223–4514	1959	Non-powered Trailers only; 4223–4250 in their last years were motorized as blind motors with no controls.
Lo-V "Flivver"	1915	IRT	Pullman	178	4037–4160, 4161–4214	1962	Were built with the original trucks and electrical components removed from the Composites.
Lo-V "Steinway"	1915–1916	IRT	Pullman	110	4025–4036, 4215–4222, 4555–4576, 4700–4770		Equipped with special gearing for the steep grades of the Steinway Tunnels.
Lo-V	1916–1917	IRT	Pullman	695	4515–4554, 4577–4699, 4771–4810, 4811–4965, 4966–5302		4515–4554 and 4811–4965: Non-powered Trailers only
Lo-V	1922	IRT	Pullman	100	5303–5377, 5378–5402		Non-powered Trailers only; 5303–5377 equipped with air compressors for brakes
Lo-V	1924–1925	IRT	American Car & Foundry	225	5403–5627	1964
Lo-V "Steinway"	1925	IRT	American Car & Foundry	25	5628–5652		Equipped with special gearing for the steep grades of the Steinway Tunnels.
Lo-V "World's Fair"	1938	IRT	St. Louis Car	50	5653–5702

BMT Pre-Unification listing

Designation	Year built	Division	Builder	Fleet total	Car numbers	Year retired	Denotes
AB Standard	1914–1919	BMT	American Car & Foundry	600	2000–2599	1969
AB Standard	1920–1922	BMT	Pressed Steel	300	2600–2899	1969
AB Standard	1924	BMT	Pressed Steel	50	4000–4049	1961	Non-powered Trailers only
BMT-SIRT (ME-1)	1925	SIR, BMT	Standard Steel	25	2900–2924	1961	25 motor cars purchased from the Staten Island Railway in 1954.
D-type Triplex	1925–1928	BMT	Pressed Steel	121	6000–6120	1965
Green Hornet	1934	BMT	Pullman	1	7003	1942	Experimental unit; scrapped in 1942 for the war.
Zephyr	1934	BMT	Budd	1	7029	1954	Experimental unit
Multi	1936	BMT	St. Louis Car	10	7004–7013	1961
Multi	1936	BMT	Pullman	15	7014–7028	1961
Bluebird	1938, 1940	BMT	Clark	6	8000–8005	1957

R-type listing

Main article: List of New York City Subway R-type contracts

Contract #	Year built	Division	Builder	Fleet total	Car numbers	Year retired
R1	1930–1931	IND	American Car & Foundry	300	100–399	1977
R4	1932–1933	IND	American Car & Foundry	500	400–899	1977
R-6-3	1935–1936	IND	American Car & Foundry	250	900–1149	1977
R-6-2	1936	IND	Pullman	150	1150–1299	1977
R-6-1	1936	IND	Pressed Steel	100	1300–1399	1977
R7	1937	IND	American Car & Foundry, Pullman	150	ACF: 1400–1474, Pullman: 1475–1549	1977
R7A	1938	IND	American Car & Foundry, Pullman	100	Pullman: 1550–1599, ACF: 1600–1649	1977
R9	1940	IND, BMT	American Car & Foundry, Pressed Steel	153	ACF: 1650–1701, PS: 1702–1802	1977
R10	1948–1949	IND, BMT	American Car & Foundry	400	1803–1852, 3000–3349	1989
	Car number series selected to bracket the Pre-Unification BMT number series 1853–2999. Cars 1803–1852 were renumbered as 2950–2999 in 1970.
R11	1949	BMT, IND	Budd	10	8010–8019	1977
	Number series selected to continue from the Pre-unification BMT number series. Test trains, rebuilt into R34 cars in 1965.
R12	1948	IRT	American Car & Foundry	100	5703–5802	1981
	Car Number series selected to continue from the Pre-unification IRT number series. Rollsigns displayed Post-unification IRT number series, first introduced in 1948.
R14	1949	IRT	American Car & Foundry	150	5803–5952	1984
R15	1950	IRT	American Car & Foundry	100	5953–5999, 6200–6252	1984
R16	1955	BMT, IND	American Car & Foundry	200	6300–6499	1987
R17	1955–1956	IRT	St. Louis Car	400	6500–6899	1988
R21	1956	IRT	St. Louis Car	250	7050–7299	1987
R22	1957	IRT	St. Louis Car	450	7300–7749	1987
R26	1959–1960	IRT	American Car & Foundry	110	7750–7859	2002
	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
	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.
R30 / R30A	1961–1962	IND, BMT	St. Louis Car	320	R30: 8250–8351 R30A: 8352–8411 R30: 8412–8569	1993
	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.
R33 WF	1963	IRT	St. Louis Car	40	9306–9345	2003
	single cars, built for IRT Flushing Line some now in work service
R34	see R11
R36	1963–1964	IRT	St. Louis Car	34	9524–9557	2003
	Married pairs Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, Odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R36 WF	1963–1964	IRT	St. Louis Car	390	9346–9523, 9558–9769	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
R40	1968– 1969	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/ R40M	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 (modified), 4450–4549 (slant)
R55	Never built	IND, BMT	The R55 was a proposed car 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.
R110A	1992	IRT	Kawasaki	10	8001–8010	1999
	(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 are stored at 239th Street Yard as of December 8, 2011
R110B	1992	IND, BMT	Bombardier	9	3001–3009	2000
	(Built as Contract R131) New Technology demonstrator, 67-foot (20 m) car cars ending in 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 have single full-width cabs, and are known as "A" cars. cars ending in 2, 5 and 8 have no cabs, and are known as "B" cars. All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-A configuration as 3-car sets. Set 3001–3004 and 3007–3009 are stored at 207th Street Yard. The other three are used for training.

Notes

File:Train of Many Colors.jpg

The "Train of Many Colors" operates in late 2004 as a Subway Centennial special on the No. 7 train

The "Train of Many Colors" makes another appearance on the No. 7 train in 2008, commemorating the last game at Shea Stadium

• Most IND/BMT (Division B) cars are 60 feet (18.3 m) long unless noted; all IRT (Division A) cars are 51 feet (15.5 m).
• R44, R46, R68, R68A are 75 feet (22.9 m) long
• All cars R38 and after are stainless steel.
• Air conditioning is standard on all cars R42 and later. R38s 4140-49 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 R33WF) 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.
• "Number of cars" is the total number built per model and does not account for cars wrecked, scrapped, etc.
• Redbirds are R26, 28, 29, 30, 33 and 36. Many cars are still in use as work trains (Most remaining cars are R33s). 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 retirement. These were known as the BMT Redbirds.
• R39 and R55 were never built.
• During World War II, a group of old New York elevated line cars dating from the late 19th century 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 afterwards is unknown. Two of them however were acquired and have been restored by the Western Railway Museum in Rio Vista, California. (See photos at)
• There are many examples of rolling stock built under contract which are not intended for revenue service, such as the R95 money train, R127 garbage train and R156 work locomotive.

Further reading

• Sansone, Gene. Evolution of New York City subways: An illustrated history of New York City's transit cars, 1867–1997. New York Transit Museum Press, New York, 1997. ISBN 978-0-9637492-8-4.
• Kramer, Frederick A. Building the Independent Subway. Quadrant Press, Inc.; New York, 1990. ISBN 0-915276-50-X
• Cudahy, Brian J. Under the Sidewalks of New York: The Story of the Greatest Subway System in the World, 2nd Revised Edition. Fordham University Press, New York, 1995. ISBN 0-8232-1618-7
• Dougherty, Peter J. Tracks of the New York City Subway, version 4.2. 2007

External links

• nycsubway.org – New York City Subway Cars
• Pre-Unification Cars (BMT)
• Pre-Unification Cars (IRT)
• R-Type Cars 1932 to 1987
• R-Type Cars 1999 to Present (NTT)
• 'R' Type Roster (includes non-train contracts)
• Forgotten NY Subway Link
• Korman, Joe (December 4, 2017). "IRT Car Assignments". JoeKorNer.
• Korman, Joe (January 12, 2018). "BMT-IND Car Assignments". JoeKorNer.