R42 (New York City Subway car)
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The R42 is a New York City Subway car built in 1969–70. It was the last 60-foot IND-BMT car built for the subway until the R143 in 2001, and the last model class to be built as pairs (mated sets). Thereafter, the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) switched for the time being to 75-foot cars for the IND–BMT divisions.
The R42 cars are similar to the R40Ms, and intermix in service with them. Built by the St. Louis Car Company in St. Louis, Missouri, these were the first fully original air-conditioned car class in the New York City Subway. They are found mostly on the BMT Eastern Division (J, M, L, Z services) and on lines that use the R40Ms.
Cars 4554-4556 were the first R42s in service on May 9, 1969 (in a mixed train on the BMT Sea Beach Line).
The R42s went into rebuilding in 1988–90. 282 cars (4550-4839) were rebuilt and overhauled by Morrison-Knudsen. The last 110 cars (4840-4949) were rebuilt by NYCTA Coney Island Overhaul Car Shops in Coney Island, Brooklyn.
R42s 4680, 4681, 4714, 4715, 4766, and 4767 were scrapped in 1988. 4664 was scrapped in 2001 after a rear-end collision on the Williamsburg Bridge in June 1995.
4572-73 were used in the famous chase scene in the film The French Connection.
[edit] R-42 Specifications
| Car builder | St. Louis Car Company, St Louis, MO | |
| Car body | Stainless Steel with Carbon Steel chassis and underbody, Fiberglass A-end bonnet | |
| Unit numbers | 4550-4949 (with gaps) | |
| Fleet of (as of right now) | 391 cars | |
| Car dimensions | 60 feet, 21⁄2 inches long 10 feet wide 12 feet, 15⁄8 inches high |
18.35 m long 3.048 m wide 3.7 m high |
| Track, standard gauge | 4 ft 81⁄2 in | 1.435 m |
| Doorway width (side—clear opening) |
4 ft 2 in | 1.27 m |
| Wheel diameter | 34 inches | 864 mm |
| Propulsion system | General Electric (GE) SCM propulsion system | |
| DC Traction motors | Westinghouse 1447J | |
| Power (4 per car) | 115 horsepower | 86 kW |
| Brakes | New York Air Brake System (NYAB) "SMEE" Braking System | |
| Average car weight (empty) |
72,433 lb | 33,762 kg |
| Maximum speed | 65 mph | 105 km/h (Later Lowered) |
| Total seated passengers | 44 | |
| Air conditioning system | Two Stone Safety HVAC units each car. | |
| Cab Arrangement | Half-width driving cab at "A" end, half-width conductor control cab at "B" end | |
| Coupling/Numbering Arrangement | All married pairs. | |
| Price per car (new, 1969) | US$ 132,670 | |
