The New York City Subway is a large rapid transit system and has a large fleet of rolling stock.
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As of June 2011, there are 6,292 cars on the NYCT roster.[1] Train assignments can be found here:[2][3] 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 (45.72 to 182.88 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 that is 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 August 2011, R42 married pairs, R143 four-car sets and 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 made the decision 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 a digital light 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.[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 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.
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 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.
Contract # | Year built and Builder |
Photo | Fleet numbers (Total ordered) |
Services | Yard assignment |
Notes |
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R62 | 1983-1985 Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
1301-1625 (325 total, 315 in service) |
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R62A | 1984-1987 Bombardier Transportation |
1651-2475 (825 total, 824 in service) |
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R142 | 1999-2003 Bombardier Transportation |
1101–1250, 6301-7180 (1030 total) |
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R142A | 1999-2004 Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
7211-7810 (600 total) |
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R188 | 2011-2015 Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
(506 total) | Not yet in service | Testing |
Contract # |
Year built and Builder |
Length | Photo | Fleet numbers (Total ordered) |
Services | Yard assignment | Notes |
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R32/ R32A |
1964-1965 Budd Company |
60 ft. |
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R42 | 1969-1970 St. Louis Car Company |
60 ft. | 4550-4949 (400 total, 48 left in revenue service) |
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R44 | 1971-1972 St. Louis Car Company |
75 ft. |
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R46 | 1975-1978 Pullman Company |
75 ft. |
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R68 | 1986-1988 Westinghouse Electric Corporation/AMRail |
75 ft. | 2500-2924 (425 total) |
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R68A | 1988-1989 Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
75 ft. | 5001-5200 (200 total) |
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R143 | 2001-2003 Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
60 ft. | 8101-8312 (212 total, 208 in service) |
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R160A | 2005-2010 Alstom Transportation |
60 ft. |
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R160B | 2005-2010 Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
60 ft. | 8713-9232, 9803-9942[9] (660 cars total) |
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Contract # | Division | Builder Year To Be Built |
Total | Notes |
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R179 | B | N/A
2012- |
350 (52 5 car operating units + 10 4 cars operating units + 10 optional 5 car operating units) + 80 additional option cars pending funding | To be ordered, consists of 340 cars to replace R32s and R42s on the IND/BMT. Additional 80 cars to displace selected R46s to SIR and retire the R44s. |
R211 | B | N/A
2015- |
An amount roughly equivalent in capacity to 752 75 foot cars. | To be ordered, replacing R46 cars in 2015. Design draft slated for 2012 |
Designation | Year built | Division | Builder | Fleet total | Car numbers | Year retired |
Denotes |
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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 |
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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 |
Designation | Year built | Division | Builder | Fleet total |
Car numbers | Year retired |
Denotes |
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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 |
Contract # | Year built | Division | Builder | Fleet total | Car numbers | Year retired | ||
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Denotes | ||||||||
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, | 150 | ACF: 1400-1474, Pullman: 1475–1549 |
1977 | ||
R7A | 1938 | IND | American Car & Foundry, | 100 | Pullman: 1550–1599, ACF: 1600-1649 |
1977 | ||
R9 | 1940 | IND, | American Car & Foundry, | 153 | ACF: 1650-1701, PS: 1702-1802 |
1977 | ||
R10 | 1948–1949 | IND, | 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. |
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R11 | 1949 | BMT, | 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. |
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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. |
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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, | 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. |
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R27 | 1960–1961 | IND, | St. Louis Car | 230 | 8020-8249 | 1990 | ||
Married Pairs Even numbered cars have Motor Generator and battery, Odd numbered cars have Air Compressor. |
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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. |
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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. |
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R30 / R30A | 1961–1962 | IND, | St. Louis Car | 320 | R30: 8250-8351 R30A: 8352-8411 |
1993 | ||
Married Pairs Even numbered cars have Motor Generator and battery, Odd numbered cars have Air Compressor. |
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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. |
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R33 WF | 1963 | IRT | St. Louis Car | 40 | 9306-9345 | 2003 | ||
single cars, built for IRT Flushing Line some now in work service |
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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. |
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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. |
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R38 | 1966–1967 | IND, | St. Louis Car | 200 | 3950-4149 | 2009 | ||
Married Pairs Even numbered cars have Motor Generator and battery, Odd numbered cars have Air Compressor. |
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R39 | Never built | IRT, | ||||||
R40 | 1968- 1969 |
IND, | 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 |
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R40A/ R40M |
1968–1969 | IND, | 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),[10] 4450-4549 (slant)[11] |
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R55 | Never built | IND, | The R55 was a proposed car[12] 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. |
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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 Concourse Yard as of June 19, 2009 |
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R110B | 1992 | IND, | 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. |
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