R33 (New York City Subway car)

R33 Main Line
(New York City Subway car)

R33 #9010 on the 7 train, in the 1970s two-tone livery, operating for the final game at Shea Stadium.

Interior of an R33 Main Line car post-GOH. R26 to R36 interiors are similar to the R33.
In service 1962–2003
Manufacturer St. Louis Car Company
Built at St. Louis, Missouri
Replaced 2001–2003
Constructed 1962–1963
Scrapped 2001-2004
Number built 500 cars (250 pairs)
Number in service None in regular passenger service
Number preserved 11(54 cars are work cars)
Number scrapped 435
Formation Pairs
Fleet numbers 8806–9305
Operator New York City Subway
Specifications
Car body construction LAHT carbon steel
Car length 51.04 feet (15.56 m)
Width 8.75 feet (2.67 m)
Height 11.86 feet (3.61 m)
Doors 6 per car
Maximum speed 55 miles per hour (89 km/h)
Weight 72,900 pounds (33,100 kg) (post-rebuild)
Traction system GE 17KG192AE2/3 (9076-9305 formerly Westinghouse)
Power output Westinghouse 1447JR/GE 1257E1, 100 hp (75 kW) per axle
Electric system(s) 600 V DC
Current collection method Third rail
Braking system(s) WABCO, "SMEE" (electrodynamic)
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)

The R33 ML (Mainline) was a New York City Subway car built by St. Louis Car Company in 1962–63. They were a "follow-up" or supplemental stock for the "A" Division's R29s and closely resemble them. Five hundred cars were built, serving on all IRT subway lines. They were rebuilt between 1986–1991. After rebuilding, they served on the 2, 4, and 5 routes and occasionally on the 7 before making their last trip on the 4 on April 14, 2003.

In 1996, New York City Transit announced that it would begin phasing out the Redbird cars, the R26 / 28 / 29 / 33 and 36.[1] With the arrival of the R142 and R142A cars from 2001 to 2003, Redbird cars were scrapped, sold, put into work service, or stored out of service.

Eight cars (9010-9011, 9016-9017, 9068-9069 and 9206-9207) have been repainted into various vintage paint schemes, and have seen various uses since retirement. Car #9075 is on display at Queens Borough Hall and is retrofitted with swinging doors.

Most of these cars were retired by the NYCTA between 2001 and 2003. Some cars converted to work service from 1999-2004.

Route assignment history

Gallery

References

  1. ^ "NYC Transit prepared for major subway car procurement". Railway age (Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation). 1996-09-01. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-18714235/nyc-transit-prepared-major.html. Retrieved 27 November 2009.