R4 (New York City Subway car)

R4

An R4 subway car on display at the New York Transit Museum

Interior of R4 484.
Manufacturer American Car and Foundry
Constructed 1932-33
Scrapped 1977
Number built 500
Number preserved 4
Number scrapped 496
Fleet numbers 400-899
Capacity 56
Operator Independent Subway System
New York City Transit Authority
Specifications
Car body construction Riveted Steel
Car length 60 feet, 212 inches (18.35 m)
Width 10 feet (3.05 m)
Height 12 feet, 158 inches (3.70 m)
Doors 8
Maximum speed 55 miles (89 km) per hour
Weight 84,503 lb (38.3 tonnes)
Acceleration 1.75mph/s
Power output 190 hp (142 kW) per traction motor
Electric system(s) Top running third rail (600 Volts DC)
Current collection method Contact Shoe
Braking system(s) WABCO Schedule AMUE with UE-5 universal valve, ME-23 brake stand, and simplex clasp brake rigging
Coupling system WABCO H2A
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)

R4 is the contract number for the second order of standard subway cars purchased for the IND division of the New York City Subway. They were built by American Car and Foundry Company between 1932 and 1933, and were practically identical to the original R1 order. The R4s had a slightly different side door panel than the R1, adding small handle notches below the door window. The 500 R4s were numbered 400-899 to continue the R1's sequence of numbers.

Note: The R5 contract order was for trucks and motors for R4 fleet. In 1932, each new car cost $30,633 for the carbody under contract R4.

Contents

Notes

Preservation

R-4 Specifications

References