Deck Roof (New York City Subway car)

Deckroof Hi-V
In service 1907-1958
Manufacturer American Car and Foundry
Constructed 1907-1908
Number built 50
Number preserved 1
Number scrapped 49
Formation Singles
Fleet numbers 3650-3699
Operator Interborough Rapid Transit Company
NYC Board of Transportation
New York City Transit Authority
Specifications
Car body construction Riveted Steel
Car length 51 ft 1.5 in (15.58 m)
Width 8 ft 10 in (2,692 mm)
Height 12 ft 0 in (3,658 mm)
Doors

Up until the early 1910s: 4

After the 1910s: 6
Maximum speed 55 mph (89 km/h)
Weight Motor car:
~83,780 lb (38,002 kg)
Traction system Motor car: 2 motors per car.
Power output 200 hp (149 kW) per traction motor
Electric system(s) 600 V DC Third rail
Current collection method Contact shoe
Braking system(s) Before 1910: WABCO Schedule AM(P) with 'P' type triple valve and M-2 brake stand
After 1910: WABCO Schedule AMRE with 'R' type triple valve and ME-21 brake stand
Track gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)

The Deck Roof Hi-V, a New York City Subway car, was built between 1907 and 1908. These cars remained in service from 1907 to 1958 and were also nicknamed the Battleships. When they were new they had two doors on each side until the early 1910s when they received another door in the middle on each side.[1] Just like the Gibbs car this car sent 600 volts into the controller, which was hazardous, but with that exception these cars proved to be reliable throughout their career. In the 1920s the Hi-V fleet was being converted to multiple unit door control with exception being all 50 of the Deckroofs and some Gibbs and Hedley cars. The Deckroofs were often placed at either end of the train so that ten car trains of Hi-V cars can be run.[2][3] The IRT platforms up until the late 1950s and early 1960s could not handle a full ten car train and so the manual door controls of the Deckroof came in handy as the side vestibule doors at either end of the train can be opened manually even if the entire car isn't on the platform. Though two conductors were required when it came to manual door controlled cars. When all the platforms on the IRT were eventually lengthened to support ten car trains the Hi-Vs by then were being phased out by the then new R17, R21, and R22 subway cars which would completely replace the Hi-V fleet by 1959. Only one Deckroof 3662 was preserved and survives at the Shore Line Trolley Museum and is in running condition, but is not run often.

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