R11/R34 (New York City Subway car)

The R11 was a prototype class of experimental New York City Subway cars built by the Budd Company in 1949.

Because each one cost more than $100,000, the ten R11 cars are frequently referred to as the Million Dollar Train. From 1964 to 1965, the ten R11 cars were overhauled in the Transit Authority's own Coney Island Complex under contract R34. Therefore, it is also acceptable to refer to the cars as R34's, provided one is referring to them in their post-overhaul state.

Background and description

Design and rebuild

Otto Kuhler's patent of subway car filed 1947 (copied by R11)

The full size of the R11 contract was to have been for 400 new subway cars, intended to provide service on the planned Second Avenue Subway. The subway, which was then slated to open in the 1950s, had been repeatedly delayed throughout its history, and the 10 cars ordered were to serve as a newest technology prototype test train available at the time. However, the remainder of the cars were never built due to the halt of construction on Second Avenue shortly thereafter.

The ornamental design of the car body featured standee windows separated by a heavy brace from the lower windows. This was due to the influence of noted industrial designer Otto Kuhler (US patent Des.153,367), and featured as part of a bid by the American Car and Foundry Company in 1947. The cars also implemented new technology in several areas. "Precipitron" lamps were included, designed to combat airborne bacteria. Forced air ventilation was introduced as ceiling vents circulated fresh air in from outside each car, while removing stale air. Electric door motors were used for the first time, replacing the standard compressed air engines which had served on much of the older equipment. However, these cars were also built with outside door operating apparatus or controls along with an exterior mounted Public Address microphone system. Lastly, drum brakes were installed instead of conventional tread brakes.

The R11 cars originally used storm doors that were similar to those used in later SMEE cars, but by the early 1950s, those storm doors were modified to feature circular windows similar to those on the R15, R16, and R17 cars.

The R11 cars were rebuilt in 1965 under contract R34. During the rebuild, the drum brakes were replaced with disk brakes, new fans were installed, and the middle stanchions were removed to improve passenger flow. The rebuild also included modifications that allowed the cars to operate in consists with other SMEE (contracts R10 through R42) cars.

Retirement and after service life

Since there were only ten of them, maintenance for the R11s proved time consuming and difficult by the 1970s, as special skills and components were needed to keep the cars in working order. As a result, the R11s were retired from service in 1977 following a yard accident that wrecked car 8016, and 9 of the 10 cars were scrapped by 1980.

The one exception is car 8013, which survives today at the New York Transit Museum. Most recently, 8013 was restored to operating condition and made its first in-service run in 37 years on a nostalgia trip on August 3, 2014. 8013 was mated to R16 6387. However, rainy weather the night before short-circuited the overhead electrical wiring; thus, the car ran the duration of the trip with its interior lights off. The car will need extensive electrical work done before it can be run in excursion service. 8013 had its interior lights extensively repaired along with the leak in its roof at the 207th Street overhaul yard.

The R11 was the first stainless steel R-type car (The Budd BMT Zephyr holds the title of being the first stainless steel subway car in the city). Fifteen years after building the R11s, the Budd Company built the first bulk order of stainless steel cars in New York City Subway history, the R32.

Further reading

• Sansone, Gene. New York Subways: An illustrated History of New York City's Transit Cars. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2004 ISBN 0-8018-7922-1 pp. 193 – 194

External links

Media related to R11/R34 (New York City Subway car) at Wikimedia Commons

• MTA Press Release "The Train of the Future now a Museum Piece"
• R11 on nycsubway.org

New York City Subway revenue rolling stock Current B Division / SIR: R32 R42 R44 R46 R68 R68A NTT R143 R160 A Division: R62 R62A NTT R142 R142A R188 Future B Division / SIR: R179 R211 Retired (R-type) IND / BMT (B Division): Arnines R1 R4 R6 R7 R7A R9 R10 R11/R34 R16 Redbirds R27 R30/A R38 R40 R40A R110B (experimental) IRT (A Division): R12 R14 R15 R17 R21 R22 Redbirds R26 R28 R29 R33 R33 WF R36 R36 WF R110A (experimental) Train of Many Colors Retired (private operators) BMT / SIR Elevated: BU cars C-type Q-type Queens car Subway: AB Standard Bluebird Compartment Car D-type Triplex MS Multi-section car SIRT ME-1 IRT Composite Gibbs Hi-V Deck Roof Hi-V Hedley Hi-V Steinway Lo-V "Flivver" Lo-V Standard Lo-V World's Fair Lo-V Work trains R8A R65 R110A R127/R134 R156 Never built R39 R55 R83 See also: R-type contracts

Rolling stock manufactured by the Budd Company Streamliners Flying Yankee General Pershing Zephyr Keystone Pioneer Zephyr Roger Williams Multiple units CB class CTA 2200 Series CTA 2600 Series M1/M3 M2 Metroliner 1100 class PATCO Speedliner Pioneer III R11 R32 Rail Diesel Car (RDC) Silverliner SPV-2000 Universal Transit Vehicle Passenger stock Amfleet Big Dome Château series Great Dome Hi-Level Manor series Pacific series Park series Slumbercoach Strata-Dome Skyline series Viewliner