New York City Subway rolling stock

The New York City Subway is a large rapid transit system and has a large fleet of rolling stock. As of November 2016, the New York City Subway has 6418 cars on the roster.

The "Holiday Shopper's Special", a train of R1, R4, R6, R7A, and R9 subway cars running in special service at the 23rd Street (Sixth Avenue) station

An R142A series car interior in service on the 4 route

A Vaktrak track vacuuming train[1]

The system maintains two separate fleets of passenger cars: one for the A Division (numbered) routes, the other for the B Division (lettered) routes. All A Division equipment is approximately 8 feet 9 inches (2.67 m) wide and 51 feet (15.54 m) long. B Division cars, on the other hand, are 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. The A Division and B Division trains operate only in their own division; operating in the other division is not allowed. All rolling stock, in both the A and B Divisions, run on the same 4 foot 8.5 inches (1,435 mm) standard gauge and use the same third-rail geometry and voltage. A typical revenue train consists of 8 to 10 cars, although in practice, range between 2 and 11 cars.

The subway's rolling stock have operated under the Interborough Rapid Transit, Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit, Independent Subway System, and their merge to the now-called New York City Transit Authority. 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. Various kinds of cars are also used for maintenance work, including flatcars and vacuum trains.

Total fleet

As of November 2016, the New York City Subway has 6418 cars on the roster.[2][lower-alpha 1] The system maintains two separate fleets of passenger cars: one for the A Division routes, the other for the B Division routes. All A Division equipment is approximately 8 feet 9 inches (2.67 m) wide and 51 feet (15.54 m) long. B Division cars, on the other hand, are 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. The 75-foot cars, such as R44s, R46s, R68s, and R68As, are not permitted on BMT Eastern Division – the J, L, M, and Z trains – because of sharper curves on those tracks.

All rolling stock, in both the A and B Divisions, run on the same 4 foot 8.5 inches (1,435 mm) standard gauge and use the same third-rail geometry and voltage. However, trains operate only in their own division; operating in the other division is not allowed. A Division sections have narrower tunnel segments, tighter curves, and tighter platform clearances than the B Division sections, so B Division trains cannot fit in the A Division tunnels and stations, while A Division trains would have an unacceptably large gap between the platform and train if they were allowed in service on B Division lines. Also, the safety train stop (trip cock) mechanism is not compatible between divisions, being located on opposite sides of the track and train in each division. However, service and maintenance trains are composed of A Division-sized cars, so they can operate with either division's clearances and have safety train stops installed on both sides of the trucks.

A typical revenue train consists of 8 to 10 cars, although shuttles can be as short as two. The G runs 4-car trains, and the 7 runs 11-car trains.

When the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company entered into agreements to operate some of the new subway lines, they decided 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, the car's larger profile was 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 flip-dot display was placed in the front. The MTA has been incorporating newer subway cars into its stock in the past two decades. Since 1999, the R142s, R142As, R143s, R160s, R179s, and R188s have been added into service.[3][4] 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 R110Bs, which had rollsigns on the front).

Old cars, some from the original companies (IRT, BMT, and IND), are preserved at the New York Transit Museum, while others have been sold to private individuals and/or other railway/trolley museums.

Between 1984 and 1989, some of the IRT trains were painted red, giving them the name Redbirds.[lower-alpha 2] By February 2020, various older B Division cars, such as the entire fleets of R38s, R40s, R40As, R42s, and NYCT-built R44s, were similarly retired and replaced by newer models, including the R160s and R179s.

General Overhaul Program

The General Overhaul Program (GOH) was a mid-life overhaul program for neglected subway cars, which involved a thorough rebuilding of the fleet. Since the completion of the GOH program, 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, R33S, R36), as well as IND/BMT cars (R30 GE, R32, R38, R40, R40A, R42, R44, and R46). These cars were rebuilt between 1985 and 1993. Some cars in various classes from R10 to R46 were also given lighter overhauls during this period.

"R"-prefixed orders

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.: R46. 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, or R143 through R160B) may be virtually identical, simply being purchased under different contracts.

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 to reduce waste and abuse.

Disposal at sea

Retired subway cars being transported to the ocean, where they will be dropped into the water to create an artificial reef

In 2001, the New York City Transit Authority started disposing of retired subway cars by dumping them at sea to create artificial reefs, with the intention of promoting marine life. This option was chosen because it was less expensive than removing asbestos from the cars; the asbestos was determined to not be a hazard in the ocean.[5] Further, the artificial reefs would provide environmental and economic benefits, such as providing shelter for marine animals and creating new fishing opportunities. The first reef constructed was Redbird Reef in Delaware. Eventually, multiple states received retired subway cars for reefs.[6] The program was discontinued in 2010, after more than 2,500 cars were reefed, because newer cars contained more plastic, which was too expensive to economically remove before reefing.[7][8]

Current fleet

Contract #	Division	Year Built	Builder	Car Length[lower-alpha 3]	Car Width	Photo	Fleet numbers (Total ordered)	Amount in service	CBTC	Assigned Services	Yard assignment	Notes
R44	B	1971–1973	St. Louis Car Company	75 feet (22.9 m)	10 feet (3.0 m)		388–435 436–466 (even numbers only) (352 total)	61 SIR only	No	– 61 cars	Clifton	Single cars; even numbered cars ("A" cars) have single full-width cabs, odd numbered cars ("B" cars) have blind ends. New York City Subway car numbers were originally 100–387 and renumbered 5202–5479 (see here). New York City Subway cars retired. Staten Island Railway car 402 wrecked and scrapped from a 2008 Tottenville accident. Car 399 retired 2017. Car 466 retired 2015.
R46	B	1975–1978	Pullman Company	75 feet (22.9 m)	10 feet (3.0 m)		5482–6207 (4-car sets) 6208–6258 (even numbers only) (754 total)	748	No	– 216 cars (27 trains, AM rush) 224 cars (28 trains, PM rush)  – 72 cars (9 trains, AM rush) 64 cars (8 trains, PM rush)  – 144 cars (18 trains)  – 168 cars (21 trains)  – 12 cars (3 trains)[9]	Coney Island Pitkin	5482–6207 are in A-B-B-A configuration as 4-car sets. Even numbered cars have single full-width cabs, and are known as "A" cars Odd numbered cars have blind ends, and are known as "B" cars. 6208–6258 are in A-A configuration (even numbers only). Car numbers were originally 500–1227 and 1228–1278 (even numbers only). Two cars (941 & 1054) wrecked and scrapped prior to General Overhaul. Three cars (6062[10] and 6150–6151[11]) wrecked after General Overhaul. 6214 out of service by a 2020 derailment.[12]
R62	A	1983–1985	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	51 feet (15.5 m)	8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m)		1301–1625 (325 total)	315	No	– 260 cars (26 trains)[13]	Livonia	Originally single cars, now 5-car sets. 10 cars (1366–1370, 1435–1437, 1439–1440) retired. 1366–1370 were wrecked in 2000 due to an accident. Car 1369 was scrapped in 2005. Car 1366 and half of car 1370 are at the FDNY Randall's Island training center. Cars 1367 and 1368 were reefed in 2008. 1435–1437 and 1439–1440 were wrecked in 1991 due to a derailment. 1437 and 1439–1440 were scrapped in 2001. Car 1436 was reefed in 2008. 1438 is now part of a 5-car set with 1431–1434.
R62A	A	1984–1987	Bombardier Transportation	51 feet (15.5 m)	8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m)		1651–2475 (825 total)	824	No	– 310 cars (31 trains)  – 370 cars (37 trains)  – 7 cars (2 trains)[14]	240th Street Livonia Westchester	Originally single cars, most cars linked in 5 or 6-car sets. 1651–1905, 1961–2475, and select other 1900s have full-width cabs at ends of sets. 1909 was wrecked and scrapped.[15]
R68	B	1986–1988	Westinghouse-Amrail Company	75 feet (22.9 m)	10 feet (3.0 m)		2500–2924 (425 total)	425	No	– 8 cars (1 train, PM rush, in rotation with a R68A consist)  – 48 cars (6 trains, AM rush) 40 cars (5 trains, PM rush)  – 232 cars (29 trains, AM rush) 224 cars (28 trains, PM rush)  – 52 cars (13 trains)  – 24 cars (3 trains)  – 8 cars (1 train, PM rush)  – 4 cars (2 trains)[16][17]	Concourse Coney Island	2500–2915 originally single cars, now in 4-car sets. 2916–2924 still single cars; used for the Franklin Avenue Shuttle.
R68A	B	1988–1989	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	75 feet (22.9 m)	10 feet (3.0 m)		5001–5200 (200 total)	200	No	– 8 cars (1 train, PM rush, in rotation with a R68 consist)  – 152 cars (19 trains, AM rush) 144 cars (18 trains, PM rush)  – 16 cars (2 trains)[18][19]	Coney Island	Originally single cars, now in 4-car sets.
R142	A	1999–2003	Bombardier Transportation	51 feet (15.5 m)	8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m)		1101–1250, 6301–7180 (1,030 total)	1,025	Future installation[20]	– 360 cars (36 trains) 350 cars (35 trains, PM rush)  – 180 cars (18 trains)  – 350 cars (35 trains, AM rush) 360 cars (36 trains, PM rush)[21]	East 180th Street 239th Street Jerome	All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration as 5-car sets. Cars ending in 1, 5, 6, and 0 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars. Cars ending in all other digits have no cabs and are known as "B" cars. Cars 6346–6350 were taken out of service after suffering fire damage in an arson attack.[22][23]
R142A	A	1999–2004	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	51 feet (15.5 m)	8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m)		7591–7810 (220 total)	220	Future installation[20]	– 170 cars (17 trains, AM rush) 160 cars (16 trains, PM rush)[24]	Jerome	All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration as 5-car sets. Cars ending in 1, 5, 6, and 0 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars. Cars ending in all other digits have no cabs and are known as "B" cars. Original order was 7211–7810; cars 7211–7590 were converted to R188s between 2011 & 2016 for the IRT Flushing Line.[25]
R143	B	2001–2003	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	60 feet (18.3 m)	10 feet (3.0 m)		8101–8312 (212 total)	212	Yes	– 176 cars (22 trains)[26]	East New York	All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-A configuration.
R160	B	2005–2010	Alstom Transportation Kawasaki Heavy Industries	60 feet (18.3 m)	10 feet (3.0 m)		8313–9974 (1,662 total)	1,662	8313–8380 only; future installation for remaining cars[27]	– 88 cars (11 trains, AM rush) 80 cars (10 trains, PM rush)  – 16 cars (2 trains)  – 192 cars (24 trains, AM rush) 184 cars (23 trains, PM rush)[28]  – 260 cars (26 trains)  – 460 cars (46 trains)  – 100 cars (10 trains)  – 290 cars (29 trains)[29]	East New York Coney Island Jamaica	4 car sets (8313–8652, 9943–9974) are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-A configuration. All are classified under R160A-1 and are powered by Alstom IGBT. 5 car sets (8653–9942) are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration. 8653–8712, 9233–9802 are classified under R160A-2 and are powered by Alstom IGBT. 8713–8842, 9103–9232, 9803–9942 are classified under R160B-1 and are powered by Alstom IGBT. 8843–9102 are classified under R160B-2 and are powered by Siemens IGBT. Cars with single full-width cabs are known as "A" cars. Cars with no cabs are known as "B" cars.
R179	B	2016–2019	Bombardier Transportation	60 feet (18.3 m)	10 feet (3.0 m)		3010–3327 (318 total)	318	Future installation[30]	– 110 cars (11 trains)  – 72 cars (9 trains)  – 72 cars (9 trains)[31]	East New York 207th Street Pitkin	4-car sets (3050–3237) are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-A configuration. 5-car sets (3010–3049, 3238–3327) are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration. Cars will single full-width cabs are known as A cars. Cars with no cab are known as B cars.
R188	A	2011–2016	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	51 feet (15.5 m)	8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m)		7211–7590, 7811–7936 (506 total)	506	Yes	– 418 cars (38 trains, AM rush) 407 cars (37 trains, PM rush)[32]	Corona	All cars are in 5-car or 6-car sets to form 11-car trains for IRT Flushing Line service. Order consists of a combination of 126 new cars & R142A conversions by the manufacturer, totaling 380 car conversions.[25][33] Conversion sets numbered 7211–7590 are numbered as follows: Cars ending in 0, 1, 5, and 6 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars. Cars ending in all other digits have no cabs and are known as "B" cars. Cars 7811–7898 are eight new 11-car trains (split into four 5-car trains and four 6-car trains), with cars sequentially numbered. Cars whose numbers give a remainder of 0, 1, 5, and 6 when divided by 11 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars. Cars whose numbers give other remainders when divided by 11 have no cabs and are known as "B" cars. Cars 7899–7936 are "C" cars that are linked with converted R142A sets expand the sets to six cars.

Maintenance vehicles

Various kinds of cars are used for maintenance work, including flatcars and vacuum trains.[34]

Track geometry car

The track geometry car at Jay Street–MetroTech.

There are four track geometry cars on the New York City Subway that measure the system's track geometry to ensure that safe train operation is maintained. The cars are numbered TGC1–TGC4. TGC1 was ordered under contract R59 in 1984 for $1.4 million,[35] TGC2 was ordered under contract R63 and cost $2.5 million,[36][37] and the other two were ordered under an unknown contract. The cars use sensors, measuring systems, and data management systems to get a profile of the tracks. The train crew consists of two-track equipment maintainers, one maintenance supervisor, and two to three engineers. The trains typically operate during off-peak weekday daytime hours so as to not interfere with more frequent rush hour service. A single car weighs 45 tons.[37] The cars measure:

• Alignment – “Alignment is the projection of the track geometry of each rail or the track center line onto the horizontal plane,” (FRA Definition).[38] Also known as the “straightness” of the tracks.
• Crosslevel – The variation in the cant of the track over the length of a predetermined “chord” length (generally 62 feet or 18.90 meters). On straight or tangent track, ideally, there should be no variation, while on curves, a cant is generally desired.
• Curvature – The amount by which the rail deviates from being straight or tangent. The geometry car checks the actual curvature (in Degree of curvature) of a curve versus its design curvature.
• Rail gauge – The distance between the rails. Over time, rail may become too wide or too narrow. In North America and most of the world, standard gauge is 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm).
• Rail profile – Looks for rail wear and deviations from standard profile.
• Warp – The maximum change in crosslevel over a predetermined chord length (generally sixty-two feet).[39]
• Corrugation of running rail surface
• Tunnel and station platform clearances
• Third rail height and gauge
• Vertical gap between third rail and protective board [40]

The track geometry car typically checks each stretch of track about 6 times a year; the car is manually operated, and there are no plans to automate inspection of the track geometry, which is done manually with the help of high-tech equipment aboard the car.[41]

Future fleet

Contract #	Division	Year Built	Builder	Total	Photo (mock-up or rendering)	Notes
R211	B	2019–present	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	535 cars (460 for New York City Subway; 75 for Staten Island Railway)[42]		To replace all remaining R44s and R46s, and to expand the fleet for the Second Avenue Subway. CBTC-equipped. 20 cars to feature open gangways. Potential option orders for up to 1,612 cars.
R262	A	2025–2030 (projected)	TBA	1,364 cars		To replace all R62s and R62As, and to expand the fleet. CBTC-equipped. All cars are expected to feature open gangways.[20]^:25

Originally, 168 additional cars were proposed to be built and provided for service on the E, G, L, and N services between 2015 and 2019; the contract number for these growth cars was unknown, but they were not delivered prior to 2019.

Retired fleet

IRT Pre-Unification listing

Designation	Year built	Builder	Fleet total	Car numbers	Year retired	Denotes
Composite	1903–1904	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	American Car & Foundry	300	3350–3649	1959
Hi-V "Deck Roof"	1907–1908	American Car & Foundry	50	3650–3699	1959
Hi-V "Hedley"	1910–1911	American Car & Foundry, Standard Steel, Pressed Steel	325	ACF: 3700–3809, SS: 3810–3849, PS: 3850–4024	1959
	1915	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	Pullman	178	4037–4214	1962	Were built with the original trucks and electrical components removed from the Composites.
Lo-V "Steinway"	1915–1916	Pullman	113	4025–4036, 4215–4222, 4555–4576, 4700–4770	1969	Equipped with special gearing for the steep grades of the Steinway Tunnels.
Lo-V "Standard"	1916–1917	Pullman	695	4515–4554, 4577–4699, 4771–5302	1969	4515–4554 and 4811–4965 were non-powered trailers
	1922	Pullman	100	5303–5402	1963	Non-powered trailers 5303–5377 equipped with air compressors for brakes
	1924–1925	American Car & Foundry	225	5403–5627	1964
Lo-V "Steinway"	1925	American Car & Foundry	25	5628–5652	1964	Equipped with special gearing for the steep grades of the Steinway Tunnels.
Lo-V "World's Fair"	1938	St. Louis Car	50	5653–5702	1969	*Single-ended cars used for the 1939 World's Fair.

BMT Pre-Unification listing

Designation	Year built	Builder	Fleet total	Car numbers	Year retired	Denotes
AB Standard	1914–1919	American Car & Foundry	600	2000–2599	1969
	1920–1922	Pressed Steel	300	2600–2899
	1924		50	4000–4049	1961	Non-powered Trailers only
BMT-SIRT (ME-1)	1925–1926	Standard Steel	25	2900–2924	1961	25 motor cars purchased from the Staten Island Railway in 1953–1954.
D-type Triplex	1925–1928	Pressed Steel	121	6000–6120	1965
Green Hornet	1934	Pullman	1	7003	1942	Experimental unit; scrapped in 1942 for World War II.
Zephyr	1934	Budd	1	7029	1954	Experimental unit
Multi	1936	St. Louis Car	10	7004–7013	1961
		Pullman	15	7014–7028
Bluebird	1938, 1940	Clark	6	8000–8005	1957

R-type listing

Contract #	Year built	Division	Builder	Fleet total	Car numbers	Year retired
R1	1930–1931	IND	American Car & Foundry	300	100–399	1977
R4	1932–1933			500	400–899	1977
R-6-3	1935–1936			250	900–1149	1977
R-6-2	1936		Pullman	150	1150–1299	1977
R-6-1	1936		Pressed Steel	100	1300–1399	1977
R7	1937		American Car & Foundry, Pullman	150	ACF: 1400–1474, Pullman: 1475–1549	1977
R7A	1938			100	Pullman: 1550–1599, ACF: 1600–1649	1977
R9	1940	IND, BMT	American Car & Foundry, Pressed Steel	153	ACF: 1650–1701, PS: 1702–1802	1977
R10	1948–1949		American Car & Foundry	400	1803–1852[lower-alpha 4] 3000–3349	1989
R11	1949		Budd	10	8010–8019	1977
	Test trains; rebuilt into R34 cars in 1965.
R12	1948	IRT	American Car & Foundry	100	5703–5802[lower-alpha 5]	1981
R14	1949			150	5803–5952	1984
R15	1950			100	5953–5999, 6200–6252	1984
R16	1954–1955	BMT, IND	American Car & Foundry	200	6300–6499	1987
R17	1954–1956	IRT	St. Louis Car	400	6500–6899	1988
R21	1956–1957			250	7050–7299	1987
R22	1957–1958			450	7300–7749	1987
R26	1959–1960		American Car & Foundry	110	7750–7859	2002
	Semi-married pairs Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R27	1960–1961	IND, BMT	St. Louis Car	230	8020–8249	1990
	Married pairs Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R28	1960–1961	IRT	American Car & Foundry	100	7860–7959	2002
	Semi-married pairs Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
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. Rebuilt into R99 cars from 1985 to 1987.
R30	1961–1962	IND, BMT	St. Louis Car	320	R30: 8250–8351 8412–8569 R30A: 8352–8411	1993
	Married pairs Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R32	1964–1965	IND, BMT	Budd Company	600	R32A: 3350–3649 3650–3949[lower-alpha 6]	2020
	Married pairs Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
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.
R33S	1963	IRT	St. Louis Car	40	9306–9345	2003
	single cars, built for IRT Flushing Line
R34	see R11
R36	1963–1964	IRT	St. Louis Car	424	9346–9769	2003
	Married pairs Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R38	1966–1967	IND, BMT	St. Louis Car	200	3950–4149	2009
	Married pairs Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R39	Never built	IRT, BMT	Intended to replace old equipment running on the BMT Myrtle Avenue Line in Brooklyn and the IRT Third Avenue Line in The Bronx Would have been built to IRT dimensions of the R38 and ordered in the late 1960s or early 1970s Order scrapped when the Myrtle Avenue Line south of the junction with the BMT Jamaica Line was discontinued in 1969 and the remaining Third Avenue Line in 1973 The Budd Company used a possible outline of this car as U.S. Patent 3,151,538.
R40	1967– 1968	IND, BMT	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
R40A	1968–1969	IND, BMT	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 (straight ends),[43] 4450–4549 (slanted ends)[44]
R42	1969–1970	IND, BMT	St. Louis Car Company	400	4550–4949	2020
	Married pairs Even numbered cars have motor-generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
R44 (NYCT cars)	1971–1973	IND, BMT	St. Louis Car Company	288	100–387	2010 (NYCT cars)
	4-car sets (A-B-B-A) formation. A cars have cabs on one end, while B cars have no cabs. Car numbers were originally 100–387. 278 cars were renumbered to 5202–5479 between 1991 & 1993.
R55	Never built	IND, BMT	The R55 was a proposed car[45] 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.
R99	see R29
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. As of 2014, cars 8001, 8005–8006, and 8010 are stored at 207th Street Yard. Cars 8002–8004 and 8007–8009 were converted into flood pump cleanup cars in 2013–2014.
R110B	1992	IND, BMT	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. As of 2015, cars 3002–3003, 3007, and 3009 are stored at 207th Street Yard. The other five are used for training at various facilities.

Miscellaneous

The "Train of Many Colors" makes another appearance on the 7 train in 2008, commemorating the last game at Shea Stadium

• Air conditioning is standard on all cars R42 and later. R38s 4140–4149 and R40s 4350–4549 were also delivered with A/C, and all cars not equipped with A/C from classes R26–R40 (with the exception of the R27, R30, and R33S) were later retrofitted with A/C. All active cars are equipped with air conditioning, and cars with malfunctioning air conditioning are not supposed to be put into service.[46]
• During World War II, a group of old New York elevated line cars dating from the late 19th century was sent west to the San Francisco Bay Area by the United States Maritime Commission for use by the Shipyard Railway, a temporary wartime electric line transporting workers to the Kaiser Shipyards. After the war, most were sold to be used as units in a local motel, but their whereabouts afterward is unknown. Two of them, however, were acquired and have been restored by the Western Railway Museum in Rio Vista, California.[47]
• There are many examples of rolling stock built under contract that are not intended for revenue services, such as the R95 money train, R65 pump train, R127/R134 garbage train, and R156 work locomotive.[48]
• The table below shows what year the TA had expected to retire several car models in 1981.[49]

A Division fleet's planned retirement years Car type Year expected to retire Actual retire- ment year R26 1994 2002 R28 1995 2002 R29 1997 2002 R33 1998 2003 R36 1999 2003

B Division fleet's planned retirement years Car type Year expected to retire Actual retire- ment year R27 1995 1990 R30 1997 1993 R32 2000 2007–2010, 2020 R38 2002 2009 R40 2003 2009 R42 2004 2007–2009, 2020 R44 2007 2010, In-service[lower-alpha 7] R46 2011 N/A

Notes

1. See:
   • Korman, Joe (December 4, 2017). "IRT Car Assignments". JoeKorNer.
   • Korman, Joe (January 12, 2018). "BMT-IND Car Assignments". JoeKorNer.
2. Redbirds are R26, R28, R29, R33, and R36. All of these cars were replaced by more modern subway trains (R142/R142As) between 2001 and 2003, though many R33 cars are still in use as work trains. Sometimes the term "Redbird" would also be used on the R27 and R30 cars as they were repainted Gunn red during the late 1980s and early 1990s before their retirement in 1993. These were known as the BMT Redbirds. Sixteen R17s were also given this paint scheme in 1985/86, but were retired by 1988, well before the name "Redbird" caught on.
3. All A Division cars are 51 feet (15.5 m) long; B Division cars are 60 feet (18.3 m) or 75 feet (22.9 m).
4. Car number series selected to bracket pre-unification BMT number series (1853–2999). Renumbered to 2950–2999 in 1970
5. Car number series to continue from pre-unification IRT number series (5702).
6. Car 3659 was renumbered to 3348 after being converted to an even-numbered car.
7. The New York City Subway R44s were retired in 2010. The Staten Island Railway R44s are still in service.

References

1. more photos at http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/R-137_Vacuum_Train
2. "New York City Subway Car Fleet Jan 2012 through January 2016". TheJoeKorner. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
3. "Showing Image 59931". www.nycsubway.org.
4. "Showing Image 59998". www.nycsubway.org.
5. Kennedy, Randy (August 22, 2001). "End of Line for Subway Cars: The Ocean Floor". New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
6. Urbina, Ian (April 8, 2008). "Growing Pains for a Deep-Sea Home Built of Subway Cars". New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
7. Parke, Phoebe (February 26, 2015). "Dumping subway trains into the ocean ... in a good way". CNN. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
8. "For Subway Cars, the Final Trip". New York Times. May 15, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
9. "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
10. "Manhattan subway train derails after laughing saboteur puts metal clamps on tracks: police sources". nydailynews.com. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
11. "Subway Derailment In Harlem Caused By 'Human Error,' MTA Says". Retrieved June 18, 2019.
12. https://mcusercontent.com/53077b4eb8363107e691b3757/files/23511684-4f4b-40d3-88a0-b328c3a6a7fa/November_2020_ERA_Bulletin.pdf
13. "Subdivision 'A' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
14. "Subdivision 'A' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
15. Barron, James (November 21, 1997). "87 Are Hurt as Subway Train Runs Into Another in Queens". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
16. https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2020/2020-12-bulletin.pdf
17. "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
18. https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2020/2020-12-bulletin.pdf
19. "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
20. "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
21. "Subdivision 'A' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
22. Dan Rivoli [@danrivoli] (March 27, 2020). "The aftermath of the fatal subway fire" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2020 – via Twitter.
23. Jose Martinez [@JMartinezNYC] (March 27, 2020). "Photos obtained by @THECITYNY of this morning's fatal subway fire at the Central Park North-110th Street station the level of destruction" (Tweet). Retrieved March 28, 2020 – via Twitter.
24. "Subdivision 'A' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
25. http://i42.tinypic.com/r2oqb8.jpg
26. "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
27. "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting July 2017" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 24, 2017. p. 18. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
28. "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
29. "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
30. "New York City Transit and Bus Committee Meeting October 2018" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 19, 2018. pp. 188–189. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
31. "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
32. "Subdivision 'A' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
33. "Page 32 (Footnotes)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
34. "New Vacuum Trains Aim to Suck Trash Right in its Tracks". www.ny1.com.
35. Levine, Richard (February 13, 1987). "A SUBWAY WALKER SEARCHES THE LABYRINTH FOR PROBLEMS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
36. "www.nycsubway.org: Track Geometry and Inspection Cars". www.nycsubway.org. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
37. Kennedy, Randy (February 19, 2004). Subwayland: Adventures in the World Beneath New York. Macmillan. ISBN 9780312324346.
38. Track Safety Standards Compliance Manual. Federal Railroad Administration, 2009. Print, Web. Track Safety Standards Compliance Manual Archived July 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
39. Uzarski, Dr. Don. CEE 409 - Railroad Track Engineering, Class Notes. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. Print.
40. "MTA | news | New York City Transit's Wonder Train Car!". www.mta.info. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
41. Adam Clark Estes. "This Superheroic Train Keeps New York City's Subway Safe". Gizmodo. Gawker Media.
42. "MTA Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting: January 2016" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
43. "Showing Image 5292". nycsubway.org.
44. "Showing Image 12845". nycsubway.org.
45. "Roster Summary By Type". Retrieved August 25, 2009.
46. Jaffe, Eric (August 15, 2012). "A Brief History of Air-Conditioning on the New York Subway". The Atlantic Cities. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
47. "Richmond Shipyard Railway 1943–1945" Retrieved on April 16, 2008 Archived July 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
48. "www.nycsubway.org".
49. "www.nycsubway.org".

Further reading

• Cudahy, Brian J. Under the Sidewalks of New York: The Story of the Greatest Subway System in the World, 2nd Revised Edition. Fordham University Press, New York, 1995. ISBN 0-8232-1618-7
• Davis, Ed Sr. (1985). They Moved the Millions: A Brief History of Passenger Cars of America's Most Heavily Travelled Passenger Railway, the New York City Transit System. Livingston Enterprise.
• Dougherty, Peter J. Tracks of the New York City Subway, version 4.2. 2007
• Kramer, Frederick A. Building the Independent Subway. Quadrant Press, Inc.; New York, 1990. ISBN 0-915276-50-X
• Sansone, Gene. Evolution of New York City subways: An illustrated history of New York City's transit cars, 1867–1997. New York Transit Museum Press, New York, 1997. ISBN 978-0-9637492-8-4.
• New York City Subway Cars James Clifford Greller Xplorer Press
• Interborough Fleet Joe Cunningham Xplorer Press

External links

• nycsubway.org New York City Subway Cars
• Pre-Unification Cars (BMT)
• Pre-Unification Cars (IRT)
• R-Type Cars 1932 to 1987
• R-Type Cars 1999 to Present (NTT)
• 'R' Type Roster (includes non-train contracts)
• Forgotten NY Subway Link
• Korman, Joe (December 4, 2017). "IRT Car Assignments". JoeKorNer.
• Korman, Joe (January 12, 2018). "BMT-IND Car Assignments". JoeKorNer.
• Korman, Joe (November 6, 2016). "New York City Subway Car Fleet June 2010 through November 2016". JoeKorNer.