R16 (New York City Subway car)
Encyclopedia
The R16 was a New York City Subway
car manufactured by American Car and Foundry Company
. The R16s were assigned to the BMT Eastern Division, although they showed up on the IND
Queens and BMT Southern divisions from time to time.
They quickly became the new standard in car design for the New York City Transit Authority. Structurally and mechanically, they were larger R15
s and were basically an improved version of the R10
s cars with same exact dimensions except that the R16s had electric door engines while the R10s had the air door engines. When delivered, 50 of the R16 cars were transferred to the A train in preparation for the opening of the former Long Island Rail Road
Rockaway Line on June 28, 1956 since the TA wanted to use the newest equipment there was at the time. http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?75677 http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46080
When they were new the R16s gave the R10s competition when it comes to speed as both cars were mechanically similar with four 100 horsepower motors. After the late 1950s the 50 R16s were transferred back to the BMT Eastern Division and would remain there until the late 1960s and the early 1970s when they were transferred to various lines throughout the system.
The R16s were delivered in 1955, painted kale green. Two cars were painted gold for a celebration in 1955, and some were painted bright red in the early 1960s. The whole fleet was given a silver and blue theme in 1970, and the fleet kept that paint scheme until the cars were retired. There were two fleets of R16s: Westinghouse (R16WH) equipped cars 6300-6399 and General Electric (R16GE) equipped cars 6400-6499.
The R16GEs were replaced by the R46
s in 1977, but reactivated due to the R46
truck issues and remained in service until 1983. The R16WH cars were replaced in 1987 by the R68
fleet. The last of the R16 cars were retired from passenger service in May of 1987 from the M train.
Four R16s exist today: 6305 and 6339 at MTA NYC Transit's Coney Island Complex in Brooklyn, 6387 at the New York Transit Museum
, and 6398 at the Trolley Museum of New York, Kingston, NY.
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
car manufactured by American Car and Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches under the brand names of ACF and ACF-Brill. Today ACF is known as ACF Industries LLC and is based in St. Charles, Missouri...
. The R16s were assigned to the BMT Eastern Division, although they showed up on the IND
Independent Subway System
The Independent Subway System , formerly known as the Independent City-Owned Subway System or the Independent City-Owned Rapid Transit Railroad, was a rapid transit rail system in New York City that is now part of the New York City Subway...
Queens and BMT Southern divisions from time to time.
They quickly became the new standard in car design for the New York City Transit Authority. Structurally and mechanically, they were larger R15
R15 (New York City Subway car)
The R15 was a New York City Subway car built in 1950. Built by American Car and Foundry Company, these cars were somewhat similar to the R12/14 cars. These cars were the first to feature round roofs, porthole door windows, and conductors door operating apparatus controls located inside the...
s and were basically an improved version of the R10
R10 (New York City Subway car)
The R10 is a New York City Subway car class built by the American Car and Foundry Company in 1948-1949. The cars were nicknamed Thunderbirds.-Service History:*First Date of Revenue Service: November 20, 1948, on the ' route....
s cars with same exact dimensions except that the R16s had electric door engines while the R10s had the air door engines. When delivered, 50 of the R16 cars were transferred to the A train in preparation for the opening of the former Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
Rockaway Line on June 28, 1956 since the TA wanted to use the newest equipment there was at the time. http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?75677 http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46080
When they were new the R16s gave the R10s competition when it comes to speed as both cars were mechanically similar with four 100 horsepower motors. After the late 1950s the 50 R16s were transferred back to the BMT Eastern Division and would remain there until the late 1960s and the early 1970s when they were transferred to various lines throughout the system.
The R16s were delivered in 1955, painted kale green. Two cars were painted gold for a celebration in 1955, and some were painted bright red in the early 1960s. The whole fleet was given a silver and blue theme in 1970, and the fleet kept that paint scheme until the cars were retired. There were two fleets of R16s: Westinghouse (R16WH) equipped cars 6300-6399 and General Electric (R16GE) equipped cars 6400-6499.
The R16GEs were replaced by the R46
R46 (New York City Subway car)
The R46 is a New York City Subway car that operates on the IND and BMT routes of the New York City Subway. They were built by Pullman Standard in Chicago, Illinois in 1975–78. These cars, as well as the previous R44 were long. While most R44s had Westinghouse propulsion, the R46 had General...
s in 1977, but reactivated due to the R46
R46 (New York City Subway car)
The R46 is a New York City Subway car that operates on the IND and BMT routes of the New York City Subway. They were built by Pullman Standard in Chicago, Illinois in 1975–78. These cars, as well as the previous R44 were long. While most R44s had Westinghouse propulsion, the R46 had General...
truck issues and remained in service until 1983. The R16WH cars were replaced in 1987 by the R68
R68 (New York City Subway car)
The R68 is a type of New York City Subway car for the "B" Division. The 425-car contract was a joint venture of Westinghouse AM-Rail Company, ANF Industrie of Paris, Jeumont Schneider, and Alstom. The cars were built in France from 1986 to 1988 and shipped to New York Harbor...
fleet. The last of the R16 cars were retired from passenger service in May of 1987 from the M train.
Four R16s exist today: 6305 and 6339 at MTA NYC Transit's Coney Island Complex in Brooklyn, 6387 at the New York Transit Museum
New York Transit Museum
The New York Transit Museum is a museum which displays historical artifacts of the New York City Subway, bus, commuter rail, and bridge and tunnel systems; it is located in a decommissioned Court Street subway station in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of New York City...
, and 6398 at the Trolley Museum of New York, Kingston, NY.