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R44 (New York City Subway car)
Encyclopedia
The R44 is a New York City Transit car model that debuted in 1971 and currently operates on the Staten Island Railway
.
To ensure the subway system could accommodate 75 feet (22.9 m) cars, two retired R1
cars (numbered 165 and 192; renumbered XC675 and XC575 respectively) were cut in half, lengthened to 75 feet (22.9 m) and sent to various places around the subway and the Staten Island Railway. It was determined that the BMT Eastern Division (the , and services) would be too difficult to convert to allow 75 feet (22.9 m) length cars, so this was not done.
The R44s were the last subway cars built by St. Louis Car Company
, which in 1974 left the rail transit car business after the order was completed, due to various technical problems that plague these cars up until their retirement.
The R44s came in singles which needed each other to run, much like the "married pairs" of the R26
/27
/28
/30
s. These were reassembled after overhaul into ABBA sets of four. A cars are evenly numbered with operator cabs while B cars have odd numbers and no cabs.
The interior design was very different from previous models. The R44s had orange and yellow plastic bucket seats, a feature which would be incorporated into the other 75 footers. The seats were protected from the doorways by faux wood and glass panels. The walls were tan with "wallpaper" featuring the seals of New York State and New York City. This design continued onto the subsequent R46
cars.
The R44 was the first subway car since the BMT Green Hornet
to incorporate a two-note warning tone that sounds immediately before the doors begin to close as the train prepares to leave the station. This has become the signature sound of the New York City subway and is used with later cars.
The R44 also set the world speed record
for a subway car. On January 31, 1972, a consist reached a speed of 87.75 mph (141.2 km/h) on the Long Island Rail Road
's main line between Woodside and Jamaica. With two motors per car disabled, the train still reached 77 mph. The cars were capable of reach higher speeds, but the length of the test track was insufficient to allow further acceleration.
During the General Overhaul Program (GOH) from 1991–93, the R44s were rebuilt by NYCTA at 207 Street Overhaul Shop in Inwood, Manhattan
, Coney Island Overhaul Shop in Brooklyn
(cars 5342-5479), and Morrison-Knudsen (cars 5202-5341). All cars were given four-digit numbers (they previously had three-digit numbers). The carbon steel blue stripes were repainted silver gray. Some cars (#'s 5228/9 and all SIR cars had their carbon sections replaced with stainless steel panels. The rollsigns on the sides were replaced with electronic LCD signs.
The Staten Island Railway R44 cars are also known as R44 SI, ME-2, or MUE-2. The SIR's 64 R44s are modified to FRA
standards for passenger equipment running on a freight road. Cars are numbered 388-466, all single units with couplers (no permanent sets), with 436-466 even numbers only. 388-399 are transfers from the subway system. Unlike the New York City Subway R44s, the SIR R44s retained their original 3-digit numbers and their rollsigns were removed and never replaced.
Car 402 was scrapped after a derailment in December 2008.
From 2009-2010, The R44's had their bulkheads repainted, trucks rebuilt,new dark floors, blue bucket seats, and logos as part of their SMS (Scheduled Maintenance System) improvement treatment that is designed to extend useful service life. The SIR will then receive overhauled R46
s from the main NYCT fleet when Option Order II of the R179s is delivered.
The MTA was planning to replace all R44s with the R179
s. However, in light of structural integrity issues found on the New York City Subway cars, surveys were conducted which resulted in the decision to retire them with the rest of the R160
s in place of the remaining R32
s and R42
s. The last train (5378-5381+5426-5429) made its final trip on September 18, 2010 on the and trains. After retirement, all cars are either stored out of service or undergoing scrapping.
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...
.
History
The R44 was the first 75-foot (22.86 m) car for the New York City Subway. It was introduced for the B Division under the idea from New York City Transit that a train of eight 75 feet (22.9 m) cars would be more efficient than one of ten 60-foot (18.29 m) cars. Despite the increase in length, the R44s had eight pairs of doors per car (four on each side) like other B Division cars. As a result, eight 75 feet (22.9 m) car trains have only 64 (32 per side) pairs whereas ten 60 feet (18.3 m) car trains have 80 (40 per side).To ensure the subway system could accommodate 75 feet (22.9 m) cars, two retired R1
R1 (New York City Subway car)
The R1 was the very first New York City Subway car type built for the IND. 300 cars were manufactured between 1930 and 1931 by American Car and Foundry Company, numbered 100 through 399. Future passenger stock orders – including contracts R4, R6, R7, R7A, and R9 – were virtually identical, with...
cars (numbered 165 and 192; renumbered XC675 and XC575 respectively) were cut in half, lengthened to 75 feet (22.9 m) and sent to various places around the subway and the Staten Island Railway. It was determined that the BMT Eastern Division (the , and services) would be too difficult to convert to allow 75 feet (22.9 m) length cars, so this was not done.
The R44s were the last subway cars built by St. Louis Car Company
St. Louis Car Company
The St. Louis Car Company was a major United States manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcars, trolleybuses and locomotives that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
, which in 1974 left the rail transit car business after the order was completed, due to various technical problems that plague these cars up until their retirement.
The R44s came in singles which needed each other to run, much like the "married pairs" of the R26
R26 (New York City Subway car)
The R26 was a New York City Subway car built in 1959 by American Car and Foundry . They were made for the IRT and were the first cars to be built in married pairs, which consists of two cars coupled together at the non-operating end...
/27
R27 (New York City Subway car)
The R27 was a New York City Subway car built by the St. Louis Car Company for the New York City Transit Authority in 1960–61. The R27s were a continuation of the R16 style....
/28
R28 (New York City Subway car)
The R28 was a New York City Subway car built in 1960-61 by American Car and Foundry . They were a "follow-up" or supplemental stock for the "A" Division's R26s and closely resemble. They operated on the IRT in married pairs. The R28 cars were rebuilt during 1985-87 into Redbirds by Morrison...
/30
R30 (New York City Subway car)
The R30 was a New York City Subway car built by St. Louis Car Company for the New York City Transit Authority in 1960–62. It was a continuation of the R16 and R27 style. They were a "follow-up" or supplemental stock for the "B" Division's R27s and closely resemble them.The cars were...
s. These were reassembled after overhaul into ABBA sets of four. A cars are evenly numbered with operator cabs while B cars have odd numbers and no cabs.
The interior design was very different from previous models. The R44s had orange and yellow plastic bucket seats, a feature which would be incorporated into the other 75 footers. The seats were protected from the doorways by faux wood and glass panels. The walls were tan with "wallpaper" featuring the seals of New York State and New York City. This design continued onto the subsequent 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...
cars.
The R44 was the first subway car since the BMT Green Hornet
MS Multi-section car (New York City Subway car)
The MS Multi-section, a series of New York City Subway cars, was built in prototype form in 1934 with production models built in 1936. They were called "Multis" for short.-Background:...
to incorporate a two-note warning tone that sounds immediately before the doors begin to close as the train prepares to leave the station. This has become the signature sound of the New York City subway and is used with later cars.
The R44 also set the world speed record
Land speed record for railed vehicles
Determination of the fastest rail vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of "rail".Official absolute world record for conventional train is held by the French TGV...
for a subway car. On January 31, 1972, a consist reached a speed of 87.75 mph (141.2 km/h) on the 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...
's main line between Woodside and Jamaica. With two motors per car disabled, the train still reached 77 mph. The cars were capable of reach higher speeds, but the length of the test track was insufficient to allow further acceleration.
During the General Overhaul Program (GOH) from 1991–93, the R44s were rebuilt by NYCTA at 207 Street Overhaul Shop in Inwood, Manhattan
Inwood, Manhattan
Inwood is the northernmost neighborhood on Manhattan Island in the New York City borough of Manhattan.-Geography:Inwood is physically bounded by the Harlem River to the north and east, and the Hudson River to the west. It extends southward to Fort Tryon Park and alternatively Dyckman Street or...
, Coney Island Overhaul Shop in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
(cars 5342-5479), and Morrison-Knudsen (cars 5202-5341). All cars were given four-digit numbers (they previously had three-digit numbers). The carbon steel blue stripes were repainted silver gray. Some cars (#'s 5228/9 and all SIR cars had their carbon sections replaced with stainless steel panels. The rollsigns on the sides were replaced with electronic LCD signs.
The Staten Island Railway R44 cars are also known as R44 SI, ME-2, or MUE-2. The SIR's 64 R44s are modified to FRA
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
standards for passenger equipment running on a freight road. Cars are numbered 388-466, all single units with couplers (no permanent sets), with 436-466 even numbers only. 388-399 are transfers from the subway system. Unlike the New York City Subway R44s, the SIR R44s retained their original 3-digit numbers and their rollsigns were removed and never replaced.
Car 402 was scrapped after a derailment in December 2008.
From 2009-2010, The R44's had their bulkheads repainted, trucks rebuilt,new dark floors, blue bucket seats, and logos as part of their SMS (Scheduled Maintenance System) improvement treatment that is designed to extend useful service life. The SIR will then receive overhauled 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 from the main NYCT fleet when Option Order II of the R179s is delivered.
The MTA was planning to replace all R44s with the R179
R179 (New York City Subway car)
The R179 is a planned New York City Subway car.-Background:The R179 contract, which originally consisted of 420 cars, was intended to replace the R44s, but due to structural integrity issues in the the New York City Transit fleet, its retirement was facilitated by the rest of the R160 order...
s. However, in light of structural integrity issues found on the New York City Subway cars, surveys were conducted which resulted in the decision to retire them with the rest of the R160
R160 (New York City Subway car)
The R160 is a class of 1,662 New York City Subway cars built by two different companies: Alstom Transportation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The class was built by two manufacturers, so they are designated as "R160A" and "R160B"...
s in place of the remaining R32
R32 (New York City Subway car)
The R32 is a New York City Subway car model built in 1964-65 by the Budd Company in Philadelphia for the IND/BMT B Division. These cars were the first mass-produced stainless steel cars built for the New York City Subway. The two previous Budd orders, the BMT Zephyr and the R11 contract, were...
s and R42
R42 (New York City Subway car)
The R42 is a New York City Subway car built between 1969 and 1970 by the St. Louis Car Company in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the B Division. This fleet of cars were the first to be fully equipped with air conditioning. The R42 fleet is numbered 4550-4949...
s. The last train (5378-5381+5426-5429) made its final trip on September 18, 2010 on the and trains. After retirement, all cars are either stored out of service or undergoing scrapping.