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R46 (New York City Subway car)
Encyclopedia
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 75 feet (22.9 m) long. While most R44s had Westinghouse propulsion, the R46 had General Electric
propulsion.
The R46 order was 754 cars, numbered from 500-1278. After they were rebuilt in 1989–92, they were renumbered to 5482-6258. Only 752 cars were rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen. Two of the cars (1054 and 941) had been scrapped due to accidents. Even cars with cabs are A cars, odd cars (without cabs) are B cars. After the overhaul, the R46s were equipped with LCD side screens and lost their MTA blue stripe paint-scheme. The R46s are arranged in linked sets.
. As a result of the strike and other problems, the last of the R46s were deployed in December 1978, three years behind schedule.
By the end of 1979, numerous other flaws in the R46 fleet were found, and the Transit Authority filed another US$80 million charge against Pullman Standard and a number of other subcontractors. This lawsuit invalidated an agreement made with Pullman by executive director John G. DeRoos for US$1.5 million in spare parts to remedy the defects.
s and the blue stripes on the side of the cars were removed, resulting in the appearance of an entirely unpainted carbody (The fiberglass ends remain painted silver to match the stainless sides). Other improvements included the rebuilding of all mechanical systems, making the R46 more compatible with other cartypes. As a result of the overhaul, the fleet's reliability has vastly improved, although its Mean Distance Between Failures rate is much lower than the system average as of May 2011, and it is no longer considered to be the "lemon
" that it once was.
s. It is currently planned that some R46s will be retrofitted for service on the Staten Island Railway
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 that operates 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...
and BMT routes of the New York City Subway
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...
. They were built by Pullman Standard
Pullman Company
The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
in Chicago, Illinois in 1975–78. These cars, as well as the previous R44
R44 (New York City Subway car)
The R44 is a New York City Transit car model that debuted in 1971 and currently operates on the Staten Island Railway.-History:The R44 was the first 75-foot 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 cars...
were 75 feet (22.9 m) long. While most R44s had Westinghouse propulsion, the R46 had General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
propulsion.
The R46 order was 754 cars, numbered from 500-1278. After they were rebuilt in 1989–92, they were renumbered to 5482-6258. Only 752 cars were rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen. Two of the cars (1054 and 941) had been scrapped due to accidents. Even cars with cabs are A cars, odd cars (without cabs) are B cars. After the overhaul, the R46s were equipped with LCD side screens and lost their MTA blue stripe paint-scheme. The R46s are arranged in linked sets.
R46 Problems
Issues with the R46 fleet dated back to delivery, as part of the 754-car order was significantly behind schedule due to a strike at the builder, Pullman StandardPullman Company
The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
. As a result of the strike and other problems, the last of the R46s were deployed in December 1978, three years behind schedule.
Cracks and leaks
In March 1977, a crack was found in the frame of one of the lightweight Rockwell trucks resulting in a motor breaking loose from the truck, striking an axle. By 1978, there had been cracks found in 264 R46 trucks. Because of these problems, all R46s had to be checked three times a week for truck cracks. In February 1978, 889 cracks were found in 547 of the trucks. The cracking became so bad that on June 14, 1979, New York City Mayor Koch ordered R46s with trucks that had two or more cracks out of service. The more than 1,200 cracks that had been found by that day were classified into seven types. An account called the R46s "the most troubled subway car ever purchased". The R46 Rockwell truck mess continued into 1980. By this time, the number of cracks found on the trucks almost doubled, from 889 cracks logged in February 1979 to 1,700 in March 1980. To keep track of their structural issues, R46 trucks had to be inspected several times a week. In September 1980, two cracks of a type not seen before were found on the trucks. As a result, the NYCTA minimized use of the R46 fleet.Brake flaws
In July 1979, Pullman Standard informed the TA that the hand brake assemblies for the R46 could be faulty and they should be removed. In late July 1979, inspectors reported that steel was wearing away at the spot where the car body was joined to the truck, and that this could be potentially unsafe.By the end of 1979, numerous other flaws in the R46 fleet were found, and the Transit Authority filed another US$80 million charge against Pullman Standard and a number of other subcontractors. This lawsuit invalidated an agreement made with Pullman by executive director John G. DeRoos for US$1.5 million in spare parts to remedy the defects.
1989-1992 overhaul
From 1989 to 1992, Morrison-Knudsen rebuilt the R46s through the GOH (General Overhaul) program, during which the fleet received the same LCD destination signs as the R44R44 (New York City Subway car)
The R44 is a New York City Transit car model that debuted in 1971 and currently operates on the Staten Island Railway.-History:The R44 was the first 75-foot 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 cars...
s and the blue stripes on the side of the cars were removed, resulting in the appearance of an entirely unpainted carbody (The fiberglass ends remain painted silver to match the stainless sides). Other improvements included the rebuilding of all mechanical systems, making the R46 more compatible with other cartypes. As a result of the overhaul, the fleet's reliability has vastly improved, although its Mean Distance Between Failures rate is much lower than the system average as of May 2011, and it is no longer considered to be the "lemon
Lemon (automobile)
A lemon is a car, often new, that is found to be defective only after it has been bought. Any vehicle with numerous, severe issues can be termed a "lemon", and, by extension, any product with flaws too great or severe to serve its purpose can be described as a "lemon".-Origin:The use of the word...
" that it once was.
Recent work
The R46s are currently undergoing SMS (Scheduled Maintenance System) improvement, which consists of changing the brown floors to white-spotted black floors, replacement of HVAC units, painting of end car bonnets and seats to a periwinkle-blue color, replacement of windows with receiving vandal-resistant screens and the suspension springs and wheels in the trucks for a notably smoother ride. They are scheduled to remain in service until at least 2015 when they will be replaced by the R211R211 (New York City Subway car)
The R211 is a planned New York City Subway car type. First being mentioned under the MTA's Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting document, it is slated to replace the R46 fleet beginning in 2015 when they turn 40 years old. The design draft is expected in 2012.-External links:*...
s. It is currently planned that some R46s will be retrofitted for service on the Staten Island Railway
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...
See also
- R44 (New York City Subway car)R44 (New York City Subway car)The R44 is a New York City Transit car model that debuted in 1971 and currently operates on the Staten Island Railway.-History:The R44 was the first 75-foot 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 cars...
- A very similar model built by St. Louis Car Company