PS Standard (New York City Subway car)
Encyclopedia
The ME-1 was a rapid transit car built from 1925-1926 for Staten Island Railway
and later also used in the New York City Subway
. They were the first electric cars to run in revenue service on the SIRT. They are also frequently referred to as MU-1s or MUE-1s. The 25 cars purchased by the New York City Transit Authority
to run in the subway were nicknamed B-29s, a reference to a large aircraft of the same name. This nickname was derived from the cars' large size (67') and the fact that the cars had been renumbered for subway service into the 2900's.
Purchased by the Staten Island Rapid Transit's former operator, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
, the cars debuted in 1925. They ran continuously on the three SIRT lines (North Shore Line, South Shore Line, South Beach Branch) until 1953, when the South Beach Branch and North Shore Line closed. In 1953-54, 25 of these cars were purchased from the SIRT by the New York City Transit Authority
to run over former BMT lines and did so until 1961. The remaining cars soldiered on the remaining SIRT main line (the South Shore Line) until their last revenue service in 1973.
Following their 1973 retirement from service on Staten Island, they were replaced by the R44
SI fleet of cars, which are still in use as of 2010.
Car 353 had survived on a track in the Travis Yards and was acquired by the Trolley Museum of New York based in Kingston, New York
. However, the car was scrapped before transportation was able to be arranged to Kingston.
In recent years, a local railroad historian named Peter Giunta has been searching for vintage SIRT equipment for a possible museum display on Staten Island. He hopes to locate either an ME-1 or one of its earlier non-electrified counterparts.
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...
and later also used in 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 the first electric cars to run in revenue service on the SIRT. They are also frequently referred to as MU-1s or MUE-1s. The 25 cars purchased by the New York City Transit Authority
New York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
to run in the subway were nicknamed B-29s, a reference to a large aircraft of the same name. This nickname was derived from the cars' large size (67') and the fact that the cars had been renumbered for subway service into the 2900's.
Service History
A total of 100 cars were purchased - 90 motors and 10 trailers. The 90 motors were built in 1925, and the 10 trailers in 1926.Purchased by the Staten Island Rapid Transit's former operator, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
, the cars debuted in 1925. They ran continuously on the three SIRT lines (North Shore Line, South Shore Line, South Beach Branch) until 1953, when the South Beach Branch and North Shore Line closed. In 1953-54, 25 of these cars were purchased from the SIRT by the New York City Transit Authority
New York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
to run over former BMT lines and did so until 1961. The remaining cars soldiered on the remaining SIRT main line (the South Shore Line) until their last revenue service in 1973.
Following their 1973 retirement from service on Staten Island, they were replaced by the 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...
SI fleet of cars, which are still in use as of 2010.
Preservation
- Car 388 was purchased by the Shore Line Trolley MuseumShore Line Trolley MuseumThe Shore Line Trolley Museum, located in East Haven, Connecticut, is the oldest operating trolley museum in the United States. It was founded to preserve the heritage of the trolley car. The museum includes exhibits on trolley history in the visitors' center and offers rides on restored trolleys...
in East Haven, ConnecticutEast Haven, ConnecticutEast Haven is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 28,189. The town is just 3 minutes from downtown New Haven...
and is undergoing restoration. - Car 366 was purchased by the Seashore Trolley MuseumSeashore Trolley MuseumThe Seashore Trolley Museum, located in Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, is the world's oldest and largest museum of mass transit vehicles....
and is also undergoing restoration.
Car 353 had survived on a track in the Travis Yards and was acquired by the Trolley Museum of New York based in Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
. However, the car was scrapped before transportation was able to be arranged to Kingston.
In recent years, a local railroad historian named Peter Giunta has been searching for vintage SIRT equipment for a possible museum display on Staten Island. He hopes to locate either an ME-1 or one of its earlier non-electrified counterparts.
ME-1 Specifications
- Car Builder: Standard Steel Car CompanyStandard Steel Car CompanyThe Standard Steel Car Company was a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock in the United States that existed between 1902 and 1934....
- Car Body: Steel
- Unit Numbers: 300-389 (motors), 500-509 (trailers) - Note: Trailers 502, 505-507, and 509 converted to motor cars 390-394 in 1928
- Fleet: 100 cars (90 motors, 10 trailers)
- Car Length: 67 feet
- Car Width: 9 feet, 9 inches
- Car Height: 12 feet, 15/8 inches
- Total Weight: 95750 lb (43,431.5 kg)
- Track Gauge: 4 feet, 81⁄2 inches
- Propulsion System: Motor cars: GEGeneral ElectricGeneral Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
PC10L
Trailer cars: None - Motors: Motor cars: GEGeneral ElectricGeneral Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
282A
Trailer cars: None - Motor Power: 200 horsepower each
- Brakes: WABCOWestinghouse Air Brake CompanyThe railway air brake was invented by George Westinghouse of New York state in 1869. Soon after, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he established the Westinghouse Air Brake Company on September 28, 1869...
Schedule AMUE with UE-5 universal valve, ME-30 brake stand, and simplex clasp brake rigging - Air Compressor: WABCOWestinghouse Air Brake CompanyThe railway air brake was invented by George Westinghouse of New York state in 1869. Soon after, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he established the Westinghouse Air Brake Company on September 28, 1869...
D-3-F - Coupler Type: WABCOWestinghouse Air Brake CompanyThe railway air brake was invented by George Westinghouse of New York state in 1869. Soon after, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he established the Westinghouse Air Brake Company on September 28, 1869...
H2A - Total Seating: 71
- Total Standing: 169
See Also
- AB StandardAB Standard (New York City Subway car)The AB Standard is a New York City Subway car class built from 1914-1924. It ran under the operation of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company and its successors, which included the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation , the NYC Board of Transportation, and the New York City Transit Authority .In...
, a similar car built for the New York City SubwayNew York City SubwayThe 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...
by both the Pressed Steel Car CompanyPressed Steel Car CompanyOn January 13 1899 the Pressed Steel Car Company was incorporated in New Jersey with an authorized capitalization of $25 million, for the stated purpose of “manufacturing passenger, freight and street railway cars and to make trucks, wheels, and other parts of cars”...
and by the American Car and Foundry CompanyAmerican Car and Foundry CompanyAmerican 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...
.