R26 (New York City Subway car)
Encyclopedia
The R26 was a New York City Subway
car built in 1959 by American Car and Foundry (ACF). They were made for the IRT
and were the first cars to be built in married pair
s, which consists of two cars coupled together at the non-operating end. The even-numbered car carried the motor generator and battery set for electrical equipment while the odd numbered car held air compressor for the brakes. A special version of the H2C coupler was used to link the cars so they could easily be split if needed and thus, they were called "semi-permanent pairs." Only the No.1 end had the operator controls. The No.2 end had conductor's controls only. Although referred as the "blind end," these ends did have windows for the conductor. The R26s were the first cars to use single, sealed storm windows since the R14
s.
Rebuilt by Morrison Knudsen in 1985-87, these cars were repainted as Redbirds
and were the first cars to do so. They re-entered service on the IRT Main Line, particularly the and trains. As time wore on, heavy service took their toll on these cars. The R142
and R142A
cars replaced the R26 fleet in 2001–2002, and many cars were stripped for reefing. They made their last trip on October 24, 2002 on the #5 train.
Pair 7770-7771 which was a school car at Canarsie Yard is now scrapped. 7774-7775 are currently the only surviving R26s and are at Unionport Yard.
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 built in 1959 by American Car and Foundry (ACF). They were made for the IRT
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company was the private operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904, as well as earlier elevated railways and additional rapid transit lines in New York City. The IRT was purchased by the City in June 1940...
and were the first cars to be built in married pair
Married pair
A twinset or twin unit is a set of two railroad cars or locomotives which are permanently coupled and treated as if they were a single unit. A twinset of cars or coaches can also be called a twin car.-USA:...
s, which consists of two cars coupled together at the non-operating end. The even-numbered car carried the motor generator and battery set for electrical equipment while the odd numbered car held air compressor for the brakes. A special version of the H2C coupler was used to link the cars so they could easily be split if needed and thus, they were called "semi-permanent pairs." Only the No.1 end had the operator controls. The No.2 end had conductor's controls only. Although referred as the "blind end," these ends did have windows for the conductor. The R26s were the first cars to use single, sealed storm windows since the R14
R14 (New York City Subway car)
The R14 was a New York City Subway car built in 1949 by the American Car and Foundry Company. They were a "follow-up" or supplemental stock for the "A" Division's R12s and look exactly same, except for a different floor pattern...
s.
Rebuilt by Morrison Knudsen in 1985-87, these cars were repainted as Redbirds
Redbird trains
Redbird is the name given to 1,410 New York City Subway cars of the following types: R26, R28, R29, R33 Main Line , R33 World's Fair , R36 ML, and R36 WF. These cars were painted a deep red to combat graffiti, which had become a major problem In the late 1970s and early 1980s. The deep red color...
and were the first cars to do so. They re-entered service on the IRT Main Line, particularly the and trains. As time wore on, heavy service took their toll on these cars. The R142
R142 (New York City Subway car)
The R142 is the model class of the newest generation of IRT cars for the New York City Subway. Built by Bombardier in Plattsburgh, New York and Barre, Vermont from 1999–2002, the fleet, along with the R142A, are the new backbone of the IRT fleet....
and R142A
R142A (New York City Subway car)
The R142A, along with the R142 is the newest generation of cars for the A Division of the New York City Subway.-Background:The R142A is built by Kawasaki and has many of the same features as the R142, built by Bombardier. The main order of 400 R142A cars are numbered 7211-7610; the 120 option cars...
cars replaced the R26 fleet in 2001–2002, and many cars were stripped for reefing. They made their last trip on October 24, 2002 on the #5 train.
Pair 7770-7771 which was a school car at Canarsie Yard is now scrapped. 7774-7775 are currently the only surviving R26s and are at Unionport Yard.