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R33 World's Fair (New York City Subway car)
Encyclopedia
The R33 World's Fair is a class of 40 single cars for the New York City Subway
car built in late 1963. They were made for the "A" Division, but only assigned to the service (IRT Flushing Line
) and were based out of Corona Yard. They were used to make 11-car trains with the R36 WF
cars, which were built as two-car sets (pairs). They were built by the St. Louis Car Company
in St. Louis, Missouri
, for the 1964 New York World's Fair
.
These cars were rebuilt "in-house" in 1985 by the Coney Island Shop, but not equipped with air conditioning system and retained their original Axiflow ceiling fans. They were the last New York City Subway car to not have air-conditioning. For this reason, they were not used during the summer months due to poor air flow and high humidity. The last car made its final trip on November 3, 2003 on the 7 train with ten R36 WF cars, marking the end of the Redbirds.
Most R33 WF cars are currently work motors and the number 1 was placed before the former number (i.e. car 9345 became 19345). They are based out of various yards around the system. They handle many tasks and are versatile, doing car moves, trash pickup and yard switching. The only exceptions are 9306, which has been part of the New York Transit Museum
in Brooklyn since 1976 (the only R33 WF car to not be rebuilt), 9321 and 9339, which were retired and reefed in 2001 and 2010, respectively, and 9327, which is at the Seashore Trolley Museum
in Kennebunkport, Maine
.
Although the R33/36 WF cars were referred to as Redbird
s, the paint scheme was actually light turquoise
blue and white upon delivery. This paint color scheme was used until the mid 1970s when they were painted "Silver/Blue" for the MTA livery. Then they were painted a full white (roof, bonnets, sides were all painted white) in 1981–82 to combat graffiti. The look was abandoned for the famous "Redbird" style. The Redbirds were painted between 1984–89 to a deep maroon red body, black front bonnets and anti-climbers, and silver roof.
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 late 1963. They were made for the "A" Division, but only assigned to the service (IRT Flushing Line
IRT Flushing Line
The Flushing Line is a rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system, operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route...
) and were based out of Corona Yard. They were used to make 11-car trains with the R36 WF
R36 World's Fair (New York City Subway car)
The R36 World's Fair New York City Subway cars were built in 1963-1964 by the St. Louis Car Company in St. Louis, Missouri for the IRT division . They were purchased for service on the IRT Flushing Line which was the closest line to the 1964 New York World's Fair...
cars, which were built as two-car sets (pairs). They were built by the 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:...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, for the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
.
These cars were rebuilt "in-house" in 1985 by the Coney Island Shop, but not equipped with air conditioning system and retained their original Axiflow ceiling fans. They were the last New York City Subway car to not have air-conditioning. For this reason, they were not used during the summer months due to poor air flow and high humidity. The last car made its final trip on November 3, 2003 on the 7 train with ten R36 WF cars, marking the end of the Redbirds.
Most R33 WF cars are currently work motors and the number 1 was placed before the former number (i.e. car 9345 became 19345). They are based out of various yards around the system. They handle many tasks and are versatile, doing car moves, trash pickup and yard switching. The only exceptions are 9306, which has been part of 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...
in Brooklyn since 1976 (the only R33 WF car to not be rebuilt), 9321 and 9339, which were retired and reefed in 2001 and 2010, respectively, and 9327, which is at the Seashore Trolley Museum
Seashore Trolley Museum
The Seashore Trolley Museum, located in Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, is the world's oldest and largest museum of mass transit vehicles....
in Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,720 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford metropolitan statistical area....
.
Although the R33/36 WF cars were referred to as Redbird
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...
s, the paint scheme was actually light turquoise
Turquoise (color)
Turquoise or is a slightly blueish tone of light green. The color is based on the gem turquoise. The term comes from the French for Turkish.At right is displayed the X11 color named turquoise....
blue and white upon delivery. This paint color scheme was used until the mid 1970s when they were painted "Silver/Blue" for the MTA livery. Then they were painted a full white (roof, bonnets, sides were all painted white) in 1981–82 to combat graffiti. The look was abandoned for the famous "Redbird" style. The Redbirds were painted between 1984–89 to a deep maroon red body, black front bonnets and anti-climbers, and silver roof.