R9 (New York City Subway car)
Encyclopedia
The R9 was a New York City Subway
car which was built in 1940 for the IND
and its successors, which included the NYC Board of Transportation and the New York City Transit Authority
.
, which opened on December 15, 1940. The Sixth Avenue Line was the second IND Manhattan trunk line (joining the 1932 IND Eighth Avenue Line
), and therefore the additional cars were needed for new service. The remaining 3 cars in the R9 contract were ordered as replacements for 3 older IND cars that had been damaged beyond repair as a result of a 1936 collision.
The 153 R9 cars remained the newest part of the IND fleet until the arrival of the R10
cars in 1948. The R9s were used for service on the IND exclusively until 1968, when they were moved to the East New York Yard and used on former BMT routes, specifically the Eastern Division. The fleet of R9 cars stayed intact and in service until being retired from service in 1976 and 1977. The last day of R9 cars in service was March 31, 1977 as the cars made their final run on the J route.
Following their retirement, the majority of the cars were scrapped. However, three have been preserved.
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 which was built in 1940 for 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 its successors, which included the NYC Board of Transportation and 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...
.
Service History and Preservation
A total of 153 R9 (or "Arnine") cars were ordered from two different manufacturers. Cars 1650 - 1701 were built by American Car and Foundry, while cars 1702 - 1802 were built by Pressed Steel. 150 of the new cars were ordered for service on the new IND Sixth Avenue LineIND Sixth Avenue Line
The Sixth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in the United States. It runs mainly under Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and continues south through the Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn...
, which opened on December 15, 1940. The Sixth Avenue Line was the second IND Manhattan trunk line (joining the 1932 IND Eighth Avenue Line
IND Eighth Avenue Line
The Eighth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line in New York City, United States, and is part of the B Division of the New York City Subway...
), and therefore the additional cars were needed for new service. The remaining 3 cars in the R9 contract were ordered as replacements for 3 older IND cars that had been damaged beyond repair as a result of a 1936 collision.
The 153 R9 cars remained the newest part of the IND fleet until the arrival of the R10
R10 (New York City Subway car)
The R10 is a New York City Subway car class built by the American Car and Foundry Company in 1948-1949. The cars were nicknamed Thunderbirds.-Service History:*First Date of Revenue Service: November 20, 1948, on the ' route....
cars in 1948. The R9s were used for service on the IND exclusively until 1968, when they were moved to the East New York Yard and used on former BMT routes, specifically the Eastern Division. The fleet of R9 cars stayed intact and in service until being retired from service in 1976 and 1977. The last day of R9 cars in service was March 31, 1977 as the cars made their final run on the J route.
Following their retirement, the majority of the cars were scrapped. However, three have been preserved.
- Car 1689 has been preserved 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 being restored - Car 1801 has been preserved by the New York State MuseumNew York State MuseumThe New York State Museum is a research-backed institution in Albany, New York, United States. It is located on Madison Avenue, attached to the south side of the Empire State Plaza, facing onto the plaza and towards the New York State Capitol...
in Albany, New YorkAlbany, New YorkAlbany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River... - Car 1802 has been preserved by Railway Preservation Corp. and has been restored
R-9 Specifications
- Car Builder: American Car and FoundryAmerican 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...
(1650-1701), Pressed Steel CompanyPressed Steel CompanyThe Pressed Steel Company Limited was a British car body manufacturing company founded at Cowley near Oxford in 1926 as a joint venture between William Morris, the Budd Corporation and an American bank. Today at what was the company's Cowley plant, the BMW new MINI is assembled, this site is...
(1702-1802) - Car Body: Riveted Steel
- Unit Numbers: 1650-1802 (motorized single units)
- Fleet: 153 cars
- Car Length: 60 feet, 21⁄2 inches (18.35 m)
- Car Width: 10 feet (3.05 m)
- Car Height: 12 feet, 15⁄8 inches (3.70 m)
- Total Weight: ~84,575.5 lbs
- Track Gauge: 4 feet, 81⁄2 inches (1435 mm)
- Propulsion System:
- Motors: Westinghouse 570-D5 or General Electric 714-D4, 714-D5
- Motor Power: 190 hp
- Braking System: 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-23 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: 56 seats
- Cab arrangement: Half-width operator's cab at each end; conductor controls on exterior