R7A (New York City Subway car)

R7A

R7A subway car 1575 leading a special holiday train at 23 Street on the IND Sixth Avenue Line

Interior of R7A car 1575
In service 1939 – 1977
Manufacturer American Car and Foundry, Pullman Standard
Built at Chicago, Illinois, USA
Constructed 1938
Entered service 1938-1939
Number built 100
Number preserved 1
Number scrapped 99
Fleet numbers 1550-1599 (Built by Pullman Standard)
1600-1649 (Built by American Car Foundry) (motorized single units)
Capacity 56 (seated)
Operator(s) New York City Subway
Specifications
Car body construction Riveted steel
Car length 60 feet 2 1⁄2 inches (18.35 m) over anticlimbers
Width 10 ft (3.05 m)
Height 12 feet 1 5⁄8 inches (3.70 m)
Platform height 3.76 ft (1.15 m)
Doors 8
Maximum speed 55 mph (89 km/h)
Weight 84,556 lb (38,354 kg) (ACF), 84,750 lb (38,440 kg) (Pullman), #1575: 82,340 lb (37,350 kg)
Traction system Westinghouse 570-D5 or General Electric 714-D1, 714-D2
Power output 190 hp (142 kW).
Electric system(s) 600 V DC Third rail
Current collection method Contact shoe
Braking system(s) WABCO Schedule AMUE with UE-5 universal valve, ME-23 brake stand, and simplex clasp brake rigging. WABCO D-3-F air compressor
Coupling system WABCO H2A
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The R7A was a New York City Subway car order consisting of 100 cars that were built in 1938 by two separate orders from different manufacturers; the American Car & Foundry (#1600-1649), and Pullman Standard (#1550-1599).[1]

These cars were ordered to equip expanding service in Queens and for the opening of the IND Crosstown Line.[2]

The R7A's were also used for service on the IND exclusively until 1968-69, when they were displaced by the new R40 and R42 cars, and were transferred to the East New York Yard of the Eastern Division, and were used on the former BMT J, KK, LL, M, and QJ routes until 1977 when the R7As were retired, and replaced by the R46s.

Cab of R7A subway car 1575 on display at the New York Transit Museum.

Preservation

Car 1575 has been preserved by the New York Transit Museum and restored. During its service life, it was rebuilt from its original appearance by ACF in 1947 after an accident, and became the prototype for the R10. It was designed to test new interior and cosmetic features. While it cosmetically resembles an R10, mechanically and electrically it is still an R7A and can only operate with other prewar IND Arnines.

References

  1. ↑ "Independent Fleet". google.com.
  2. ↑ Cunningham, Joseph; DeHart, Leonard O. (1993-01-01). A History of the New York City Subway System. J. Schmidt, R. Giglio, and K. Lang.

Further reading

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