R1 (New York City Subway car)

The R1 subway car was the first order of original passenger stock for the IND New York City Subway. 300 cars were manufactured between 1930 and 1931 by American Car and Foundry Company, numbered 100 through 399. Future passenger stock orders through to R9 were virtually identical, with minor mechanical or cosmetic variations. The first R1 cars to see passenger service were sixteen individual cars that were placed in revenue service on the BMT Sea Beach Line in 1931 for testing and returned to the IND the same year. The BMT was to have been paid by the City of New York for the testing but, since they were fairly extensively used in service (made up as two 8-car trains) the BMT and City called it even. Most R1s were retired by 1969-1970. Some R1s remained later into the 1970s. Cars 100 and 381 have been restored to good working condition and have been used on several fan trips since 2003-2004 along with other restored R1-9 cars. Note: R2 contract order are trucks and motors for R1 fleet.

R-1 "Arnines" Specifications

• Car Builder: American Car and Foundry (ACF), Berwick, Pennsylvania, USA
• Car Body: Riveted Steel
• Unit Numbers: 100-399
• Fleet: originally 300 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)
• Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8¹⁄₂ inches (1435 mm)
• Total Weight: 84,081 lb (38,139 kg)
• Propulsion System: Westinghouse 570 D-5 DC motors (2 per motor truck)
• Power: 190 horsepower (142 kW) per motor
• Braking System: AMUE electric-pneumatic, WAB
• Total Seats: 56
• Cab Arrangement: Half-width driving cab at each end; conductor controls on exterior
• Coupling/Numbering Arrangement: All single units
• Price per car (new, 1930): $39,201

References

• Sansone, Gene. Evolution of New York City subways: An illustrated history of New York City's transit cars, 1867-1997. New York Transit Museum Press, New York, 1997 ISBN 978-0963749284