R7A (New York City Subway car)

R7A subway car 1575 on display in the New York Transit Museum.
R7A subway car 1575 leading a special holiday train at the 23 Street station under Avenue of the Americas.
This is the interior of a R7A subway car
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This car was rebuilt in 1947 as a prototype for the R10 fleet.]] The R7A was a New York City Subway car was built in 1938 by two separate orders from different manufacturers, American Car & Foundry, and Pullman Standard. 100 R7A cars were built. Most if not all of these cars were transferred to the BMT Eastern Division in 1968 and 1969 and served there until 1976 and 1977.

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. It became the prototype for the R10, 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 R1-9 cars.

Cab of R7A subway car 1575 on display at the New York Transit Museum.
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R-7A specifications

  • Car Builder: American Car and Foundry, Pullman Standard
  • Car Body: Riveted Steel
  • Unit Numbers: 1550-1649 (motorized single units)
  • Fleet: 100 cars
  • Car Length: 60 feet 2+12 inches (18.35 m)
  • Car Width: 10 feet (3.05 m)
  • Car Height: 12 feet 1+58 inches (3.70 m)
  • Total Weight: ~84,653 lb (38,398 kg), #1575: 82,340 lb (37,350 kg)
  • Track Gauge: 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
  • Propulsion System:
  • Motors: Westinghouse 570-D5 or General Electric 714-D1, 714-D2
  • Motor Power: 190 hp (142 kW).
  • Braking System: WABCO Schedule AMUE with UE-5 universal valve, ME-23 brake stand, and simplex clasp brake rigging
  • Air Compressor: WABCO D-3-F
  • Coupler Type: WABCO H2A
  • Total Seating: 56 seats
  • Cab arrangement: Half-width operator's cab at each end; conductor controls on exterior
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Further reading

  • 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 978-0-9637492-8-4
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Last modified on 5 May 2013, at 22:40