R11 (New York City Subway car)
Encyclopedia
The R11 was a class of New York City Subway
cars built by the Budd Company
in 1949.
Because of their expensive price tag - each subway car cost more than $100,000 - the ten R11 cars are frequently referred to as the Million Dollar Train. From 1964-1965, the ten R11 cars were overhauled in the Transit Authority's own Coney Island Complex under contract R34. Therefore it is also acceptable to refer to the cars as R34's, provided one is referring to them in their post-overhaul state.
The full size of the R11 contract was to have been for 400 new subway cars, intended to provide service on the Second Avenue Subway
which at the time was slated to open in the 1950s (The Second Avenue Subway has been repeatedly delayed and canceled throughout New York City
's history, though it is currently under construction as of 2010). The 10 cars ordered were to serve as a new technology prototype test train. However, the remainder of the cars were never built due to the halt of construction on Second Avenue shortly thereafter.
The ornamental design of the car body featured standee windows separated by a heavy brace from the lower windows. This was due to the influence of noted industrial designer Otto Kuhler
(US patent Des.153,367), and featured as part of a bid by the American Car and Foundry Company
in 1947. The cars also implemented new technology in several areas. "Precipitron" lamps were included, designed to combat airborne bacteria. Forced air ventilation was introduced as ceiling vents circulated fresh air in from outside each car, while removing stale air. Electric door motors were used for the first time, replacing the standard compressed air engines which had served on much of the older equipment. Lastly, drum brakes were installed instead of conventional tread brakes.
The R11 cars were rebuilt in 1965 under contract R34. During the rebuild, the drum brakes were replaced with tread brakes, new fans were installed, and the middle stanchions were removed to improve passenger flow. The rebuild also included modifications that allowed the cars to operate in consists with other SMEE (contracts R-10
through R-42
) cars. Since there were only ten of them, by the 1970s maintenance proved time consuming and difficult as special skills and components were needed to keep the cars in working order. As a result, the R11s were retired from service in 1977 following a yard accident which wrecked car 8016 and 9 of the 10 cars were scrapped by 1980. The one exception is car 8013, which survives today at the New York Transit Museum
.
The R11 was the first stainless steel R-type car (The Budd BMT Zephyr
holds the title of being the first stainless steel subway car in the city). Fifteen years after building the R11s, the Budd Company would go on to build the first bulk order of stainless steel cars in New York City Subway
history - the R32
.
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...
cars built by the Budd Company
Budd Company
The Budd Company is a metal fabricator and major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and was formerly a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars during the 20th century....
in 1949.
Because of their expensive price tag - each subway car cost more than $100,000 - the ten R11 cars are frequently referred to as the Million Dollar Train. From 1964-1965, the ten R11 cars were overhauled in the Transit Authority's own Coney Island Complex under contract R34. Therefore it is also acceptable to refer to the cars as R34's, provided one is referring to them in their post-overhaul state.
Background and description
Second Avenue Subway
The Second Avenue Subway is a planned rapid transit subway line, part of the New York City Subway system. Phase I, consisting of two miles of tunnel and three stations, is currently under construction underneath Second Avenue in the borough of Manhattan.A plan for more than 75 years, the Second...
which at the time was slated to open in the 1950s (The Second Avenue Subway has been repeatedly delayed and canceled throughout New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's history, though it is currently under construction as of 2010). The 10 cars ordered were to serve as a new technology prototype test train. However, the remainder of the cars were never built due to the halt of construction on Second Avenue shortly thereafter.
The ornamental design of the car body featured standee windows separated by a heavy brace from the lower windows. This was due to the influence of noted industrial designer Otto Kuhler
Otto Kuhler
Otto Kuhler was an American designer, one of the best known industrial designers of the American railroads. According to Trains magazine he streamstyled more locomotives and railroad cars than Cret, Dreyfuss and Loewy combined...
(US patent Des.153,367), and featured as part of a bid by the American Car and Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry Company
American 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...
in 1947. The cars also implemented new technology in several areas. "Precipitron" lamps were included, designed to combat airborne bacteria. Forced air ventilation was introduced as ceiling vents circulated fresh air in from outside each car, while removing stale air. Electric door motors were used for the first time, replacing the standard compressed air engines which had served on much of the older equipment. Lastly, drum brakes were installed instead of conventional tread brakes.
The R11 cars were rebuilt in 1965 under contract R34. During the rebuild, the drum brakes were replaced with tread brakes, new fans were installed, and the middle stanchions were removed to improve passenger flow. The rebuild also included modifications that allowed the cars to operate in consists with other SMEE (contracts R-10
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....
through R-42
R42 (New York City Subway car)
The R42 is a New York City Subway car built between 1969 and 1970 by the St. Louis Car Company in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the B Division. This fleet of cars were the first to be fully equipped with air conditioning. The R42 fleet is numbered 4550-4949...
) cars. Since there were only ten of them, by the 1970s maintenance proved time consuming and difficult as special skills and components were needed to keep the cars in working order. As a result, the R11s were retired from service in 1977 following a yard accident which wrecked car 8016 and 9 of the 10 cars were scrapped by 1980. The one exception is car 8013, which survives today at 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...
.
The R11 was the first stainless steel R-type car (The Budd BMT Zephyr
MS Multi-section car (New York City Subway car)
The MS Multi-section, a series of New York City Subway cars, was built in prototype form in 1934 with production models built in 1936. They were called "Multis" for short.-Background:...
holds the title of being the first stainless steel subway car in the city). Fifteen years after building the R11s, the Budd Company would go on to build the first bulk order of stainless steel cars in New York City Subway
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...
history - the R32
R32 (New York City Subway car)
The R32 is a New York City Subway car model built in 1964-65 by the Budd Company in Philadelphia for the IND/BMT B Division. These cars were the first mass-produced stainless steel cars built for the New York City Subway. The two previous Budd orders, the BMT Zephyr and the R11 contract, were...
.