R12 (New York City Subway car)
Encyclopedia
The R12 was a New York City Subway
car, the first city-owned rolling stock for the IRT
division. Built by American Car and Foundry Company
in 1948, these cars were very similar to the R10
s, except the R12 was smaller. In addition, while the R10s had air-operated door engines (and were the last cars ordered as such), the R12s had electric door engines.
They began service on the IRT Flushing Line
( trains) route in Queens
and Manhattan
and ran there until 1964 with the delivery of R36
s. The R12 cars were then transferred to operate on other IRT division routes originating in Manhattan, the Bronx, or Brooklyn
throughout their service lives. One particular assignment included fifty of them being sent to the Third Avenue elevated line
in the Bronx in August 1969 and ran there until that route's closing on April 29, 1973.
The R12 had a few paint schemes: originally two-tone gray with orange stripes, then a solid bright red, and finally, in the MTA's silver with blue stripe scheme. The last R12 was removed from service in September 1981 and the fleet become work cars afterward.
Car 5760 was restored to its original paint scheme and has been part of the New York Transit Museum
collection since July 1976. Car 5782 is at the 207th Street Yard in the MTA blue/silver livery paint scheme and its future use is currently not known
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, the first city-owned rolling stock for the IRT
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company was the private operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904, as well as earlier elevated railways and additional rapid transit lines in New York City. The IRT was purchased by the City in June 1940...
division. Built by 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 1948, these cars were very similar to 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....
s, except the R12 was smaller. In addition, while the R10s had air-operated door engines (and were the last cars ordered as such), the R12s had electric door engines.
They began service on the IRT Flushing Line
IRT Flushing Line
The Flushing Line is a rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system, operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route...
( trains) route in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
and Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and ran there until 1964 with the delivery of R36
R36 (New York City Subway car)
The R36 was a class of New York City Subway cars built in 1964 by the St. Louis Car Company, St. Louis, Missouri for the IRT division...
s. The R12 cars were then transferred to operate on other IRT division routes originating in Manhattan, the Bronx, or Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
throughout their service lives. One particular assignment included fifty of them being sent to the Third Avenue elevated line
IRT Third Avenue Line
The IRT Third Avenue Line, commonly known as the Third Avenue El, was an elevated railway in Manhattan and the Bronx, New York City. Originally operated by an independent railway company, it was acquired by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company and eventually became part of the New York subway...
in the Bronx in August 1969 and ran there until that route's closing on April 29, 1973.
The R12 had a few paint schemes: originally two-tone gray with orange stripes, then a solid bright red, and finally, in the MTA's silver with blue stripe scheme. The last R12 was removed from service in September 1981 and the fleet become work cars afterward.
Car 5760 was restored to its original paint scheme and has been part of 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...
collection since July 1976. Car 5782 is at the 207th Street Yard in the MTA blue/silver livery paint scheme and its future use is currently not known