R42 (New York City Subway car)

The R42, built in 1969-1970 was the last 60' Template:IND (NYCS)-Template:BMT car in the New York City Subway until the R143 in 2001 and the last model class to be built as pairs (mated sets). They are similar to the R40M. Built by the St. Louis Car Co. in Saint Louis, Missouri, these were the first fully original air-conditioned car class in the New York City Subway. They are found mostly on the BMT Eastern Division (Template:NYCS J, Template:NYCS M, Template:NYCS L, Template:NYCS Z lines) and some on the Coney Island BMT routes.

Cars 4554-4556 was the first R42s in service on May 9, 1969 (in a mixed train on the Sea Beach line).

The R42 went into rebuilding in 1989 - 1990. 300 cars were rebuilt and overhauled by Morrison-Kunderson. The last 100 cars were rebuilt by NYCTA 207 Street Overhaul Car shop in Inwood, Manhattan and Coney Island Overhaul Car Shops in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

R-42 Specifications

• Car Builder: Saint Louis Car Company, St Louis, MO (USA)
• Car Body: stainless steel with carbon steel chassis and underbody
• Unit Numbers: 4550-4949
• Fleet of: about 392 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: 74,433 lb (33,762 kg)
• Total Seating: 44
• Propulsion: General Electric (GE) SCM propulsion system
• Brakes: New York Air Brake Newtran "SMEE" braking system
• DC Motors: Westinghouse 1447J DC traction motors
• Power: 115 horsepower (86 kW) / 4 per car
• Cab Arrangement: Half-width driving cab at "A" end, half-width conductor control cab at "B" end
• Coupling/Numbering Arrangement: All married pairs.
• Air Conditioning System: Two roof-mounted Safety Corp. HVAC units each car.
• Price per car (new, 1969): USD$132,670

External links

nycsubway.org - NYC Subway Cars: R42