R-44 (St. Louis, 1971-1973)
From nycsubway.org
R-44 train led by car 5262 enters Broad Channel on the Rockaways shuttle service. Photo by David Pirmann, June 2004.
Contents |
Roster
| Designation | Unit Numbers | Manufacturer | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-44 | 5202-5479 | St. Louis Car | 1971-1973 |
| R-44 SIRT | 388-435, 436-466 (even) | St. Louis Car | 1971-1973 |
- Stainless steel
- 75' long, 10' wide
- 4-car sets; even numbers have cabs; odd numbers "blind". Cars are numbered consecutively in set. Lowest number usually divides only by two. Highest number in pair is odd. 5403 part of odd bunch.
- Cars 5201-5481 originally 100-387 (but not in order); 388-399 originally NYC Subway then transfered to Staten Island Rapid Transit. See detailed roster below for a table of the original numbers.
Datasheets
R-44 Datasheet from NYCT Revenue & Non-Revenue Car Drawings
Notes
The R-44 Sets a World Speed Record. On January 31, 1972, the Transit Authority used a consist of R-44 cars to conduct speed trials on the Long Island Railroad's main line tracks between Woodside and Jamaica. The R-44s set an official world speed record, for subway trains, of 87.75 mph, with TA personnel noting that the consist was still accelerating as it approached the end of the designated 5.9 mile-long test track. The TA repeated the speed trial, this time purposefully disabling two out of four motors per car, to indirectly simulate the effect of a rush hour crowd of passengers. The train still managed to reach 77 mph. The R-44s drew 650V DC from LIRR's third rail, a power supply system inherited from the Pennsylvania Railroad. The introduction of the Budd Company's high-performance M1 commuter MUs, beginning in 1968, mandated an upgrade of third-rail power to 750V DC in order to exploit the M1's capabilities. This work was carried out during 1971 and 1972, and was not quite finished when the R-44s made their record-breaking runs. The trials demonstrated the potential of the newest generation of subway cars to offer high-speed service. --Thanks to Ron Aryel
Photo Gallery
 Image 5663 (191k, 1024x696) Photo by: Steve Zabel Collection of: Joe Testagrose Location: Coney Island Yard |
 Image 49639 (254k, 1044x940) Photo by: Professor J Location: Tottenville |
 Image 61266 (72k, 820x620) Photo by: Gary Chatterton Location: 80th Street/Hudson Street |
 Image 62204 (186k, 1024x622) Photo by: Doug Grotjahn Collection of: Joe Testagrose Location: Beach 67th Street/Gaston Avenue |
 Image 68976 (213k, 1044x788) Photo by: Zach Summer Location: Old Town |
 Image 69795 (220k, 1044x788) Photo by: Michael Hodurski Location: Rockaway Park Yard |
 Image 75494 (193k, 1044x788) Photo by: Chris M. Location: Beach 36th Street/Edgemere |
 Image 82835 (234k, 1044x788) Photo by: Chris M. Location: Beach 105th Street/Seaside |
 Image 83738 (220k, 1044x788) Photo by: Glenn L. Rowe Location: 190th Street/Overlook Terrace |
 Image 84015 (165k, 1044x788) Photo by: Glenn L. Rowe Location: 190th Street/Overlook Terrace |
 Image 87623 (192k, 1044x788) Photo by: Glenn L. Rowe Location: 190th Street/Overlook Terrace |
 Image 92472 (198k, 1044x706) Photo by: Richard Panse Location: North Channel Bridge |
 Image 99989 (229k, 1044x701) Photo by: David Pirmann Location: 80th Street/Hudson Street |
 Image 104885 (261k, 1044x699) Photo by: Michael Hodurski Location: Aqueduct/North Conduit Avenue |
 Image 119374 (131k, 1024x682) Photo by: Doug Grotjahn Collection of: Joe Testagrose Location: Fort Hamilton Parkway |
More Images: 1-50 51-100 101-150 151-200 201-250 251-300 301-350 351-400 401-450 451-500 501-550 551-600 601-650 651-700 701-750 751-800 801-850 851-900 901-950 951-1000 1001-1050 1051-1100 1101-1150 1151-1200 1201-1250 1251-1300 1301-1350 1351-1400 1401-1450 1451-1500 1501-1544
Car Notes
| Green | Preserved, saved for preservation, or exists in some state |
Yellow | Converted to work service (and later scrapped or still in use) |
Red | Wrecked/Damaged in accident (and possibly repaired), or scrapped prior to the bulk of the type |
| Number | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 109, 120, 248 | Involved in fire, 2/4/1986. Not rebuilt. Scrapped.
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| 132 | Negative camber and buckled side sills, not rebuilt. Scrapped.
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| 176, 215 | Derailed, hit pillar n. of 59th St., 6/18/1989. Both scrapped.
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| 227, 315 | Involved in fire at 207th Street in 1974. 227 now at FDNY Training Academy on Randall's Island, 315 scrapped.
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| 288 | Collision at 205th St. 12/1974, not rebuilt, scrapped.
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| 328, 329, 331, 330; 332, 333, 335, 334 | Experimental carpeted floor.
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| 385 | Not rebuilt, had original hydraulic brakes, scrapped, 1982.
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| 5240 | (Originally #172) Preserved for New York Transit Museum collection.
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| 5248 | Being scrapped due to severe frame rot, Summer 2004. Parts to be used to ressurrect 5284 and 5402. Mate 5249 mismated to 5270 (5270-5249-5271-5284 as a set).
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| 5282, 5283, 5284, 5285 | Derailed at 135th Street in Manhattan, 7/3/1997; 5282: rear of car sheared off, scrapped on site; 5283 suffered fire damage. 5283,4,5 still out of service, stripped for parts. 5284 returned to service Summer 2004, mismated with 5271 (5270-5249-5271-5284 as a set).
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| 5319 | Caught fire (by vandalism) at Far Rockaway, 1997. Scrapped.
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| 5402 | Out of service due to fire, 4/9/1997. Had some rebuiling but never entered service and was since stripped.
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MDBF Data
Detailed Roster (Renumbering/Disposition)