R26 (New York City Subway car)

The R26 was a New York City Subway car model built by American Car and Foundry from 1959 to 1960 for the IRT A Division. A total of 110 cars were built, arranged in married pairs.

R26
R26s 7774 and 7775 at Concourse Yard
In service1959–2002
ManufacturerAmerican Car and Foundry
Family nameRedbirds
Replaced
Constructed1959–1960
Entered serviceOctober 12, 1959
Scrapped2001–2003
Number built110
Number preserved2
Number scrapped108
FormationSemi-Married Pairs
Fleet numbers7750–7859
Capacity44
Operator(s)New York City Subway
Specifications
Car body constructionLAHT carbon steel
Car length51.04 ft (15.56 m)
Width8.75 ft (2,667 mm)
Height11.86 ft (3,615 mm)
Doors6 sets of 50 inch wide side doors per car
Maximum speed55 mph (89 km/h)
Weight70,000 lb (32,000 kg)
(post-rebuild)
Traction systemGeneral Electric 17KG192B1 (7804–7859 formerly Westinghouse)
Traction motorsGeneral Electric 1257F1 or Westinghouse 1447J
Power output115 hp (86 kW)
Electric system(s)600 V DC Third rail
Current collection methodContact shoe
Braking system(s)WABCO, "SMEE" (electrodynamic)
Coupling systemH2C
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The R26s entered service on October 12, 1959, and received air conditioning by 1982. The fleet was rebuilt by Morrison–Knudsen between 1985 and 1987. The R26s were replaced in the early 2000s with the delivery of the R142 and R142A cars, with the last train running in October 2002. After being retired, most R26s were sunk into the ocean as artificial reefs, but two cars have survived.

Description

The R26s were numbered 7750–7859. They were the first cars to not be built with operating cabs at both ends.

The even-numbered car carried the motor generator and battery set for electrical equipment, while the odd numbered car held air compressor for the brakes. A special version of the H2C coupler was used to link the cars, so they could easily be split if needed, and thus, they were called "semi-permanent pairs". Only the No.1 end had the operator controls. The No.2 end had conductor's controls only. Although referred to as the "blind end", these ends did have windows for the conductor.

The R26s were the first cars to use single, sealed storm windows since the R14s, and pink colored-molded hard fiberglass seats. The hard fiberglass seats would become standard seating from this order onward for all new cars purchased to cut down on vandalism, reduce maintenance costs, etc.

The first set of R26/R28s was placed in service on the 6 train on October 12, 1959. By 1982, all cars in this series had received air conditioning as part of a retrofitting program. Rebuilt by Morrison–Knudsen in Hornell, New York between 1985 and 1987, the R26s were repainted as Redbirds and were the first cars to be repainted in the scheme. They re-entered service, particularly on the 2 and 5 trains.

Retirement

As time wore on, heavy service took their toll on these cars. The R142 and R142A car orders replaced the entire R26 fleet. They were gradually phased out from May 2001, until the last two pairs 7818–7819, and 7846–7847, along with the last of the R28s made their final trip on the 5 on October 7, 2002.[1]

After retirement, many cars were stripped to help create the Redbird Reef. In 2002, cars 7770–7771 became school cars at Canarsie Yard. This pair was later sent to the Concourse Yard and later to the 207th Street Yard. The pair was finally reefed in September 2009.

Today, cars 7774–7775 are currently the only surviving R26s. This pair was previously stored at the Unionport Yard until July 2013, when they were moved to the Concourse Yard, along with R28s 7924–7925 and R29s 8678–8679.

Route assignment history

Note: All cars became General Electric (GE) cars and became permanently paired with link bars after rebuilding.[2]

Service Years In Service Cars
6 1959–1966 All cars[2]
2,4,5 1966–1976 General Electric (GE) cars[2]
2/5 1976–1985 General Electric (GE) cars[2]
6 (1966–1985) Westinghouse (WH) cars[2]
7 1978–1985 Some General Electric (GE) and Westinghouse (WH) cars as a temporary replacement for cars being sent out for air conditioning, overhaul and rebuilding[2]
2/5 (1985–2002) All cars after overhaul and rebuilding[2]

See also

References
  1. https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2002/2002-11-bulletin.pdf
  2. George Chiasson, Jr. "A Historic Perspective of the R-26, R-28, and R-29". New York City Subway Resources. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
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