R11 (New York City Subway car)

The R11 New York City Subway cars, built by the Budd Rail Car Company, were a new technology prototype test train ordered as part of a new 400 car fleet for the Second Avenue Subway in 1949, a line that was never built. This resulted in the cancellation of the order.

The ornamental design of the car body with standee windows separated by a heavy brace from the lower windows was due to noted industrial designer Otto Kuhler (US patent Des.153,367) and part of the bid by American Car and Foundry in 1947. The new technology included "precipitron" sterilizing lamps, under-seat heaters, damper control of fresh and recirculated air through ceiling, under-seat diffusers, and electric door motors instead of standard compressed air engines. Drum brakes were also installed instead of the conventional tread brakes. In addition, the R11 was the first stainless steel R-type car (The Budd BMT Zephyr holds the honor of being the first stainless steel subway car in the city). Fifteen years later, the Budd Company also built the next one, the R32.

The R11 cars were rebuilt in 1965 and designated R34. During the rebuild, the drum brakes were replaced with tread brakes, new fans were installed, and the middle sanctions were removed to improve passenger flow. Upon completion of the rebuild, the R11s were able to operate with other SMEE cars. They were retired in 1977 and disposed of by 1980 with the exception of car 8013, which survives today at New York Transit Museum.

R-11 Specifications

*Car Builder: Budd Rail Car Company, (USA)
*Car Body: Pure Stainless Steel
*Unit Numbers: 8010-8019
*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)
*Propulsion System: General Electric 1240B
*Power: TWO 100 horsepower (75 kW) motors per truck
*Brakes: WABCO "SMEE" braking system
*Total Weight: 81,478 lbs (36,958 kg), 82,500 (37,125 kg) After overhaul
*Total Seating: 54
*Price per Car: $100,000+(1949)
*"Half-width controlling cab"
*"New technology: improving air circulation inside the car"

References

* [http://www.mta.info/mta/news/releases/?en=070412-HQ23 MTA Press Release "The Train of the Future now a Museum Piece"]
* Sansone, Gene. "Evolution of New York City subways: An illustrated history of New York City's transit cars, 1867-1997". New York Transit Museum Press, New York, 1997 ISBN 978-0963749284