R26 (New York City Subway car)
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The R26 was a New York City Subway car built in 1959. by American Car and Foundry (ACF). They were made for the IRT and were the first cars to be built in married pairs, which consists of two cars coupled together at the non-operating end. 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 had the conductor's controls only. Although referred 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.
Rebuilt by Morrison Knudsen in 1985-87, these cars were repainted as Redbirds and were the first cars to do so. They re-entered service on the IRT Main Line, particularly the 2 and 5. As time wore on, heavy service took their toll on these cars. Being replaced by the R142/142As in 2000-2001, the R26s were stripped for reefing with the rest of the cars. They made their last trip on October 24, 2002 on the #5 line [1]
Pair 7770-7771 is currently at the East New York Yard being used as a school car.
[edit] R-26 Specifications
- Car Builder: American Car and Foundry
- Car Body: LAHT Carbon Steel
- Unit Numbers: 7750-7859
- Fleet: 110 cars
- Car Length: 51 feet
- Car Width: 8.9 inches
- Car Height:11 feet, 10 3/8 inches
- Track Gauge:4 feet, 8 1/2 inches
- Propulsion System:General Electric 17KG192B1 or Westinghouse XC248K
- Motors:General Electric 1257F1 or Westinghouse 1447J
- Power:115 hp
- Total Seating: 44
- Total Weight: about 70,000lbs
- Price per Car:$107,157(1959)
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