This morning while photographing at Kings Highway Stn on the Brighton Line a B train with R-32s came along. I was lucky to photograph this train. How many R-32 train sets are left approximately? Which lines do they run on? Is there any chance for a 'Farewell Fantrip' for the R-32s?
to answer your question, and maybe then some, here's what i know about recent subway car retirements:
Of the original 600 R-32's, there are 240 still in service. 10 out of Coney Island for occasional service on the B; 24 in Jamaica for occasoinal use on the R and V, and 206 at 207th Street for heavy service on the C.
All R-38's have been retired.
All slant R-40's and R-40M's have been retired.
Of the original 400 R-42's, 50 are in service in East New York for regular service on the J/Z, and 14 are in limbo in Jamaica for possible return to service on the R and V.
Retirement of the R-32's and R-42's has been suspended pending inspection of the R-44's for failing structural integrity. Either retirement of the 32's and 42's will resume presently in regard to R-160's continuingto go online, or the R-44's will actually be retired this year with the surviving older cars continuing to run until R-179's start to go on line during or after 2015.