netrain wrote:when do they expect R179s to arrive? i read somewhere that the R32s were going to stay at least 5 more years.
still learning about the particulars of the subway cars. it's my understanding that on the R44 cars there are midtrain cars and end cab cars. on the R32, R142, and R160 - are there end cab cars, A B married sets, or is each car the same? if so, what (if any) variance is there in appearance between those cars and the midtrain cars?
Mid train cars?
The word you are looking for is B car.
It works like this, R32s are in catholic married pairs (termed becuase taking them apart is a lot of work).
The R44, R46 and the New technolgy trains (R142, R142A, R143, R160A-1, R160A-2, R160B,
R179, R188, R211) have what are termed A cars and B cars. R44 and 46 are number evens=A, odds =B. 2-3-5-4 for a rough example. the new cars are numbered in order regaurdless of type
In all models, A cars are full powered with cabs on the outside (#1) end. each model from there differ slightly.
B cars are blind motors in all cases except the R142/As where they are have one power and one trailer truck and the R44SI (aka MEU-2) [R44 variation that works on the Staten Island Railway], in which one end of the B cars has hostler controls.
All active units are linked A-B-B-B-A, excpt the R44, R46, r143 and the r160A-1. these cars are linked A-B-B-A; The R143 and R160A-1 becuase these cars are set aside for the former BMT eastern division, the J,M,L and Z trains. Due to the shorter ptaform lengths, trains are limited to 480 feet long, instead off the normal 600 feet for BMT/IND. R44s and R46s are longer (75 feet to a car instead of 60), so it only takes 8 to make a 600' train. There was also a disproptinate order of R46 A cars. they are in A-A pairs and were used to make 6 car ABBA-AA trains for the G until 2001. there is also one r46 A-B pair, with the B car, like it's 44SI cousins, having a hostler.
due to the nature of the 7 line's 11 car trains, the up coming R188 will be split into 5 and 6 car units
The R68/A models were built as signle, self supporting units with a full cab at one end and a half cab at the other. the MTA had them coupled togther into 4 car units, but they are all identical.