3 Train 9 Cars

I have seen some passing mentions that the 3 train used to run with 9 cars. How long was this the case for and why?

I would say almost as long as it existed up to some time in the last 20 years and because Lenox yard was not configured to store them properly.

When the IRT opened, the platforms did not hold the entire train because SOP for IRT car design used the door vestibules as cabs. the front set of doors and the rear set never platformed. when the NYCTA began the program for platform to be extended for 10 car trains, the Low-Vs and Hi-V's still dominated the IRT, so they were the measuring stick for the A division. This ended up meaning a 10 car train with an "R# series" body style hung off the ends of the platforms.

It is actually longer than 20 years ago. The 145th St-Lenox Terminal station opened on May 13, 1968. That is when 3 train went from 9 cars to 10 cars.

The station was only built to handle 6 cars although only 5 cars were (and still are) ever opened.

When the project to lengthen platform was undertaken they could not go toward the yard because it was very, very close and the X crossover switch is just outside the station. They could not go southward because then it would be too close to the 142nd St junction with the White Plains Rd line.

um, no.

145th is too short, and built in Contract 1.

Lenox Terminal is 148th, built to the full length in 1968.

3 trains continued to run 9 cars at least to the 1990s.

The number 3 service ran 9 car trains until 2000 + when the R-142's were going into service and the R-62's were being converted to groups, with many of them going onto the Queensboro line.

The immediate cause of the 3 going 10 cars long was that it was combined with the 1 after 9/11. It would have had to go 10 cars shortly after anyway as its cars were to be sent to the 7, but the 9/11 service changes were when it happened.

R30A wrote:The immediate cause of the 3 going 10 cars long was that it was combined with the 1 after 9/11. It would have had to go 10 cars shortly after anyway as its cars were to be sent to the 7, but the 9/11 service changes were when it happened.

The 1901-2155 single unit R62As ended up on the 7 (except a small number that remained isolated on the shuttle).