The R33s were the first mainline cars to be rebuilt by the
Metropolitan Transit Authority beginning in 1987 and ending in
1991. After general overhaul, the R33's improved performance made the
cars one of the most dependable subway cars in the system. That is why
the R33s are preferred to be converted into work cars rather than
other Redbird types.
However these cars suffered from rust, especially the R33
cars on the Lexington Avenue IRT #4 line (9216-9305, and later
8836-8857 from IRT #5). By the end of their service, all of the IRT #4
Redbirds were really out of shape. In some cases, some cars had small
holes under windows and when it rained, water would seep though the
roof and make large puddles on the floor. One pair, cars 9294-95, were
so worn out that their car numbers could not be seen on the number
plates. The last R33s were retired on April 15, 2003 from the
Lexington Avenue IRT #4 line.
| ... |
Converted to work cars RD414-RD415, RD422-RD423. One set was 9020-9021?
|
| 8812-8813 |
Assigned to work service.
|
| 8816-8817 |
In June 2003, cars 8816-17 and 9020-21 were used as revenue cars for the Concourse and 8th Avenue lines and for a brief time on the Queens Boulevard lines. These cars operated with R22 Revenue Cars and were renumbered 18816-17, 19020-21. They were taken out of revenue collection service in Fall 2004 and were then converted to work cars RD413 and RD412 respectively.
|
| 8820-8821 |
Assigned to work service.
|
| 8832-8833, 8912-8913, 8980-8981, 9152-9153, 9154-9155 |
2/3/1998: 239th Street Yard lead accident. 8832-8833, 8912-8913, 9154-9155 back in service as of 12/17/1998. 8980-8981, derailed; 8980 scrapped in 2000, 8981 mated with 9152 9152-9153 derailed and burned; scrapped in 2000.
|
| 8834-8835 |
Assigned to work service.
|
| 8858-8859 |
Converted to work cars RD405 and RD404 respectively.
|
| 8862-8863 |
Assigned to work service.
|
| 8868-8869 |
Converted to work cars RD406 and RD407 respectively.
|
| 8884 |
7/15/1997: Derailed, scrapped on site at Rogers Junction.
|
| 8885 |
Mate of 8884 now in work service as rail adhesion train.
|
| 8888-8889 |
Assigned to work service.
|
| 8890-8891 |
Converted to work cars RD408 and RD409 respectively.
|
| 8912-8913 |
In the summer of 2004, cars 8912-13 were taken the Tiffany Street Iron Shops, a training and fabrication facility for el structure maintainers, in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. They are part of a elevated structure mock-up that stretches about 180 feet, with station and platform included.
|
| 8914-8915 |
Assigned to work service. 8914 became RD436.
|
| 8936-8937 |
Assigned to work service.
|
| 8942-8943, 9015, 9063, 9064, 9065, 9130, 9154-9155, 9225 |
7/21/1998: Collision 105th & B'way. Collision on southbound track. 8943, 9064 pushed out of center castings; back in service by 10/23/1998. 9063, 9105, 9130, 9154-9155, 9180-9181, 9225 sustained coupler and anticlimber damage; back in service as of 9/1/1998. 9065 sustained drawbar damage; back in service as of 9/1/1998.
|
| 8944-8945 |
Assigned to work service.
|
| 8950-8951 |
Still on the property as of 1/2004, future use unknown. Stored at Unionport Yard until 7/2007. Present whereabouts (10/2007) unknown.
|
| 8954-8955 |
Converted to work cars RD410 and RD411 respectively.
|
| 8956-8957 |
Converted to Rider Cars RD403 and RD402, respectively.
|
| 8964-8965 |
Converted to work cars RD416 and RD417 respectively.
|
| 8968-8969 |
Caught fire (Accident at Utica Ave. portal?) (1980s)
|
| 8986-8987 |
Converted to Rider Car RD401 and RD400, respectively.
|
| 8996-8997 |
Converted to refuse motors based at 36th St Yard.
|
| 9000-9001 |
Severe fire damage at Borough Hall in the 1980s. Floor was replaced, and cars were returned to service. They survived to go through the GOH program.
|
| 9000-9001 |
Converted to refuse motors based at 36th St Yard.
|
| 9010-9011 |
Still on the property as of 4/2004. Exterior repainted into "MTA" silver and blue. Operated fan trips May 2004 along with the museum SMEE cars.
|
| 9016-9017 |
Exterior repainted week of 4/19/2004 into bright red with yellow trim paint scheme. Operated fan trips May 2004 with the museum SMEE cars.
|
| 9018-9019 |
Were converted to Signal Dolly service but were scrapped 8/2003.
|
| 9020-9021 |
Assigned to work service.
|
| 9032-9033 |
Converted to work cars RD421 and RD420, respectively.
|
| 9038-9039 |
Assigned to work service.
|
| 9066-9067 |
Converted to work cars RD418 and RD419 respectively.
|
| 9068-9069 |
On display in the Transit Museum for a period first half 2004, while IRT SMEE museum cars were out for fan trips. Exterior of 9068 repainted June 2004 to kale green with silver roof scheme. To be used on future fan trips.
|
| 9074/9075 |
9075 is on display outside Queens Borough Hall beginning January 2005. 9074 sat around Coney Island Yard until being moved to the SBK yard for asbestos abatement and scrapping in July 2007.
|
| 9108 |
Caught fire, repaired and returned to service (1993). Scrapped with rest of fleet in 2003.
|
| 9114 |
Caught fire, repaired and returned to service (late 1960s). Scrapped with rest of fleet in 2003.
|
| 9138-9139 |
Assigned to work service.
|
| 9156-9157 |
Sent to NYC Emergency Services training school at Floyd Bennett Field.
|
| 9203, 9224 |
10/25/1973: Fire in master controller unit of 9203, in Pelham line tunnel near Longwood Avenue station. Fire also affected car 9224 which had a large floor section cut out during firefighting (it was subsequently scrapped). The following train ended up rear-ending the disabled train due to low visibility caused by the smoky fire.
|
| 9206-9207 |
Recently spotted repainted in MTA blue/silver paint scheme. Used on U.S. Open special museum train on 8/30/2004. Used on IRT SMEE train during "museum train parade" on 10/23-24/2004.
|
| 9213 |
Caught fire, late 1960s.
|
| 9294-9295 |
First IRT cars retrofitted with air conditioning, placed in service 9/5/1973.
|
| 9542-9543 |
Recently moved to the New York Transit Museum (temporary installation?)
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