Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit 2390
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www.nycsubway.org |
Built in:1914 by American Car & Foundry (ord#7986)
Out-of-service/Retired:1989 (1965)
Type of car:rapid transit car (standard) (Type A/B)
Current Owner:Railway Preservation Corporation(New York, New York)
Car History by Jeff Hakner & Frank Hicks
Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit 2390
In 1913 the city of New York signed the Dual Contracts with its two large rapid transit companies, IRT and BRT (later BMT). This step led to a vast expansion of the city's rapid transit network and resulted in the creation of a network of subway lines owned by BRT. For rolling stock on these new lines, BRT designed a modern all-steel 67'-long car designed specifically for subway service. These cars, known as "Standards" or A/B types, incorporated many of the latest theories in efficient passenger operations. Between 1915 and 1924 a total of 900 virtually identical A/B type cars were delivered; these cars formed the backbone of BMT subway operations for over half a century. By the 1960's most had been retired and replaced by newer cars and it was decided to save several A/B's for historic preservation. Car 2390, built as a single car in the second order for A/B's, was made part of a three-car set early in its life. Its three-car set (2390-2392) was chosen for preservation to represent the Standards. Set aside in 1965 when the set was taken out of service, cars 2390-2392 operated on periodic fan trip service during the late 1960's and 1970's. They were removed from operation in 1981 and stored for most of the next twenty years. In late 1988 NYCTA decided to divest itself of some of its historic cars and the A/B's were put up for sale; RPC bought them but they continued to be stored at NYCTA's Coney Island Shop. Over the past several years 2390 and its two sister cars have been undergoing restorative work to make them operational again. These cars make up the only complete set of A/B's in existence.
Ownership History:Brooklyn Rapid Transit #2390 1914-1923 / Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit #2390 1923-1940 / New York City Board of Transportation #2390 1940-1953 / New York City Transit Authority #2390 1953-1965 / 1st preserved by New York City Transit Authority 1965-1989 / Railway Preservation Corporation(New York, New York) 1989-present
Facts and Figures
| Status:undergoing restoration | Gauge:4'8.5" |
| Construction:steel | Roof type:DR | Ended:DE |
| Length:67'6" | Width:9'8" | Weight:95000# |
| #Seats:78 | #Wheels/Conf.:8 (1A-A1) | Total HP:320 |
| Trucks:A55 Arch Bar | Brakes:AMUE (ME23) | Compressor:D3-F |
| Motors:GE 248A (2) | Voltage (if not 600DC): |
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