Everything You Need to Know about BART's Legacy Fleet!

Back in September, we launched the BART legacy fleet in HO scale. We also said we'd have a follow-up video going into much more detail...and here it is!
Jordan, Josh and Matt made the trip to BART's maintenance facilities in Richmond, CA to get photos, take measurements and get the history of the A, B and C class cars directly from the source. Plus, Josh does an in-depth dive into all the details and features that we'll be including on the models.
Remember, the conditional order deadline is January 16, 2023.
Order by then and receive a 5% discount! For more information and to order, please visit our website: rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/com...

[@donwhead]

As someone born and raised in the Bay Area who used to ride BART daily to work, I just want to put in another vote for having these released in N scale!

[@rapidotrains]

Hey, if we get enough requests, you never know!

[@armaniitownsend-baltrip5017]

I agree

[@armaniitownsend-baltrip5017]

@@rapidotrainswe need this in n scale

[@N_Scale_And_Stuff]

Yeah you should definitely put it in N scale!

[@bsquiklehausen]

Can't wait for these cars! And you couldn't have found a nerdier BART employee to talk to either!

[@JeffFromTheIRS]

I’m honestly not sure why I didn’t expect the spokesperson to be you haha

[@rapidotrains]

You can feel the passion from Jay!

[@SeanLamb-I-Am]

I hope these come to N scale eventually. I would love to add them to my NTrak subway modules.

[@Tipman2OOO]

Right first thing I thought!!! I would be in the market for it

[@chrisrey8964]

Dude that would be sick

[@rapidotrains]

It's a future possibility!

[@AndrewMeggs]

Jay Sathe has great energy and insight, a great ambassador for the BART and public transit systems. As a UK OO modeller…this might be a ‘rule 1’ purchase 😅

[@rapidotrains]

He certainly loves what he does!

[@pieroluciano3272]

Nice! Hopefully these also come out in N scale as they would go well with the Kato Viaduct system! 😎👍

[@rapidotrains]

We're hearing a lot of n scale requests!

[@lolfunnycp]

Went to school in the Bay; these bring back so many memories! Hyped for this release and can't wait for more Rapid(o) Transit to come... WMATA Metro (filled the suggestion form), LA Metro, or even BART fleet of the future would be fire 🔥

[@CityOfGravella]

I, too, would like to see their take on Washington Metro cars.

[@rapidotrains]

Hopefully much more transit to come!

[@robertbeck168]

Fun video with a ton of vintage information. This will be the third iteration of BART in HO. There were the metal body cars with Athearn drive and then the plastic Walthers cars shown in the video. I have a number of those. Rapid transit modeling then, and still, was a niche so getting them, and the DC Metro cars too, in the 70's to 90's was a treat. Appearance wise, the cut outs in the skirt at the trucks is the biggest detraction but, for the price, they weren't bad.

[@rapidotrains]

As modelers, we sometimes have to just take what we can get. Something is better than nothing!

[@robertbeck168]

BART's Rohr cars definitely outlasted their younger Washington Metro siblings. They still have a way to go to match New York's Budd R32's which were recently retired at 58. Hopefully, BART will retain a few Rohr cars for excursions and special events.

[@rapidotrains]

We hope so too!

[@ybunnygurl]

DCs Metro cars are way more abused, and not kept up manically.

[@Mike__B]

@@ybunnygurl The original BART cars would have been too, which is why they've changed from what the originally were with carpet in the cars that was ripped out to vinyl flooring to more easily clean, and seats that probably can be pressure washed. The newest design however looks ages better than the vast majority of cars which look very dated and almost feel gross (which unfortunately is the vast majority of trains I always happen to get). But the new cars that will make up the fleet do feel a lot nicer and cleaner, could be because they're just so new too.

[@kevinwong6588]

The 1968 PATCO fleet would outlast them.

[@odyshopody9387]

I'm a 27 year mechanic with BART, and getting ready to retire. Would love to have one of these on my desk, it would go nicely with my ships model from my time in the Navy!

[@rapidotrains]

It would be the perfect retirement gift!

[@korenng5553]

Loved Bart and right in SF Embarcadero Ctr when Grand Opening May 1973 Hyatt Regency. Great times !

[@avlisk]

Your archive footage here reminds me of an episode of The Streets of San Francisco that featured a chase scene in a BART station. The system was still under construction and trains had yet to be run. It was pretty cool.

[@donwhead]

Now I'm going to have to go find that episode. Used to watch that with my dad.

[@plaws0]

Thanks for getting the "BARTD" Chief Foaming Officer for the piece. In all seriousness, obviously very knowledgable and also very good on camera. AND DAMNED IF HIS NAME ISN'T "JAY" ... Good work all around.

[@rapidotrains]

Thank you!

[@hotrail8295]

Bring em on!! Looking forward to my ABBBCCBBBA set!!

[@rapidotrains]

Epic!

[@mikecole819]

Bombardier making these up at Plattsburgh, NY due south of Montreal, Que. I see these cars on flatbed trucks here in Albany, NY enroute to Hornell, NY for final work.

[@rapidotrains]

Cool!

[@MCole-xz3cz]

@@rapidotrains another one yesterday

[@WasatchGarandMan]

When I lived in the Bay Area me and my Grandfather would take BART into San Francisco. Been a long time since I rode BART so I might pick up an unpowered A Car

[@rapidotrains]

It's a great way to preserve the memories!

[@pmk2000]

BART is advanced and futuristic. Great to have Legacy fleet in model trains, they are iconic. In late 90s When I was a kid , I took the BART when visiting SF, usually travelling between SF and Fremont, I love the ride. I remembered the buzz of the train and the announcement by George.

[@ahirschfeld1974]

By George do you mean the Steven Hawking like computer generated announcements over the PA system in the stations?

[@rapidotrains]

It's definitely one of the more unique transit experiences!

[@jgalexander510]

As a former BART rider, I love this video and can’t wait to get these on my layout. That’s for making them!

[@rapidotrains]

It's our pleasure!

[@lbrookesahm465]

I have an original set of BART HO gauge I got sometime in the late 70’s, or early 80’s. My favorite model train.

[@rapidotrains]

Awesome!

[@adaribros]

Can’t wait for DC METRO!

[@rapidotrains]

It's possible!

[@robrepass2179]

Bart and DC Metro look alike

[@robrepass2179]

Plus both their new cars have rubber seats and an automatic computer map in case passengers get lost

[@TheBestiesTeam2022]

BART!! BRING BACK THE LEGACY FLEET!! I'LL BE DEPRESSED IF THEY're ALL GONE!! I NEED TO RIDE THEM!!

[@LAPnumber4]

Awesome!! Love the commentary from Jeremy also.

[@rapidotrains]

Best spit-take ever!

[@CityOfGravella]

While it’s not BART, I do have a full-fledged WMATA subway layout with some of their awesome looking stations and would love to see your take on their cars.

[@rapidotrains]

Well depending on how well these cars do, we'd love to expand into other transit markets!

[@AtticusThings]

I'd love to see or hear an update on these cars! as I just placed my preorder

[@jpoznoid]

Great edit !

[@rapidotrains]

Thank you!

[@509brown]

Exciting!!

[@rapidotrains]

We think so!

[@mels1811]

Wonderful video

[@rapidotrains]

Thank you!

[@thenewlevi]

So cool how they are still using A cars! I hope they push them as long as they can

[@rapidotrains]

It looks like they plan in it!

[@bartjvonk]

Thanks you! I do have cool trains! Like the Rapido budd and some x31 boxcars😅😅

[@thequietcraftsman]

These are amazing, and what a great video. I am currently working on a regional transit build of my own-- an MBTA 1600 car, which are one year older than the BART fleet. It's somewhat crudely 3d printed, but has working servo-actuated doors. Still, maybe one day rapido or someone will make some MBTA rolling stock and I hope regional transit grows within the hobby!

[@rapidotrains]

That sounds neat!

[@trainglen22]

Love the video. BART is an interesting system that was featured in a fantastic movie called THX 1138.

[@rapidotrains]

Indeed it was!

[@kennethsooley9938]

Rapido’s BART trains and modellers of Spanish, Portuguese, ex-USSR, and Finnish railroads feel each other’s broad gauge pain…

[@dianethulin1700]

I like the brutalistic architecture of some of the stations like W. Oakland and Fruitvale. They look like a Bart train. Saw an episode of Streets of San Francisco filmed at a Bart station in the Mission before it opened

[@rapidotrains]

Love that 70s vibe!

[@aidanrouse3899]

I would love an n-scale bart, id buy a full 10 car consist!

[@rapidotrains]

We encourage you to bombard our product suggestion form!

[@TheJordanHunt3r]

Still remember when bart was in 3 movies. Pursuit of happiness, Fruitvale station and Predator 2

[@rapidotrains]

Neat!

[@Zephyr_Silver]

Definitely excited for this being a Bay Area local who took BART for many, many years to get around (and still do) and a model railroader. Do you think there may eventually be scale models for the D and E cars as well?

[@rapidotrains]

We have no immediate plans for the D&E cars, but they'll be something to revisit as we expand our transit offerings!

[@jdayal123]

ordering these because they look amazing and to encourage you to give the rapid treatment to the NYC subway (r-44?) and the LIRR / MNRR MUs :)

[@rapidotrains]

That's the kind of encouragement we're looking for!

[@jimbokay5696]

Will they eventually come to N scale? I just recently "switched" to N from HO, but I've always wanted an iconic BART train!! What to do!!

[@rapidotrains]

If enough people hit up our product suggestion form, it would be hard to ignore!

[@refyaks]

Really appreciate the work and research that goes into these productions! Have you ever considered taking on any NYC subway projects? The R62/R62As are up for retirement soon, and the model train world is severely lacking quality subway models at HO, let alone N scale. Sure it would be a hit, not just selfishly suggesting for my own construction needs...

[@rapidotrains]

We have other transit related projects under consideration. Stay tuned!

[@briansmith8967]

Back in the early 70's I had an AA set of HO BART cars. Pretty fun since BART was just starting to operate in 1972.

[@rapidotrains]

They're probably worth a fortune now!

[@robrepass2179]

Hopefully some of their Rohr cars as well as Washington Metros Rohr cars get preserved in a Museum

[@rapidotrains]

We hope so too!

[@Kitty8791]

BART had Pre-Qualification applications due in March 2021. Some of these were selected to submit Request Proposals for unique projects they'd like to use retired legacy trains for (though most will be recycled in West Oakland). Of 20 proposals, they selected 8. Per the San Francisco Standard, "A handful of legacy BART cars are also being preserved for use as museum artifacts, an arcade, a bike repair shop, a bar and a short-term rental property." Now you can hunt all of those down to visit some day. (BART had a piece in 2022 about the selected projects that you can Google.)

[@pierslindley]

I suppose for longevity, the UK's HST fleet natch these BART units though not Rapid Transit Units. Great to see technology lasting excellently well like this.

[@plaws0]

Pretty sure Montreal's MR-63 Metro cars hit 50 years of revenue service would have to dig. The MPM-10s that replaced them took a LONG time to come online. The BART guy was right, though, these still look modern.

[@rapidotrains]

They don't make em like they used to!

[@michaelzekas]

The detail looks stunning as always. Like a few people said, if you're doing prototypes from metro systems, I'd drop some good money on a run of WMATA Metrorail cars-the original Rohrs or any of the Breda series.

[@rapidotrains]

Definitely a future possibility!

[@mikeking245]

I've been begging them to do this for Toronto for years. Really begging.... the jealousy I feel is burning. But im still going to buy one of these you bet!!

[@rapidotrains]

This is hopefully just the beginning of our transit offerings!

[@markplott4820]

rapidotrains - back in the 1970's when I rode BART , we could look into the Operators cab and see some of the Controls and the Speed of the Train. It was Pretty Cool that the Operators cab had Door Controls both on Left & Right sides. often the Speed in the Transbay Tube was 99mph and sometimes 115 mph. on elevated Tracks the Speed was SET to 80 mph max.

[@Emperor_NYC]

Now imagine the amount of detail and creativity there would be if these were eventually introduced into the O scale scene..

[@rapidotrains]

Detail would be off the charts!

[@SebastianSegura1138]

Would the units including sound have sounds for both propulsion types? It would be amazing to have the original chopper propulsion sounds to hear on their own!

[@Lucrativecris]

6:45 Soon they’ll have to compete with LA metro since they’re extending the gold line to San Bernardino

[@ketch_up]

Yes to the cafe car idea!

[@rapidotrains]

Really though, is there anyone who actually wouldn't want a cafe car??

[@Vector_QF8]

Fantasy BARt - add this to the consist and you have my order!

[@rapidotrains]

We just just have to!

[@vinnybags4837]

Enjoyable video

[@rapidotrains]

Thank you!

[@yootoob7048]

Add my vote for an N Scale Bart. If it helps, I have in N Scale the Rapido Pendolino, TurboTrain (VIA & Amtrak) and Canadian with 2 F40PH. And, my name is on the list for the Turboliner.

[@rapidotrains]

Wow! Well, you certainly deserve an N scale BART!

[@Shirako1]

It's so sad to see the legacy fleet go, that look is just so iconic. I wish the newer trains would look like a postmodernistic version of them at least

[@rapidotrains]

That would've been cool!

[@markplott4820]

rapodotrains - I think someone in the 1980's made (model railroad) BART trains under License. they were sold at the OLD ACE Hardware in Berkeley , CA which had a ACE model Store in the Basement.

[@chasemartin4450]

As a frequent BART rider, I would *love* some cafe cars on the system!

[@Lucrativecris]

You guys should make the Nippon sharyo P865 in HO I would really buy that

[@rapidotrains]

Hit up our product suggestion form!

[@AcelaRailfanning]

Would love to see WMATA please!!!

[@HunterLohseRRVideos]

As one of WRM's main film archivists and seeing these done proper, shut up and take my money and my broke filmmaker wallet are about to cause an apocalypse! With pre-order closed, itll be a nuclear mushroom now!

[@rapidotrains]

These are going to be really cool models! While the conditional deadline has passed, we’re still taking orders until the samples have arrived and we’re ready for production. Stay tuned!

[@alanthefisher]

I can confirm nor deny if I was there that day

[@bsquiklehausen]

You're in the credits

[@rapidotrains]

Your secret's safe with us!

[@trainluvr]

This is a great video that really generates excitement for the models. I may buy a display one. I find that railfan's homes littered with models are tacky looking and I don't have any, but if I made an exception it would be for this. The BART car design is one of the few times a stunning futuristic design actually came to fruition without compromises and never became outdated. The New York R-46 was another Sundber-Farrar gem which unfortunately was undermined by a stingy and uncaring management, although the interiors of THOSE cars are probably the most unaltered in the history of subway car interiors (in New York anyway).

[@rapidotrains]

It's a great first display model!

[@MAJICCATANIMATIONS]

6:41 I notice a station between Fremont and Warm springs, is that gonna be a new station later in the future?

[@TheJordanHunt3r]

I can see the fleet of the future bart being ho scale as well later on down the line. All i have to say is 90s walthers brand barts aint got NOTHING on Rapiod bart trains. I know the design will be amazing on these new barts. Hope to see them released by the holidays of this year.

[@loispadgett6306]

What a cool train loved learning it's history and how it hasn't changed much. The video was fun to see. Keep up the wonderful work you do. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚆💖🚆💖🚆💖🚆💖🚆💖🚆💖

[@rapidotrains]

Thanks for watching!

[@loispadgett6306]

@@rapidotrains MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄🚂🎄

[@stagergamer4172]

it would be really cool see you guys make a marta CQ310, since those are being retired soon

[@rapidotrains]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@mrhobbles385]

Add another to the N scale requests please! The HO scale model is cool, but I have far more room for N scale! :D

[@rapidotrains]

Well, start bombarding our product suggestion form!

[@Perich29]

you can find one at Universal Studio Hollywood on the backlot tour at stage 50.

[@rapidotrains]

Cool!

[@RogueRail]

Any chance you guys are going to do the new generation BART cars in the near future?

[@rapidotrains]

No immediate plans, but it's possible down the road!

[@chrislongbeard]

This would be great in T gauge. Just think of all the room you could use. 12 inches is 1 mile so with a little selective compression you could do half the system in a basement

[@rapidotrains]

You mean 12 feet is 1 mile!

[@chrislongbeard]

@@rapidotrains you're correct must not have carried the 1 somewhere

[@thanoslovesdeath]

Any idea if we could get models of the D and E cars down the line?

[@rapidotrains]

We certainly hope to expand our transit offerings!

[@chromebomb]

you guys are cool

[@rapidotrains]

We do what we can!

[@fredashay]

I'm very tempted to buy these, but my model railroad operates in the northeast branching out from NYC.

[@rapidotrains]

Your railroad, your rules!

[@fredashay]

@@rapidotrains Yeah, you just wanna sell more trains 😛 But okay. I just ordered one from Tony's Trains and two extra coaches! #BigCreditCardBillNextMonth Maybe the LIRR or NJ Transit will experiment with it and park it next to my APT-E...

[@vincenthuying98]

Will be interesting when a modeler will tweak the Rapido BART models into broad gauge! Cool initiative!

[@rapidotrains]

Someone will do it!

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

If you stuck HO bogies on a hypothetical future N gauge version, how close would that be to the correct broad gauge?

[@rapidotrains]

You'd have the famed 8'8" ultra mega broad gauge used in Mordor.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

@@rapidotrains Haha okay then I seriously underestimated the size difference. Thanks!

[@RichardZoller1]

Would love to see Chicago 1980-1990s subway stuff made.

[@rapidotrains]

We'd love to expand our transit offerings!

[@craigtorso]

Do Key System Bridge Units next!

[@rapidotrains]

Hit up that product suggestion form!

[@russellgxy2905]

A cars with "streamlined" ends already had my attention, but the C cars being end-cars and "trailers," _and_ having concealed diaphragms?! Even cooler! You rarely see either on rapid transit systems. The only other trains I can think of with those features were the old high-speed Metroliners! Also what do you mean Broad Gauge?!

[@rapidotrains]

BART runs on 5'6" gauge track, a full 9.5" wider than standard gauge

[@TheAdrianMc]

I have my A-B-B-A set pre-ordered!! Now I think I need to get 2 C cars so i can have one 6car or two 3car consists!!

[@rapidotrains]

Ooh...one or two trains...tough choice!

[@TheAdrianMc]

@@rapidotrains ugghhhhh... I know!! This is all your fault!!! 😩😩😩

[@blakrootz]

Most train clubs are known for code 83 track. Will it be compatable?

[@rapidotrains]

Absolutely!

[@AG-un7dz]

Sure wish you guys do a N gauge version.

[@oscarrosas1233]

I think bart should made the classic nose front on the new cars also , I think the nose front will be iconic

[@rapidotrains]

That would be cool!

[@CentralJerseyRailfan]

Will the unpowered display A cars be able to operate in consists with the others?

[@rapidotrains]

They'll certainly roll, but they won't have any lights.

[@CentralJerseyRailfan]

@@rapidotrains At least they can be used DIT, thanks! Are there couplers on those?

[@eriktereshenko4083]

In the A-B-B-A dcc sound car set , will only one end car have dcc and sound ?

[@rapidotrains]

Both A cars are fully equipped with DCC/sound.

[@CPRRAMSEY]

please do bc transit skytrain in ho scale

[@rapidotrains]

Hit up that product suggestion form!

[@damianstellabott3613]

Rode an a car back from work today!

[@rapidotrains]

Live it up while you still can!

[@PaulFisher]

ApuLover69 says “Just like BART!”

[@aaronhill8315]

Sideshow Bob: hello Bart B.A.R.T stops at station

[@rapidotrains]

🤣

[@fredashay]

With the extra wide track, I bet they could easily go 100 MPH if the trains were rated for it.

[@rapidotrains]

Most likely!

[@Sunset4Semaphores]

*We like the BART; we like the BART; we like the BART!!!*

[@rapidotrains]

So do we!

[@peterkneissl3358]

So how about lirr m7. No guage problem there

[@rapidotrains]

You never know!

[@raulmatiascasaszavala4822]

Next LACMTA Breda A650 Cars.

[@rapidotrains]

We shall see...

[@raulmatiascasaszavala4822]

That's good because I sent you a message from Gmail about that project.

[@trainswithnickyt]

Just to be clear, you were not with Jay Schron right? I mean, where is that hoser anyway?

[@rapidotrains]

He's working on his layout!

[@trainswithnickyt]

@@rapidotrains Hopefully we can have an update video of progress soon then. Whilst I love all these models coming out, it's even better to see the layouts people are using them on

[@Marcus71]

The C Cars are officially retired on the BART System.

[@rapidotrains]

End of an era...

[@Lucrativecris]

How many remaining Legacy fleet are left?

[@rapidotrains]

We're not sure, but they're going fast!

[@BNSFfan2373]

Do NYC Subway models.

[@rapidotrains]

A definite possibility!

[@The_BayAreaRailfan]

I live near Richmond Yard😮

[@rapidotrains]

Lucky!

[@The_BayAreaRailfan]

@@rapidotrains when will we get these BART cars?

[@clarencethompson1278]

Are we getting anymore septa models ?

[@rapidotrains]

At this time we don't have any other Septa models planned, but anything is possible down the road.

[@clarencethompson1278]

@@rapidotrains well I hope you guys atleast make the new cars that Bart just rolled out so we can have the best of both. Its nice to see subway trains being modeled for a chance.

[@derek20la]

2:53 Conventional, except for the wide gauge track. Meaning everything is custom.

[@rapidotrains]

Minor detail!

[@Mike__B]

I do have to say watching this video the first thing in my mind is "What are you going to do about the wheel size as BART does not run on standard 4'8.5" tracks" (something everyone needs to remember when screaming why the CAHSR isn't planning on using BART tracks!). Good choose in making the wheels standard gauge rather then wonkifying the cars. How hard will it be to convert to DCC if I choose the silent version? Will it be DCC ready? Seems hiding the motor doesn't exactly leave much room for anything else where as a standard loco cab typically has plenty of room to put in even the most octopus like of DCC decoders.

[@rapidotrains]

The DC versions will be fully DCC/sound ready with speakers installed, and will take drop-in Loksound 5 decoders.

[@raluca75brasov]

BART must build a line that connects from san francisco airport to stanford and San jose

[@rapidotrains]

And Hawaii!

[@TheBartPaige]

The legacy fleet was officially retired 20/4/24. 1501!

[@rapidotrains]

Sad to see them go. That had an amazing long lasting career!

[@wceyuki]

if i can order these cars in DC, doesn't that make it the DC metro and not BART?

[@rapidotrains]

Things that make you go hmmm...