NYNJ Rail Hauled a Train of R32 NYC Subway Cars Down the Avenue(Early Morning On NYNJ Rail Part 2)

[@Stanf954]

Goodbye old friends. It was a pleasure working with you. 2001-2021

[@MikeG42]

Excellent video. This was very interesting to see these retired subway cars being pulled by a couple of old switchers including the Alco unit. Nice Industrial setting too.👍🏻

[@BryanMWade]

Thank you so much😃🙏 This area was known as Bush Terminal back in the day. It was a manufacturing complex and my grandfather once worked there. It has been known as Industry City since around the Eighties. Thanks for watching!

[@ericschwartz3559]

I remember riding the R32s on the C line back in 2018, a few years before their retirement and they ran fine, but the brakes, HVAC and propulsion systems were severely worn out since the brakes kept sticking and made a horrible screeching noise when the train was preparing to stop and when it was ready to leave. They were a real icon of the city and a big part of the NYC Subway’s history and they’ll be missed very much by all us rail fans. They also started and stopped a couple of times in between stations. They ran good, given their age of a whopping 54 years old. We got on at 81st Museum of Natural History and rode it down to canal street/chinatown to walk around and get something to eat. It was me, my dad and my uncle that went. I loved their shiny silver reflective stainless steel appearance on the exterior which earned them the nickname “Brightliners” and the fact that they were the first mass-produced stainless steel cars built for the NYC Subway is a real historic gem and another reason to love them as being one of the most iconic rapid transit heavy rail cars built for a subway system around the world. I also love the design that Budd came up for them since they were the manufacturer of the R32s, but sadly Budd no longer exists, it’s extinct. Always love the old, vintage equipment from the 60s and 70s. The HVAC systems didn’t blow out enough cool air and it didn’t have good air flow or circulation and I still felt hot even though the ac was on and running and it would also malfunction a couple of times. Doors would get stuck and not close properly, with one staying wide open while the train was in motion, they weren’t the best performing subway cars in their final years of passenger service, I can tell you that right now. They’ve seen better days, heavy passenger use, wear, corrosion and tear have certainly all taken their toll big time on the cars and they’ve been around since the early 1960s, which is a heck of a long time for a subway car to remain in service even doing heavy passenger use for nearly six decades and counting moving New Years around a big, crowded and highly populated city. The newest subway cars, the R179s, even failed (broke down) and experienced mechanical issues/failures at numbers below the R32s at one point, failing at numbers which is Mean Distance Before Failure (MDBF) of every 400,000 miles compared to the R32s’ 600,000 miles. In August 2011, according to a New York Times article, due to the R32s’ lack of reliability and passenger comfort, they were called “a reminder of the past”. The R179s still are far more reliable than them and have a MDBF of every 400,000 miles before a breakdown occurring. The R179s were called “Lemons” by MTA officials due to their reliability issues and the manufacturing problems at Bombardier’s Plattsburgh, NY facility when they were in production. The R32s used to also have door problems from time to time.

[@TiagoGomez-hb9te]

Yeah, the R32s suffered from too many issues thanks to their age

[@RedArrow73]

Too bad MTA didn't replace them with Almond Joy cars.

[@BryanMWade]

Thank you for the info on the 32s and 179s. Wow, I knew that the 179s had issues but didn't realize it was that bad!

[@ericschwartz3559]

Yea, it’s crazy and one of my good friends told me that the MTA even thought twice about getting the R179s and since they had multiple problems and the MTA had to remove the fleet from service multiple times to do a deep investigation with Bombardier to find the actual cause for the issues and fix them as well as address them to the manufacturer before more cars could be delivered and as a result of this, the R32s couldn’t leave the tracks until 2022. The MTA once said: “I think we just got lemons”. It was chaos and I don’t want to be reminded of that. 😡🤬😱

[@XBKLYN]

"Clean Emissions Locomotive." Number 253 next to it, not so much.

[@BryanMWade]

That's true. I believe that number 253 is leased power.

[@mshum538]

The Alco has earned its place in history, ask any of us that have been there and you better hurry …

[@ernestpassaro9663]

I have heard those new locomotives are gutless

[@ericschwartz3559]

For the MTA to have kept the R32s and 42s in service for nearly 60 years is absolutely incredible and workers at the maintenance facilities around the system kept maintaining the fleet as hard as they could and parts from the mid 60s aren’t made anymore so MTA had to find parts from other subway cars from the 80s and 90s to be able to repair and fix these oldies. These cars were originally due to retire in 1999, at 35 years old, but outlasted that by another 23 years. 😮 In the late 2000s, the R160s only replaced about one-third of the original fleet with 232 cars (222 of which were assigned to the A and C and operating out of 207th Street Yard) remained by December 2010. In August 2011, the MTA needed the keep the almost 50 year-old fleets in passenger service for another decade and they ran exclusively on the A, C and J, Z lines. They were expected to be fully replaced by the R160s in the early 2010s, but the R44s on NYCT were found with various structural integrity issues in the late 2000s and led them to having an early retirement. This was in place of the R32s and 42s in which retirement paused permanently. Retired R32s and 42s were stripped and sunken as artificial reefs in the Atlantic Ocean, but that lasted only until 2010. However, leftover retired R32s were eventually trucked to Sims Metal Management in NJ for scrapping and that lasted between April 2013 and October 1, 2013. The R32s were finally set to go in 2017 by the R179s, but due to delays in delivery as well as problems with Bombardier in assembling the trains, the MTA spent another $36 million to overhaul 80 to 100 R32s and keep them in service until at least 2022. Since delivery of the five-car R179 sets in September 2020, service for the cars drastically lowered and by that month, they were no longer formally assigned for revenue service, becoming a contingency fleet. In September 2020, 30 of the cars were transferred to the 207th Street Yard, operating on the A and C. Two 10-car train sets of R32s ran on the J until September 2021. After six months in storage, the R32s were officially retired on March 10, 2022 when the last train made its final trip on the A as part of a ceremonial farewell excursion sponsored by the New York Transit Museum.

[@paulcampagna3421]

These were the best looking cars of the fleet. In 1964 they had dark blue storm and side doors, a large red and blue TA emblem, route letter and destination signs and routing lights. The best thing about these stainless steel beauties was that they had a rail fan window. They will be sorely missed.

[@TiagoGomez-hb9te]

How old are you?

[@paulcampagna3421]

16 with 55 years experience = 71

[@TiagoGomez-hb9te]

@@paulcampagna3421 What 55 years of experience?

[@fr3dr02]

Extraordinary everywhere else, but just another day in NYC😊

[@jimoconnor6382]

You're lucky to live there

[@jimoconnor6382]

Always some kinda cool shit going on

[@Brhoward31]

HMMM idk about that ​@jimoconnor6382

[@gmpny3945]

I rode these when they were new back in 1964. I wish they would have preserved some cars in their original condition with their blue and white interiors and swinging grabhandles. Sad to see these trains being scrapped.

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

there ARE a few thats been restored !! ... they use them for "special fan fare trips"

[@TiagoGomez-hb9te]

@@gmpny3945 Are you that old? How old are you anyway?

[@ericschwartz3559]

Between February 2022 and mid-2023, cars retired by the R179s were towed through the South Brooklyn Railway, New York New Jersey Rail and the Brooklyn Army Terminal before being partially disassembled for shipment to Frontier Industrial Corp in Ohio. Since late 2023, cars retired by the R179s are being towed through the South Brooklyn Railway, New York New Jersey Rail and the Brooklyn Army Terminal before being further towed to Sims Metal Management’s Jersey City facility to be scrapped. Some R32 cars were saved for various purposes, as following: - Phase II pair 3350-3351 - set aside for preservation by the Railway Preservation Corp. - Phase II pair 3352-3353 - set aside for preservation by the New York Transit Museum. This pair was the lead pair on the R32s’ premiere trip on September 9, 1964. - Phase I pair 3360-3361 - set aside for preservation by the New York Transit Museum. This pair was the lead pair on the R32s’ final trip on January 9, 2022, having been repainted into a replica of its original appearance. - Phase I car 3389 - converted to a maintenance of way car for the Staten Island Railway. It was retrofitted with high-powered lasers to incinerate leaf residue. - Phase I pair 3432-3433 - preserved by the Craggy Mountain Line in Asheville, North Carolina. - GE-rebuilt pair 3594-3595 - being used as NYPD training cars at Floyd Bennett Field. Ten cars taken out of revenue service in December 2010 were used for work service, handling such tasks as providing traction for B Division rail adhesion cars and refuse collection trains. They were eventually replaced by fifty R42 cars between 2020 and 2022.

[@RScesium]

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

[@BryanMWade]

Thanks! 😃

[@alcopower5710]

Love the switchers……thanks for sharing 👍

[@BryanMWade]

Thank you 🙏🙂👍

[@boyfromblackstuff7859]

Very interesting video,love the street running you have in America. Thanks for posting.

[@BryanMWade]

Thank you 🙏 Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching 😊

[@samrat55934]

wow , wish granted , here are the locos that I did not see in part 1. Thank You Bryan !!

[@BryanMWade]

You've got it👍 Thanks for watching 😃

[@ericschwartz3559]

The 32s also were the last subway cars in service on New York City Transit to have a front window with a little box-shaped drivers console on the left where passengers could look out the front of the train from the inside passenger area instead of having to go into the cab which takes up the whole width of the train at front on newer cars as it made all the stops (front view) on the line, a feature not present on newer modern NTTs. Their January 2022 retirement crushed every rail fan in the city I’m sure. Everybody loved these cars to death and will miss them dearly.

[@TiagoGomez-hb9te]

No one outside of Railfans cared for the R32s. What are you on about? I was weeping when the Novabus RTS died, not the R32s

[@ericschwartz3559]

Yes, I was sad when the NovaBus RTS died in Boston on 12/29/2017 and when New York retired their fleet in mid-2019, I was sad because they were great buses and had a good design. Buses are intended to last about 15 to 18 years, but the 1994/95 NovaBus RTS’s lasted for 23 years in Boston. I never rode on one and that’s one thing I’ll never forgive myself in not doing. I saw a couple on the road while I was driving with my dad about 12 years ago. They were the best buses I’ve ever seen on a transit system in the U.S. and may they rest in heavenly peace 1994-2019. Everyone outside of railfans around the city like New Yorkers loved and cared big for the RTS and never wanted them to go, but sadly it had to be done unfortunately. They also loved seeing them driving up and down crowded New York streets throughout the city with bad traffic holding up cars and drivers being impatient and honking their horn so the cars in front of them would go, because they were in a hurry and would be late for work as it was in the rush hour.

[@TiagoGomez-hb9te]

@@ericschwartz3559 Why did New Yorkers love the RTS though?

[@ericschwartz3559]

Well, two things they were reliable and the backbone of the MBTA’s bus fleet in Boston for two decades They ended up serving MBTA for 23 years and their retirement from NYCT in mid-2019 was both a bittersweet and sad celebration. I’m sure there’s more reasons as to why New Yorkers loved these buses but these are the two noticeable reasons that I know. Maybe you have more reasons to why the RTS was loved so much by many.

[@kryptism]

Spray painted subway cars! An NYC tradition!😊

[@BryanMWade]

True, that!

[@edwardmichalski463]

@@BryanMWade Looks like a circus train coming to town.

[@raylrodr]

I hate grafitti

[@jackdepalma]

I love street ​@@raylrodr ART!! Rolling down the avenue

[@tonymanero5544]

F king graffiti vandals. It’s art in a studio, and deliberate property damage in public.

[@WestPac-ny9vi]

What is with the smoke coming out of the KLW unit, I thought KLW was all clean exhaust units

[@BryanMWade]

All I have heard about the KLW unit is that it is being leased. It would definitely look better to the public if it wasn't smoking-up. As a railfan, though, it looks cool to me(once in a while)

[@jamesalles139]

thanks

[@galaxyrailfanning7860]

AWESOME video!

[@BryanMWade]

Thank you so much!

[@christopherokhiria3231]

I remember the R32s. The last time I rode them was in 2014 when I took the C train from 59th Street-Columbus Circle to 81st Street-Museum of Natural History and back from 81st to 59th.

[@xqzh8936]

Similar experience for me. It was a weekend when I was taking my friends out of the States from 59/Columbus to 81/Museum of Natural History, and I did not realize R32 trains run on A during weekends, and I saw an R32 coming at 59st/Columbus Circle. I thought it was a C train (the train has a broken emblem displayer at the moment, so I cannot read if it is an A or a C). I took the train, thought it would run thru the local tracks, but the train ran super fast, and that’s when I realize I took the wrong train… We ended up at 125th St and took a C train back.

[@ericschwartz3559]

Sims Metal Management’s facility in Jersey City, NJ is the R32s’ end, meaning that’s where they are being torn apart, scrapped and processed.

[@jamielacourse7578]

I see the spray paint industry is still alive & well...

[@TheAlex1121]

I saw the Alco switcher in Jersey City before. I guess it came over on the rail barge?

[@BryanMWade]

That seems to be the best way for it to have come over.

[@ericschwartz3559]

These outlasted similar car classes by another 13 years which are the R38s, R40 slants and straight-ended cars and NYCT R44s. The 38s were built after the 32s, but retired before them. That bugs me. They should’ve lasted until 2022 like the 32s, but they were in a bad state of disrepair and needed to be retired, since they were more than 40 years old. They had door problems and serious reliability issues as well as AC units frequently malfunctioning, injuring passengers. The R38s ran for 43 years from 1966 until 2009. They looked very similar to the R32s and were the second order of cars for the NYC subway to be made from mass-produced stainless steel bodies and exterior fiberglass end bonnets, after the R32 order in 1964-65. 200 B Division cars were built by the St. Louis Car Company of St. Louis, Missouri, USA and the first two trains of R38s were placed into service at Queens Plaza on the E and F on August 23, 1966. The new cars were needed for the new Chrystie Street Tunnel when it opened on November 23, 1967.

[@garysmith394]

Do the New York subway cars run on standard track gauge, like the freight trains that are pulling them? Or have the trucks been modified to run on standard gauge?

[@BryanMWade]

Yes, New York City Subway cars use standard gauge track👍

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

the rails & tracks are a standard size

[@garysmith394]

@@BryanMWade Thanks for your reply!

[@garysmith394]

@@markhellman-pn3hn Thank you for the information.

[@BryanMWade]

Yw👍

[@thebritishrailroader]

Great video. I am coming to NYC in April and hoping that a move like this happens while I am there. Thanks for posting

[@BryanMWade]

Thanks! 😃 You'll probably be able to catch the newest cars being delivered on the adjacent railroad if you're here at least a week. I don't think that there are many of these older cars left to be removed from the property, though

[@thebritishrailroader]

@BryanMWade thanks for the advice

[@BryanMWade]

Yw👍

[@longislandfanvictor3812]

I recall being on those cars when in two instances the emergency brake was pulled in a packed train in Midtown, going fast, boy did that hurt, it went right thru my body and the passengers all bumped each other.

[@BryanMWade]

😢

[@billkittleman9631]

Must be some of the cars from Beat Street back in the day 😌

[@christophermooney1228]

Someone please save those Brightliners for nostalgia rides. Can it be saved?

[@BryanMWade]

A number of these R32 models have been preserved. Unfortunately, most of them will not be saved. I guess if one had the means, one could purchase a car. Getting a subway car to where you want it could be pricey, though. The Transit Museum once auctioned off an R30 car: It sold for around $5K. That was nearly 30 years ago(Ellen of Ellen's Stardust Diner bought it).

[@JillianLatorreTS]

@@BryanMWadeAlso, these cars contain asbestos, so the MTA selling one of these cars could be a liability issue.

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

YES, a few has been restored .... but its IMPOSSIBLE to have them all restored

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

@@markhellman-pn3hn I think spending money to upgrade the system to 100% CBTC singling and the new cause that we needed to work is much more important than restoring old relics. The system is using a signaling system that was developed during the first world war.

[@ACLTony]

@@jaymorgenthal9479 Good point, but the MTA already has a budget that is specifically used to repair and maintain the classic historical museum equipment.

[@RedArrow73]

The electro-pneumatic sighing noises the brakes and controller would make in operation were identical to Philly's Budd cars.

[@wyattphillips6987]

Oh thanks now its the shutter trains

[@tacosarelife2106]

Both strange and awesome to see subway cars running on a street, I know where this is, do they let people know ahead of time there will be trains moving or you just stumble upon this?

[@BryanMWade]

Ty🙂 Inside info 😃

[@Keith-nm3uf]

What locomotive is the first unit?

[@Oktolibre]

Saw video of same consist captured from other side of the train.

[@BryanMWade]

Is that film from 2 years ago?

[@1sttigertiger426]

The ability to run trains on the dilapidated tracks is the real wonder! 😂

[@BryanMWade]

They do use these tracks regularly. In my opinion they might not look pretty but they're in decent shape for what they're used for

[@kpkndusa]

253 looks like a modified GP unit with Alco trucks.

[@ericschwartz3559]

These cars are fully decommissioned and can’t run in passenger service anymore, their passenger duties are over forever. 😢😭💔💔💔 Their only place now is as scrap and some of the trains’ mid-60s stainless steel carbody’s are restored, cleaned and reused to make something new.

[@markmcdonald6665]

Question, since subway cars and standard gauge when they are delivered are they hauled in or are they carried by flatcars and put on their bogeys when they arrive? Also what speed are they actually rated for?

[@tonymanero5544]

It changed over decades. An order of cars can be over $1 billion. As industrial policy for New York, the winning manufacturer must have or use an assembly plant in NY State for final assembly. The cars also run 1 million miles and like a navy ship, complete overhaul, over its 40-50 year life. In the 1980’s, they began rebuilding cars to have AC. Yes, there was no AC before. In the 1980’s, only about 25% had AC. I think the first cars with AC was the R-44 which I first rode in around 1973, the most modern subway cars in the world. The car interior was a faded Empire State seal and colors other than gray, white and stainless steel. The cars arrive by barge typically. Or by rail. Flatbed I think is rare. High speed runs I believe is 60mph but in the business districts, the stations are about 8-10 blocks, or 0.4 to 0.5 miles apart. The longest run is the A train from 59 to 125 street, 66 blocks or 3.1 miles, so there 50-60 mph is possible.

[@BryanMWade]

Currently, new subway cars are delivered by flatbed tractor-trailer. One car per truck. Those are off-loaded mostly inside of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal but sometimes at 207th Street Yard as well. They use rail-ramps to transfer the car from the trailer to the track on the ground. If you ask me, I think they should come in by freight train but that's not the current method.

[@1940limited]

That's some neat street running. People that paint graffiti on rail cars should be arrested.

[@powderedtoastfacekillah734]

Or celebrated

[@BryanMWade]

Thanks for watching 🙂👍

[@sibhuskyguy]

they scrapping them or going to reef them?

[@BryanMWade]

These went to be scrapped and the scrapping is being done right across the bay in Jersey City. The reefing program has ended.

[@Keith-nm3uf]

What is the second unit?

[@BryanMWade]

I'm not an expert, but research shows it's an Alco S2

[@mumfordthepitbull4581]

@@BryanMWade That would explain the smoke.

[@bernicemeade3232]

I wonder how often they use the railroad tracks.

[@BryanMWade]

I believe this part of the line sees a train every 2 weeks for SIMS Metal unless New York City Transit has a delivery or pick-up.

[@Christophertruck]

I didnt know they still used the tracks down there

[@BryanMWade]

Yes, NYNJ Rail but not very often.

[@Mk99987]

1 clean emissions loco, 1 very dirty emissions loco-they balance each other.

[@BryanMWade]

I agree that it's not environmentally friendly but it's cool to see as a railfan😄

[@ernestpassaro9663]

To the scrapyard in New Jersey

[@BryanMWade]

😢

[@josephshulman6666]

Who knew they have street running trains in NYC. ?????

[@BryanMWade]

Yup 👍 I love street runners😃

[@steammaker3ae]

3716 will have square wheels at its final destination

[@BryanMWade]

Oh you caught that! I didn't want to point that out

[@avontaprice2]

are these subway cars not in service no more?????🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@BryanMWade]

Not in service. To be scrapped.

[@avontaprice2]

@BryanMWade ok. thanks👍👍👍👍

[@BryanMWade]

You've got it, anytime👍

[@CarlosVazquez-p4c]

1970s all over again!!!

[@ToaTakanuva7]

future homes for fish

[@noahlovestrains]

😎😎

[@EdwardM-t8p]

The graffiti brings back memories when New York City was in crisis and the subway system was crime infested and extremely run down!

[@BryanMWade]

Yes, I remember those days even though I was a little too young to be riding yet

[@ONEFATE9]

The final march of the R32's. Meanwhile, the R44's are still around in Staten Island! Where's the justice in that?

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Those guys will be replaced by the R211S, but nothing has been pulled from service yet.

[@ONEFATE9]

@TheRailLeaguer Not fast enough!

[@TheRailLeaguer]

@@ONEFATE9 I know it’s not fast enough, but they still have to iron out the kinks in that one. Once the R211S cars are accepted, the R44 retirement than then commence (2 R211S consists to retire 1 R44 consist).

[@ONEFATE9]

These 44's were junk when they were brand new! Even after the GOH they were still junk! Of all the subway cars I've ridden, this was the worst!

[@TheRailLeaguer]

@@ONEFATE9 So you’re suggesting getting rid of them now before new cars are sufficient enough to provide service?

[@JPaul60]

There were a few cars without douche marks on them.

[@BryanMWade]

Lols

[@islawilliams9572]

don't reckon much to the paint scheme..

[@robyndavis3043]

Should’ve been turned into 8-“tiny homes” for the homeless, instead of being reused for scrap metal

[@ericschwartz3559]

Look at all the graffiti sprayed on the exterior on almost all the cars. What a shame. 😢 They would look so clean and in nice condition without the graffiti, despite them being 60 years old. Who would do this type of shit and crime? 😡😢 Doing this on beautiful old subway cars from the past is just a waste and could get you in a lot of trouble. Looks like the grafitti epidemic that happened in NYC in the 70s and 80s when a bunch of old subway cars got covered in graffiti. Is there another one is it repeating all over again, or is it the 70s and 80 all over again. 😅😂 Has the past returned to us, it’s supposed to be 2024, not 1980.

[@BryanMWade]

The New York City Subway is, for the most part, graffiti-free. It definitely is not anywhere near as bad as it was in the 80s. I believe these cars were stored way in the back of the yard and someone may have gotten in to tag up the trains, remove souvenirs, and do other vandalism. Those who do graffiti also like to hit freight trains that are not guarded nearly as well as the rapid transit trains are.

[@nezarionbraxton8790]

So what’s with all the spray paint on the subway cars? I don’t know why people think that’s OK because in all actuality it looks extremely tacky not to mention ridiculous not to mention if we’re saying goodbye to Subway cars that we’ve grown up with then there’s no way in hell they should be looking like that like really.

[@ElJibaro718]

🤫 no one asked

[@josephshulman6666]

It's because dems re created the crime and filth of 70 s

[@BryanMWade]

Someone must've broken into the yard where they were being stored. There was other vandalism as well; some windows were smashed and parts were stolen. Previously, the trains were guarded before being shipped-out but I guess not this time.

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

spray painting subway cars goes all the way back to the 70s !! ..... KZbin has plenty of original home movie clips & THOUSANDS of pictures

[@tomp8871]

@@markhellman-pn3hn so you mean shitheads weren't born til the '60s , I digress

[@GenerallyGeneralLee]

Graffiti is a disgusting part of our culture.

[@christopherokhiria9980]

Too bad they are being scrapped for good.

[@BryanMWade]

I agree

[@RoyceAubuchon]

I bet they stink

[@BryanMWade]

Do you mean the diesel fumes?

[@RoyceAubuchon]

@BryanMWade no. The coaches from bums urinating in them