R6 (New York City Subway car)

R6
R6 car 1000 at 23rd Street on the Holiday Shopper's Special
In service1935–1977
ManufacturerAmerican Car and Foundry Company, Pullman Standard, Pressed Steel Car Company
Built atBerwick, Pennsylvania
Family nameR1–9s
Constructed1935–1936
Number built500
Number preserved7
Number scrapped493
SuccessorR44 and R46
Formationmotorized single units (Half-width operator's cab at each end; conductor controls on exterior)
Fleet numbers900–1399
Capacity56 seats
OperatorsIndependent Subway System
NYC Board of Transportation
New York City Transit Authority
Specifications
Car body constructionRiveted steel
Car length60 feet 2+12 inches (18.35 m)
Width10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
Height12 feet 1+58 inches (3.70 m)
Doors8 sets of 45 inch wide side doors per car
Weight84,228 lb (38,205 kg)
Traction systemWestinghouse ABF type UP143B switch group, with XM-29 master controller using Westinghouse 570-D5 or General Electric 714-C1, 714-C2 190 hp (142 kW) per motor. Two motors per car (both on motor truck, trailer truck not motorized).
Power output190 hp (142 kW) per traction motor *Motor Power: 190 hp (142 kW) per motor
Electric system(s)600 V DC Third rail
Current collector(s)Contact shoe (Top running)
Braking system(s)WABCO Schedule AMUE with UE-5 universal valve, ME-23 brake stand, and simplex clasp brake rigging
Coupling systemWABCO H2A
Headlight typeincandescent light bulb
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)

The R6 was a New York City Subway car model built from 1935 to 1936 for the city-operated Independent Subway System by three manufacturers under separate orders, the American Car and Foundry Company, Pullman Standard, and Pressed Steel Car Company. A total of 500 cars were built, numbered 900–1399, and arranged as single units. There were three versions of the R6: R6-1, R6-2, and R6-3. The R6s were a continuation of the R4 fleet and look almost the same, except that the R6 had a two-pane front window compared to the R4's one-pane window.

The R6s were used primarily for increased service in Queens and Brooklyn. They served exclusively on all IND lines for most of their service lives, but were also used on the BMT Division's Eastern Division's J and L lines during their final years of service. The R44s and R46s replaced the R6 cars, and they made their final runs in 1977. After retirement, most of the fleet was scrapped, but several R6-3s and one R6-1 have been preserved.