M1/M3 (railcar)

M1/M3
An M3 on the Long Island Rail Road at Cedarhurst in 2008
Interior of an MNRR M3A
In serviceM1: 1968–2007
M1A: 1971–2009
M3: 1984–present
M3A: 1984–present
ManufacturerBudd Company
Built atRed Lion Assembly Plant
Northeast Philadelphia, PA
Family nameBudd Metropolitan
ConstructedM1/M1A: 1968–1973
M3/M3A: 1984–1986
Entered serviceM1: 1968
M1A: 1971
M3: 1984
M3A: 1984
ScrappedM1: 2007
M1A: 2009
M3: 2018–present
M3A: TBA
Number built1264
  • M1: 770
  • M1A: 178
  • M3: 174
  • M3A: 142
Number in serviceM3: 94 (+5 in work service)[1]
M3A: 140[2]
Number preserved7 (4 M1, 3 M3)
Number scrapped1012
  • M1: 766
  • M1A: 178
  • M3: 66
  • M3A: 2
FormationMarried Pair
Fleet numbersM1: 9001–9770
M1A: 8200–8377
M3: 9771–9890, 9893–9946
M3A: 8000–8141
Capacity120 (M3)[3]
OperatorsLong Island Rail Road
Penn Central
Conrail
Metro-North Railroad
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless Steel, with fiberglass end caps on the operating ends
Train length170 ft (51.82 m) - 1,020 ft (310.90 m)
Car length85 ft (25.91 m)
Width10 ft 6 in (3,200 mm)
Height13 ft (3,962 mm) excluding rooftop horns
Floor height4 ft (1,219 mm)
Platform height4 ft (1,219 mm)
DoorsQuarter point, double leaf automatic
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h) design
80 mph (130 km/h) service
Traction systemDC camshaft resistance control (GE)
Traction motorsM1/M1A: 4 × 148 hp (110 kW) GE 1255 A2 DC motor
M3/M3A: 4 × 160 hp (120 kW) GE 1261 DC motor
Power outputM1/M1A: 592 hp (441 kW)
M3/M3A: 640 hp (480 kW)
HVACelectric heat, air conditioning
Electric system(s)650–750 V DC third rail
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′
AAR wheel arrangementB-B+B-B
BogiesM1: Budd Pioneer
M3: General Steel GSI 70
Braking system(s)Pneumatic, dynamic
Safety system(s)ATC (ATO) and Pulse code cab signaling
Coupling systemWABCO Model N-2
Headlight typeHalogen light bulbs
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The M1 and M3 are two similar series of electric multiple unit rail cars built by the Budd Company for the Long Island Rail Road, the Metro-North Railroad, and Metro-North's predecessors, Penn Central and Conrail.[4] Originally branded by Budd as Metropolitans, the cars are more popularly known under their model names, M1 (late 1960s/early 1970s cars) and M3 (mid-1980s cars). The Metro-North cars were branded under the M1A and M3A series.

  1. ^ "Joint Metro-North and Long Island Committees Meeting" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 2020. p. 143.
  2. ^ "Joint Long Island and Metro-North Committees Meeting" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2022.
  3. ^ "Supplementary Information for §1269(d) 2012 – 2017" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  4. ^ Cudahy 2003, p. 264.