Say Goodbye To The R-32s, Some Of The Oldest Running Subway Cars In The World (New York: kitchen, transit)

[Aeran]

Inside The Final Rides Of The "Legendary" R-32 Subway Cars.
Cool photos.

https://gothamist.com/arts-entertain...ntent=20211221

With a stainless steel exterior that resembles the side of a soup can and an overall old-timey vibe, the R-32 subway cars began their farewell rides this past Sunday. They're some of the oldest subway cars still running — not just in New York City, but in the world — and rail fans came out in full force to say goodbye, many calling them the most reliable train cars the subway system has seen.

"They should have stayed forever, but time goes on," Paul Meuser from Queens told Gothamist. "They’re better built than what’s out there today."

[prospectheightsresident]

Originally Posted by SeventhFloor

Those cars had good heating systems. In the winter the cars were warm.

This, they did. The only good thing about them, IMO. I absolutely hated how they looked.

[prospectheightsresident]

Originally Posted by Midwesterns45

Great train although The breaks were terrible at the end of its career. It would squeal and slide to a halt.

I remember this, too, though I don't recall the brakes ever failing (thankfully)

[fluttereagle]

I rode on these cars many a time. It's a testament to the manufacturing quality that they lasted this long. The lack of sections also made more sense, because it accommodated the machismo idiots who like to spread their legs and take up multiple seats.

[SeventhFloor]

Originally Posted by under a mountain

These were mostly on the "C" line toward the end, right? As others has said they were warm and roomy

They were primarily used on the A/C trains.

[Coney]

Originally Posted by SeventhFloor

They were primarily used on the A/C trains.

In the 1980s. Before that, the R-32 were on other lines, other cars were employed on the CC/A. The oldest cars in usage (except for the Carnarsie Line where the conductor had to manually open each door and were made of wood) were generally on the CC. I remember the straw seats and naked light bulbs well. I also remember double fares where you had to insert a token to exit.

[stormgal]

Those trains are bad for when you have backpain

[under a mountain]

This is why we can't have nice things

Transit staffers who worked last Sunday’s event said someone kicked in one of the seats, which are original and irreplaceable

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...mza-story.html

[Pope of Greenwich Village]

I just read somewhere that these are the last trains where kids can stand in the front car and look out the front window. As a kid I loved doing that. I hope they come out with a new version of that for all the kids who will enjoy it in the future.

[Foamposite]

I love these, I wish they could have stuck around longer.

These were yet another consequence of 2020