The R1 subway car was the first order of original passenger stock for the New York City Subway. 300 cars were manufactured between 1930 and 1931 by American Car & Foundry, numbered 100 through 399. Future passenger stock orders through to R9 were virtually identical, with minor mechanical or cosmetic variations.

The first R1 cars to see passenger service were sixteen individual cars that were placed in revenue service on the BMT Sea Beach Line in 1931 for testing and returned to the IND the same year. The was to have been paid by the City of New York for the testing but, since they were fairly extensively used in service (made up as two 8-car trains) the BMT and City called it even.

R1 SPECS

• UNIT NUMBERS: 100-399
• MANUFACTURER: American Car & Foundry
• LENGTH: 60 FEET, 2.5 INCHES
• WIDTH: 10 FEET
• HEIGHT: 12 FEET, 2 INCHES
• TOTAL WEIGHT: 84,081 IBS
• Propulsion: Westinghouse 570 D-5, DC Motors
• HorsePower: 190
• Brakes: AMUE Electric-Pmeumatic, WAB
• TOTAL SEATS: 56
• Cab Arrangement: Half-width driving cab at each end; conductor controls on exterior
• Coupling/Numbering Arrangement: All single units