R40/R40A/R40S/R40M whats the deal?

[7 Train Elmhurst]

The R40M indicates these were the modified R40's (Slants) and R40A's

(redesigned flat front) . Modification was when these cars were overhauled

and rebuilt in Upstate New York. I recall driving on the New York State

Thruway once, seeing a flatbed tractor trailer carrying an R40 slant body

(no trucks) heading north, that was going to be "modified".

 

All modified cars received new pairs of doors with smaller windows

resembling those on any R-contracts pre-R40. Also gone were the

original thin blue stripe which ran the length of the cars except over the

doors on the slants. R40A's used to instead have a wide blue stripe

which ran the length of car (except across doors) and around the front

at the head and tale light level. Cars were also retrofitted with new

side window roll signs and front route signs.

 

To the best of my knowledge, the R40 slants were delivered around

1967 and were for use on the Queens line only. The large front route

sign (the same size window as the motorman's) had only 3 letters.

White "E" on light blue, White "F" on pink or a black "S" on white

 

When the slants were "modified", the large roll sign window was "blacked

out" except for a small square in the center, where the new route

sign contained all the current IND-BMT letter colors as smaller circles

"E" became deep blue which was the new 8th Ave. Line color and

"F" became orange.. new 6th Ave. Line color.

 

R32's, R38's, R42's were also modified, R32M and so on.

[R44 5278]

Well said!

[LRG]

The pole arrangement thing with the R40s and the R40As is because of air conditioning. The R40s (which were all slants) were not delivered with air conditioning; those poles are in a straight line. The R40As (which were half slant and half straight) were delivered with air conditioning, and had diagonal poles. During overhaul, R40s were given air conditioning.

[Eric B]

The R40M indicates these were the modified R40's (Slants) and R40A's

(redesigned flat front) . Modification was when these cars were overhauled

and rebuilt in Upstate New York. I recall driving on the New York State

Thruway once, seeing a flatbed tractor trailer carrying an R40 slant body

(no trucks) heading north, that was going to be "modified".

 

All modified cars received new pairs of doors with smaller windows

resembling those on any R-contracts pre-R40. Also gone were the

original thin blue stripe which ran the length of the cars except over the

doors on the slants. R40A's used to instead have a wide blue stripe

which ran the length of car (except across doors) and around the front

at the head and tale light level. Cars were also retrofitted with new

side window roll signs and front route signs.

 

To the best of my knowledge, the R40 slants were delivered around

1967 and were for use on the Queens line only. The large front route

sign (the same size window as the motorman's) had only 3 letters.

White "E" on light blue, White "F" on pink or a black "S" on white

 

When the slants were "modified", the large roll sign window was "blacked

out" except for a small square in the center, where the new route

sign contained all the current IND-BMT letter colors as smaller circles

"E" became deep blue which was the new 8th Ave. Line color and

"F" became orange.. new 6th Ave. Line color.

 

R32's, R38's, R42's were also modified, R32M and so on.

 

I've seen pictures of the first one on display at 34th St middle tracks, before Chrystie St and the new colors, and it was F with a green background!

Then, there were drawings of it at times with the E with an inbetween blue background, and a really early one with a T Times Square with black background!