So long, and thanks for all the trips
The historic R-42 is making its final run on Wednesday, February 12, on the A line. See the approximate schedule below:
- Leaves Euclid Avenue at 10:30 AM to go to Far Rockaway, making all A stops along the way
- Leaves Far Rockaway at 11:30 AM to go to 207 St, making all A stops along the way
- Leaves 207 St at 1:30 PM to go back to Euclid Av, making all A stops
About the Historic R-42
R-42s first rolled out in 1969, eventually totaling 400 cars in our fleet. The first cars were used on the BMT Broadway Line, known today as the N train.
1969 was a big year: Sesame Street debuted, the New York Mets won the World Series, Woodstock drew over 350,000 people to a farm in upstate New York, and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon.
Along with the R-32, the R-42 is the only post-war car to reach the 50-year service mark. The R-32 still run on the A and C.
The R-42 were featured in the famous “car vs. subway chase” in William Friedkin’s 1971 thriller The French Connection. The two cars, #4572 and #4573 became part of New York Transit Museum’s collection.
Seated capacity on the R-42 is 44, and they were the first car type to arrive in service completely air-conditioned.
A majority of the fleet was retired between 2006 and 2009. About 50 cars remained in service on the J and Z lines. Some of the retired cars were sunk in the Atlantic Ocean as part of an artificial reef program.
The R-42 was the last car type to be designed as "married pairs," which means the two cars are semi-permanently linked together.