Deck Roof Hi-V (New York City Subway car)
| Deckroof Hi-V | |
|---|---|
 Deck Roof Hi-V car 3661 in 1908, before the addition of a middle door | |
| In service | 1907-1958 |
| Manufacturer | American Car and Foundry |
| Constructed | 1907-1908 |
| Number built | 50 |
| Number preserved | 1 |
| Number scrapped | 49 |
| Formation | Singles |
| Fleet numbers | 3650-3699 |
| Operator(s) |
Interborough Rapid Transit Company NYC Board of Transportation New York City Transit Authority |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Riveted Steel |
| Car length | 51 ft 1.5 in (15.58 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 10 in (2,692 mm) |
| Height | 12 ft 0 in (3,658 mm) |
| Doors |
Up until the early 1910s: 4 After the 1910s: 6 |
| Maximum speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
| Weight |
Motor car: ~83,780 lb (38,002 kg) |
| Traction system | Motor car: 2 motors per car. |
| Power output | 200 hp (149 kW) per traction motor |
| Electric system(s) | 600 V DC Third rail |
| Current collection method | Contact shoe |
| Braking system(s) |
Before 1910: WABCO Schedule AM(P) with 'P' type triple valve and M-2 brake stand After 1910: WABCO Schedule AMRE with 'R' type triple valve and ME-21 brake stand |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The Deck Roof Hi-V was a New York City Subway car class built between 1907 and 1908 by American Car and Foundry for the IRT and its successors, the New York City Board of Transportation and the New York City Transit Authority.
Description
The Deck Roofs were numbered 3650-3699. These cars remained in service from 1907 to 1958. These cars were nicknamed the Battleships because of their paint scheme where the siding was painted Battleship Grey.
When these cars were delivered, they had two doors on each side until the early 1910s, when they received another door in the middle on each side.[1] Just like the Gibbs cars, the Deck Roofs sent 600 volts into the controller, which was hazardous. Otherwise, these cars proved to be reliable throughout their career.
In the 1920s the Hi-V fleet was being converted to multiple unit door control, with the exception of all 50 of the Deck Roofs and some Gibbs and Hedley cars. The Deckroofs were often placed at either end of the train so that ten car trains of Hi-Vs could run.[2][3]
Until the late 1950s and early 1960s, The IRT platforms could not handle a full ten car train. Thus, the manual door controls of the Deck Roof were reliable, as the side vestibule doors at either end of the train can be opened manually even if the entire car isn't on the platform. However, two conductors were required for operation of manual door controlled cars.
Retirement
When all the platforms on the IRT were eventually lengthened to support ten car trains, the Hi-Vs by then were being phased out by the then new R17, R21, and R22 subway cars. The last of the Hi-Vs were retired in 1959.
Car 3662 was preserved by the Shore Line Trolley Museum. It was modified with trolley poles and was previously operational, but a flood at the museum site damaged the car's electrical underfloor components. It is currently out of service awaiting restoration.[4]
