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B Division Tablet 


R1 Car













R143 Car

   A Lefferts   A Rockaway   B Train   C Train
       
  D Train    E Train    F Train   G Train
       
  H Train   J Train   JJ  Train    L Train
       
  Brown M Train   Orange M Train   Old M Train  Q Train 
       
  R Train   V Train   W Train Culver Shuttle
Franklin Shuttle      

 

The B division is the BMT and IND lines and are 1 foot wider and 9-24 feet longer than their A Division counterparts Traditionally the BMT (Now called B1 Division) ran the Culver now run by the IND), Brighton, Sea Beach, West End, Canarsie, Broadway Manhattan, Jamaica Avenue. Broadway Brooklyn, Astoria (originally joint with IRT now only run by the BMT), and Corona (originally joint with IRT Now run by the IRT)

The IND (now called the B2 Division) runs 8th  Avenue, 6th Avenue, Concourse, Queens Boulevard, Washington Heights and Crosstown.

Since the subways were unified under city control, numerous connections have been built effectively unifying the two divisions To this date there are separate dispatchers at Jay Street for the BMT and IND and many liens require a change of radio channels.

75 foot cars can not run of the J, L or M lines due to clearance issues and have fallen into disfavor due to fewer doors per train (64 per side vs. 80 per car in non 75 foot cars-- a 20% reduction in the numbers of doors!) The factors in their favor are fewer cars to maintain and same capacity as 10 shorter cars with only 8 cars in the train. To their credit, they do require fewer cars to carry the same number of passengers (8 cars of 75 foot length is the same as 10 cars of 60 foot length.)

 IF the Second Avenue line ever gets built 75 foot cars might be used on that line but this site will not get into speculation over unbuilt lines.

B division cars  have  four sets of doors per side. To this date, A and B division cars are separate and only A division cars are operable (ignoring the wide gap) on either A or B Division tracks and then only with adjustments or special procedures. Except for portions “inherited” from old elevated lines, the IRT is the oldest of the three subway divisions.

Much of the IRT is built to IND/BMT specs. The exceptions are the Contract One and Two lines (the original subway lines) and the Steinway Tubes (original built for trolley service). The rest of the IRT (as well as much of the BMT) is part of what is known as the "Dual Contracts" lines, and most of the Dual Contract lines are built to BMT specs. Of course it must be remembered that the Dual Contract lines allowed for the specs of the standard of the BMT back then, which was 67 foot cars. Think of the Eastern Division Lines (J/M/Z/L). Those are basically unaltered BMT lines. In the 70’s, some of the BMT was altered to allow for 75 foot cars to run. So, when talking about "being built to BMT specs", I am referring to the old standard which would allow the current 60 foot cars to fit, but not the 75 foot cars that run on some lines (the system no loner runs 67 foot cars).

Below are the IRT lines that were built to BMT specs, and can fit 60 foot cars, if of course the station platforms were shaved off a bit (they are slightly wider to allow for the narrower IRT cars that run there). And also of course, let’s not forget that over time, some signal buildings, or other obstructions may have been built here and there that may have to be removed or altered, but the basic tunnel and el clearances themselves would allow for the wider BMT sized rolling stock.

IRT lines that can handle BMT sized cars once the station platforms are shaved

  • The Lexington Line north of Grand Central. (4/5/6)
  • The Broadway-7th Ave Line (West Side IRT) south of Times Square (including Times Square, but excluding the South Ferry loop) . (1/2/3)
  • The Dyre Ave Line and all the other Bronx IRT Els except the West Farms El south of East 180th St.
  • The Brooklyn IRT Line east of Atlantic Avenue, including both the Livonia El, and the Flatbush line. (2/3/4/5)
  • The Clark St Tunnel from Manhattan to where it joins the Joralemon tunnel route. (2/3)
  • The entire Flushing Line in Queens, excluding the Steinway tubes. (7)

 IRT   lines that are restricted to IRT size cars
  • The Lexington Line south of Grand Central, including the South Ferry Loop (which originally was built for the Lexington Line, not the West Side line, as is the operation today). (4/5/6)
  • The Broadway-7th Avenue Line (West Side IRT) Line north of Times Square, excluding 42nd St-Times Square itself (which is Dual Contracts). (1/2/3)
  • The 42nd Street Shuttle. (S)
  • The Joralemon Tunnel and route from Manhattan to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. (4/5)
  • The Steinway Tubes on the Flushing Line. (7)

 

 

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 Last revised 01/15/13

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