Q-type Queens car (New York City Subway car)


The Q-type and QX were a New York City Subway car class originally built by the Osgood-Bradley, Brill, Laconia, and Jewett car companies, and rebuilt in 1938 by the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation from former BU cars. These cars were one of the two car types to be rebuilt by the BMT from BU cars, the other being the C-types.

Description

The Q-types were built for elevated railway service to the 1939 New York World's Fair. They were rebuilt from BU cars in the 1200 and 1400 series, elevated rolling stock originally built in 1903 and in 1907. There were 30 three-car Q sets numbered 1600-1629 A-B-C, and 12 two-car QX sets numbered 1630-1641 A-B. The Q sets were arranged in three-car sets, while the QX sets were arranged as married pairs.
After BMT service on the joint IRT-BMT Flushing Line ended in 1949, the Q-types were refitted for operation of the IRT Third Avenue Line in Manhattan. After the latter line closed in 1955, the Q-types were refitted again to operate on the BMT Myrtle Avenue Line in 1958 to replace the last elevated gate cars in passenger service. When the lower part of the Myrtle Avenue Line closed in 1969, the Q-types were finally retired. The oldest of the cars were in revenue service for 66 years, currently the longest such service life in New York City rapid transit operations.

Preservation

Q-type set 1622 A-B-C, was previously preserved by the New
York Transit Museum. However, in 1979, the set was converted back into BU gate cars 1407, 1273 and 1404, although the cars retained their 1957 lowered roofs and 1950 lightweight trucks and motors. Car 1612C was subsequently restored to replace 1622 A-B-C.