R33 (New York City Subway car)

R33
An R33 train on the at West Farms Square–East Tremont Avenue.
Interior of an overhauled R33 car.
In service	1962–2003
Manufacturer	St. Louis Car Company
Built at	St. Louis, Missouri
Constructed	1962–1963
Refurbishment	1987–1991
Scrapped	2001–2004 2013 (cars used as refuse motors)
Number built	500 cars (250 pairs)
Number in service	(42 in work service)
Number preserved	11
Number scrapped	447
Formation	Pairs
Fleet numbers	8806–9305
Operator(s)	New York City Subway
Specifications
Car body construction	LAHT carbon steel
Car length	51.04 feet (15.56 m)
Width	8.75 feet (2,667 mm)
Height	11.86 feet (3,615 mm)
Doors	6 per car
Maximum speed	55 mph (89 km/h)
Weight	72,900 lb (33,100 kg) (post-rebuild)
Traction system	GE 17KG192AE2/3 (9076–9305 formerly Westinghouse)
Power output	Westinghouse 1447JR/GE 1257E1, 100 hp (74.6 kW) per axle
Electric system(s)	600 V DC Third rail
Current collection method	Contact shoe
Bogies	none
Braking system(s)	WABCO, "SMEE" (electrodynamic)
Safety system(s)	Emergency Brakes
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The R33 was a New York City Subway car that was built by St. Louis Car Company in 1962 and 1963. They are a "follow-up" or supplemental stock for the “A” Division’s R29s and closely resemble them. The cars were also referred to as R33MLs (R33 Main Line) to distinguish them from the R33WFs.

The first set of R33 cars was placed in service on the 1 train on November 15, 1962. Five hundred cars were built and served on all IRT subway lines. In 1972 they became the first "A" division cars to be retrofitted with air conditioning, and by 1982 all R33 cars had received air conditioning. The cars were also rebuilt between 1986 and 1991.

Before they were rebuilt, the R33 cars were grouped as follows:

From 1987 until early 1991, the R33 cars were overhauled and rebuilt by the MTA's 207th Street and Coney Island Overhaul Shops. All cars were refitted with General Electric equipment. Existing General Electric cars received New York Air Brake Newtran brake packages; the former Westinghouse cars received an updated brake package from the Westinghouse Air Brake Company.

After rebuilding, R33 cars served on the 2, 4, and 5 trains, and occasionally on the 7 train.