R33 World's Fair (New York City Subway car)

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The R33 WFs were the last cars to have no air conditioning, relying in interior ceiling fans. These cars were rebuilt "in-house" in 1985 by the Coney Island Shop. All of the cars are currently work motors, except for 9306 (shown here), which has been part of the collection of the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn since 1976; 9321 which was retired and reefed; and 9327, which is at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.

They are based out of Corona Yard (on the NYCS service|7), in the Corona section of Queens near Shea Stadium. Other R33 WF's in work service are based out of various yards around the system. The R33 WF's that are in non-revenue (work service) handle many tasks and are versatile, doing car moves, trash pickup and yard switching.

Although the R33/36 subway car classes were and are commonly referred to as Redbirds, the R36/33 WF Redbirds' paint scheme was actually light turquoise blue and white, nicknamed "Bluebird". This paint color scheme was used on the R33/36WF's from delivery in late 1963/1964 until being painted "Silver/Blue" for MTA livery in the early/mid 1970s. Then they were painted a full white (roof, bonnets, sides were all painted white) in 1982–83. The look was abandoned for the famous "Redbird" style. The Redbirds were painted between 1986–89 to a deep maroon red body, black front bonnets and anticlimbers, and silver roof. During their revenue service they were also painted deep forest green (R26/28) and bright red (R29/33/36ML).

R-33 World's Fair (WF) Specifications

*Car Builder: St. Louis Car Company in St. Louis, MO
*Unit Numbers: 9306-9345
*Fleet: 40 cars
*Car Body: LAHT Carbon Steel
*Car Length: 51 feet, ¹⁄₂ inches (15 m)
*Car Width: 8 feet, 9 inches (2.7 m)
*Car Height: 11 feet, 10³⁄₈ inches (3.6 m)
*Height railhead to floor: 3 feet, 9 inches (1.1 m)
*Total Weight: 75,122 lb (pre-rebuild)
*Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.435 m)
*Total Seating: 44
*Propulsion System: Westinghouse XCA248E
*Braking System: WABCO, "SMEE" (electrodynamic)
*DC Motors: Westinghouse 1447C
*Power: 100 horsepower (75 kW), 4 per car
*Coupling/Numbering Arrangement: Single (9306-45), driver's cab at each end
*Price per car (new, 1963): USD$108,500
*NOTE: "During the rebuilding process, R33 WF was not equipped with air conditioning system, the original Axiflow ceiling fans were kept. These cars were not used during summer months due to poor air flow and high humidity in these cars."

All R33WF cars except 9306, 9321 and 9327 were converted to work service in 2003 and 2004.