NEW YORK — New York City Transit concluded its farewell to the Budd-built “Brightliner” R-32 subway cars Sunday, operating the equipment for the final time on the same line (today’s Q Line, the former BMT Brighton Line) where the cars made their debut 58 years ago [see “New York MTA sets farewell …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 13, 2021]. The cars, which received their nickname for their fluted-side, stainless-steel design, entered revenue service in September 1964 after testing began in August 1964. The MTA said they were some of the world’s longest-serving transit equipment.
— Updated Jan. 11 at 3:15 p.m. to correct date of first revenue service.
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