The R110B was a prototype class of experimental New Technology TrainNew York City Subway cars built by Bombardier of Canada for service on the B Division services. There were nine cars, arranged as three-car sets. They were designed to test features that would be implemented on future mass-production NTT orders. First announced in 1989, the R110Bs were delivered in 1992 and entered service on June 15, 1993 on the service. An explosion in 1996 forced three cars to be taken out of service, resulting in the remaining six cars to run on the service. The six cars not affected by the explosion continued to run until 2000, when they were permanently removed from service due to frequent breakdowns and low Mean Distance Between Failure numbers. Five of the nine cars were sent away to various facilities, with the remaining four still on MTA property.
Description
The R110B cars were ordered from Bombardier in December 1989. The R110B was designed to test various new technology features that would eventually be incorporated into the R143 and were not intended for long-term production use. There were nine R110B cars, numbered 3001-3009. The cars were linked into three-car sets by consecutive numbers. The cab cars are powered with four traction motors each, while the center car of the 3-car set is an un-powered, cab-less trailer. The cars are typical B-Division size, except that they are 67 feet long, a length shared by the BMT Standards and the SIRT ME-1, along with all of the SEPTA's Broad Street Subway cars and the current PATCO fleets. The R110B uses the standard subway train control stand, but with some added computerized features. The layout of the controls is desk-style, with switches, lamps, and a single lever to control traction and braking. A CRT with function keys on either side is used to monitor speed, train status, etc. The R110B's design is similar to that of the R68 cars now in use on the BMT and IND services, but the ends are more square and use Lexan glass in the windows. Car ends that do not have cabs have an expanse of glass. The seating configuration is the same as in the R68, but the materials are more advanced. A matte plastic is used that allows scratches, tags and stubborn graffiti to be buffed out using a light abrasive. The seats have a reduced bucket. Internal surfaces are tan fiberglass and plastic, with accents provided using a plastic mosaic applique. The floor uses linoleum with a pattern of slightly raised and textured squares. The R110B cars have handholds for shorter passengers. There are rollsign line indicators in the front of the train, LCDdestination signs and interior strip route guides on top of the ad space, and LED indication of stops ahead on both sides. Another new and important feature was the passenger intercom, which could be used for emergencies.
Explosion and aftermath
On November 4, 1996, a fire and explosion occurred on car 3006 while the train was in service on the train. This resulted in set 3007–3009 being permanently taken out of service and cannibalized of parts to repair car 3006 and to keep the other two sets operating. The two remaining sets ran as a six-car train on the route.
Throughout 1999, the remaining R110Bs had been in and out of service for both repairs and additional component testing. The train was permanently removed from service in 2000 due to frequent breakdowns and low Mean Distance Between Failure numbers, and never ran in service again. After retirement, many of the cars were reused throughout New York City, including:
3001 - sent off to College Point, Queens in early 2014 for use as a training car for the NYPD. Part of the car was cut away to allow the car to fit in the building. It most likely replaced R33s 9156-9157.
