Walthers Proto
PROTO 1000 R17 Subway Cars 4-Pack (1 Powered, 3 Unpowered)
NYCT Red Bird #6604, 6513, 6529, 6619
Walthers Part # 920-31015
HO scale, $185.00, sold out at Walthers
The R17 class of cars was one of three fleets purchased in the mid-1950's
to
replace many of the pre-WWII Interboro Rapid Transit cars. There were 4000
cars in this class, all built by St. Louis Car Company. Among them were
cars 6800-6809 which had air conditioning when delivered. The Air
Conditioning experiment was considered a failure and the cars were refitted
with the standard axiflow fans. As was the practice, the electrical
components were split between General Electric (6500-6699) and Westinghouse
Electric (6700-6899). The cars came equipped with low running lights at the
ends. In 1957 headlights were added to the cars.
During the course of their careers, two cars (6673 & 6786) were wrecked in
1957 and three cars were destroyed by fire (6595, 6597, & 6601) in 1964.
The last car was removed from service February 29, 1988.
* 5-Pole Skew-Wound Motor with Dual Flywheels
* Close Coupled
* Directional Lighting
* Interior Lighting
* Magnetic Knuckle Couplers
Finished in the same bright red as earlier releases to model a longer
train. Includes powered unit #6604, and three unpowered units: #6513, 6529
and 6619.
