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The Bluebird, formally dubbed Compartment Car by its purchaser, the BMT, was an advanced design PCC subway and elevated railway car used on the New York City Subway system from 1939 to 1962.

Design theory

A single Bluebird unit, numbered 8000, was purchased by the BMT as a prototype for a planned fleet of equipment that could operate universally on both standard subway lines and older elevated lines.

The articulated unit, 80 feet (24. 4 m) long, 10 feet (3. 0 m) wide and 12 feet (3. 7 m) high, consisted of three compartments placed on four trucks, connected by fully-enclosed, hinged passageways. The Bluebird was an example of Art Deco industrial design, presenting a clean and mildly streamlined appearance.

The BMT expected the Bluebird to preserve its investment in its elevated railway lines without expensive upgrading for heavier subway equipment, while attracting passengers with its interior comforts. Tests demonstrated that its greatly improved operating parameters could have cut significant time from existing elevated train schedules.

Diversified use

The Bluebird was designed during the Great Depression as a fast, physically attractive and comfortable mass transit vehicle that would attract passengers, while instituting significant economies in production, operation, and maintenance. Donate Car New York - Free Hotel with NY Car Donation.