BART Legacy Fleet: Final Days of Scheduled Service (September 2023)

Effective September 11, 2023, the legacy cars will no longer be in scheduled service, bringing to end over 50 years of continuous scheduled operation for BART’s original cars. There will, however, be at least two consists of legacy cars serving as backups on weekdays for the following months, and perhaps even more rarely, for an event or something. There is no final, ceremonial run yet announced. This video shows the last days of them "out in the wild" earning their keep (in scheduled service). I have written extensively about the legacy cars in my site: http://www.BARTchives.com The A2 and B2 cars seen here today were all originally built by Rohr Industries between 1970 and 1975 as A and B cars. Entering service in 1972, they have rolled about 6 million miles each. All were rebuilt into A2 and B2 cars between 1997 and 2002 by Adtranz and Bombardier, gaining the familiar AC propulsion sounds heard throughout the video. These cars made BART the system it is today. Representing an entire new generation of public transit, BART and its legacy cars proved that public transit could not only survive, but prosper in a post-war car-culture environment. The legacy fleet were pioneers, based off of demanding expectations for advanced technology and high levels of passenger comfort. Throughout the past 50 years, these cars have seen it all. Births, deaths, fires, and earthquakes. The BART system is no vacuum and nor are the passengers that ride it. In these past few years they have, alongside passengers such as you and I, have seen conditions best left to the imagination. In some respects, it will be nice to have (somewhat) newer and cleaner cars for the years that lie ahead, but much remains to prevent the Fleet of the Future from becoming even dirtier than the old cars. Regardless, these cars represented a turning point in public transit, and were very much the foundation of BART for 50 years. Among the few cars to find second (or perhaps, third) lives will include a trio of cars preserved for the sake of history at the Western Railway Museum. There, they will tell the story of those slant nosed electric trains that replaced the busses, that replaced the trains on the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. Andy (ATP Transit), September 2023 0:00 1203-1276 at Powell, Red line train to Richmond 0:29 1256-1239 at 24th St Mission, Red line train to Millbrae 1:13 1262-1236 at Embarcadero, Red line train to Richmond 2:12 1818, originally built as A car 108 (In Service since day 1, September 11, 1972) 2:44 1218-1265 at Fremont, Green line train to Berryessa 3:08 1225-1223 at Fremont, Orange line train to Richmond 3:49 1212 at Fremont, Orange line train to Richmond 4:22 1232-1255 at 19th St, Red line train to Millbrae 5:00 1233 at 16 St Mission, Green line train to Berryessa 5:17 1265-1218 at Glen Park, Green line train to Daly City 5:38 1264-1238 at Glen Park, Red line train to Richmond 6:14 1254 at 24th St Mission, Red line train to Millbrae. Not headlights and 3rd rail gap 6:41 1824 departs 24th St Mission 7:08 1745 departs Glen Park, Zoho One ad wrap 7:31 1245-1219 at Glen Park, Green line train to Berryessa 8:01 1245-1219 at Embarcadero, Green line train to Berryessa 8:28 1258-1230 at Embarcadero, Green line train to Daly City 9:02 1258-1230 depart Powell, Green line train to Daly City 9:25 1230-1258 at Coliseum, Green line train to Berryessa 10:05 Riding 1684 departing Fremont, heading to Richmond 11:03 Riding 1560 departing Embarcadero, heading to Millbrae/SFO 12:15 Riding 1763 departing Glen Park 13:20 Riding 1607 departing 24th St Misson 13:49 Riding 1276 departing Powell 15:04 Riding 1276 departing Embarcadero. Final Rohr A/B car delivered to BART.