Dear HO Scale Customers;

Rapido is pleased to announce The R32 "Brightliner" Subways

When the first Budd R32 “Brightliner” cars were delivered to the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) in 1964, they were the largest subway car order yet for NYC’s massive subway system. They also ushered in a new era, with gleaming stainless steel exteriors that were a first for the agency, and led to the “Brightliner” name.

R32 cars were built to the specifications of NYCTA’s “B Division” – all lettered services - which has wider, longer, and heavier rolling stock. The 600 R32 cars each feature 4 doors on each side, with inward facing bench seating between each door. Each car is in a married pair, with signage on the outer ends of the car pair. On the sides of each car, a rollsign display shows the route and terminals on both the inside and the outside.

As delivered, the R32s featured bold blue doors and the NYCTA logo. At each end of the pair, cars display the route, terminals, and had tower lights and “EXP” (Express) and “LOCAL” lights.

Between 1986 and 1990, the R32 fleet went through a general overhaul program that, among other things, added air conditioning. The A/C units were installed on the roof at the ends, and required the rollsign equipment on the ends to be removed. Rebuilt cars feature a minimal end, with just a single flipdot display remaining.

R32s ended up being among the longest running modern subway cars worldwide, with the last cars leaving the roster after 58 years. A large chunk of the fleet was retired by 2010, having been replaced by Alstom/Kawasaki R160s.

These car shells were used to create artificial reefs of the coast of Cape Henlopen, Delaware, but after 2010, over 200 stayed on the roster and in active service until 2020. The final farewell trips occurred in 2021 and 2022. Several cars were saved and preserved, including 3360-3361, which have been restored to their original delivery appearance.

• THE CLASSIC RAPID TRANSIT RAILCAR OF NEW YORK CITY IN SERVICE FOR OVER 50 YEARS
• MULTIPLE SCHEMES, LOGO PANELS AND LIGHTING FEATURES— REPRESENTING THEIR MANY APPEARANCES
• ADD-ON ELEVATED TRACK SECTIONS AND STATION DISPLAY FOR THE TRUE NYC SUBWAY LOOK

R32 "Brightliner" NYCTA Subway Features:

• Two-car powered sets feature one powered and one unpowered R32 series car
• Two-car unpowered sets feature two unpowered cars with only interior lighting
• Power car uses coreless truck motors
• Fully detailed interior includes amazing seat and decoration details
• Original cars feature
  - Headlights
  - Taillights
  - Marker lights (tower lights)
  - Express/local indicator lights
  - Interior lighting
• Rebuilt cars feature
  - Headlights
  - Taillights
  - Post-rebuilt flipdot display
  - Interior lighting
• Fully detailed underbodies
• Wire grab irons
• DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DCC/Sound
• Unpowered sets feature interior lighting only
• Suggested minimum radius: 18”

Rapido Trains Inc. are also delighted to be offering the HO Scale R32 Subway Lighted Display sets. You get the lit station display plus two unpowered cars, which will also light up. What a deal! Below are very early renders. Rapido Trains Inc. haven't finished designing these, but they expect to have them wrapped up in the next couple of months.

Rapido Trains Inc. also have regular HO Scale Display Platform options. These are only the station displays, which are great to add to your transit layout!

Order Due Date: April 15, 2026

Anticipated Delivery Date: January 2027

Looking for more Rapido Trains Inc. Subways? Click here!