Welcome to the BARTchives, the unofficial BART history website. This is intended to be a simple educational archive (BART + Archive = BARTchive) of all the neat historical tidbits of what makes BART unique, with a particular focus on the legacy fleet.
BART is a testament to the people of the San Francisco Bay Area. Following a decade-long national decline in public transportation, the voters of the San Francisco Bay Area decided to tax themselves to design the most advanced rapid transit system ever built. BART, in turn, started a renaissance of public transportation – the movement following the opening of BART has spurred the creation of new modes and new technologies in public transportation throughout the United States, and to extent, the world, alongside igniting the establishment of different transit agencies throughout the Bay Area.
Early reports and articles colored BART via various names. They include statements such as the following:
As lifelong BART rider, I have spent the last five years purposely riding and documenting each car in the fleet. From my research, the research of others, official reports, and various documents, I present to you, the viewer, an informative and local view on the greatest, and simultaneously most troubled, heavy rail system in the West Coast.
BART is a testament to the people of the San Francisco Bay Area. Following a decade-long national decline in public transportation, the voters of the San Francisco Bay Area decided to tax themselves to design the most advanced rapid transit system ever built. BART, in turn, started a renaissance of public transportation – the movement following the opening of BART has spurred the creation of new modes and new technologies in public transportation throughout the United States, and to extent, the world, alongside igniting the establishment of different transit agencies throughout the Bay Area.
Early reports and articles colored BART via various names. They include statements such as the following:
- "The largest single public works project ever undertaken in the United States by the local citizenry"
- “Every Mile a Miracle”
- “All Aboard BART, the Commuter’s Dream”
- “America’s all-new railway”
- “The BART Story: A New Age for Urban Transit”
- “A bright new day for the Bay Area”
- "Start of the new age of electric railroads in the United States" (From Bullets to BART)
As lifelong BART rider, I have spent the last five years purposely riding and documenting each car in the fleet. From my research, the research of others, official reports, and various documents, I present to you, the viewer, an informative and local view on the greatest, and simultaneously most troubled, heavy rail system in the West Coast.
What is BART?
The builder of the first HO scale BART cars provided a primer on BART when they released HO scale kits including: the BART A & B car set, extra B car, Station kit, and 9 Automobile-pak. This is a digital transcription of the BART introductory paper in the train set:
|
September 11, 1972 opened up a new era in American rail transportation with the first operation of the new San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit system. A harbinger of exciting things to come, 10 years in planning, development, and construction.
BART has, without a doubt, received the widest publicity ever given a train or system. It is the rare person who has not heard about BART and would not recognize the distinctive modern design of its rail cars. Trains made up of 3 to 10, 72 passenger, car units speed along at 80 m.p.h., providing space-age comfort and safety (twice the average speed of other urban systems). |
MacArthur station, 1970s
|
Automation is a key word at BART, everything is automated from ticketing to traffic control. Every train has an attendant in the cab, although not controlling it, to keep watch and monitor certain train functions. Up to 105 trains can operate on the 150 miles of track running with headways as close as 90 seconds. There are no track crossovers or grade crossings. The system is almost equally divided between surface, elevated [aerial], and underground [subway] construction including the [almost] 4 mile tube under San Francisco Bay.
Interior, 1970s
|
Comfort and convenience are the alluring elements to attract passengers. BART with its lowest seating ratio to car length, provides stretch-out comfort in a tastefully appointed, fully carpeted interior, devoid of advertising [sic]. Seats are upholstered in fabric and vinyl and cantilevered from the side wall leaving the floor completely unobstructed. Deep tinted picture windows are a hallmark. Thirty-four stations are individually designed, many brightly color-coordinated and many containing works of art. It truly is a pleasure to ride, every aspect of the system has been given its own attention, to this end.
|
These electric powered trains should truly effect every U.S. rail passenger service designed from now on.
The 70 foot car bodies are made of extruded aluminum pieces with no rivets or fasteners visible. The cab sections are of molded fiberglass similar to modern boat hulls. The ride is comfortable, quiet, and vibration free. Air suspension is utilized in conjunction with cushioned, welded rail.
These electric powered trains can be expected to deeply affect every future U.S. rail passenger service, as well they should.
The 70 foot car bodies are made of extruded aluminum pieces with no rivets or fasteners visible. The cab sections are of molded fiberglass similar to modern boat hulls. The ride is comfortable, quiet, and vibration free. Air suspension is utilized in conjunction with cushioned, welded rail.
These electric powered trains can be expected to deeply affect every future U.S. rail passenger service, as well they should.
The Legacy Fleet
The original, pre-rebuild Rohr Cars (1970-2002)
The rebuilt Rohr Cars (1998-Present)
The C Cars (1985, 1987-1990 - Present, 1995-1996 - 2021)
The Fleet of the Future
BART through the years
|
|
Donations
|
|
|
If you found this site informative, please consider a donation to the Western Railway Museum's Rapid Transit History Center (RTHC) project. I can personally vouch for the efforts of this organization, not only for their expansive BART archive, but their project to save these very cars.
Personally, I think the BART preservation job is probably the most difficult rail transit preservation job faced today. These cars were the representation of a new wave of rail transit in the United States, and now, after over a half century of service, they are on the way out. Rail transit museums often focus on pre-1950 transit, but time marches on. To remain relevant to younger generations, the more recent past must also be preserved. We will never again get a chance to preserve these railcars, which revolutionized rail transportation, not only in the United States, but also influenced the development of rapid transit systems throughout the world.
Personally, I think the BART preservation job is probably the most difficult rail transit preservation job faced today. These cars were the representation of a new wave of rail transit in the United States, and now, after over a half century of service, they are on the way out. Rail transit museums often focus on pre-1950 transit, but time marches on. To remain relevant to younger generations, the more recent past must also be preserved. We will never again get a chance to preserve these railcars, which revolutionized rail transportation, not only in the United States, but also influenced the development of rapid transit systems throughout the world.
Videos
If you would like to view more BART trains in video form, please consider taking a look at my YouTube site (ATP Transit).
Old and new at Hayward Yard, 2021
Live BART Map
My favorite live BART map is "Where is BART?"
BART at 50
|
BART at 50: Documents, Photos, Articles, etc
|
Bay Area Transit - Outside of BART
Two entire worlds of Bay Area Ferryboats - the streamlined Inti' heads out to San Francisco, while the old Klamath undergoes restoration work.
|
There are dozens of interesting transit agencies around the San Francisco Bay Area, alongside BART.
As of today, there are three ferry pages. Coming soon are pages on: Amtrak California, CalTrain, ACE, and SMART. |
Recent Edits:
10/5/22 Updated Frequently Asked Questions (How many cars does BART run? - Sep 22 updates)
10/2/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (Fremont Flyer 50th Anniversary)
10/2/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (Day 1 Photos)
10/2/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (Pictures for President Nixon Rides BART (1972))
10/1/22 Updated Purple Line (Misc Details)
10/1/22 Updated D Cars (Misc Details)
10/1/22 Updated E Cars (Misc Details)
10/1/22 Updated C2 Cars (Misc Details)
10/1/22 Updated A2 Cars (Fleet size update)
10/1/22 Updated C1 cars (Car by Car history)
10/1/22 Updated All A2 cars (Updated car 1204)
10/1/22 Updated Home Page
9/24/22 Updated Frequently Asked Questions (What to call the cars)
9/18/22 BARTchives (and BART model railroad sneak peek) featured in the news!
9/15/22 Updated Design (Added article on the design of the BART car)
8/28/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (President Nixon Rides BART (1972))
8/28/22 Updated About (Added Fleet List Screenshot)
8/28/22 Updated B2 Cars (B2 Car 1811 photo added)
8/27/22 Updated Lab Cars and Diablo Test Track (Garrett Corp Brochure)
8/20/22 Added BART Model Railroad (Fremont station progress)
8/15/22 Updated Home page - 50th sticker
8/15/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (The Cars of BART's Opening Day)
7/31/22 Updated Car Ads (BART PD ad replaced by higher quality image)
7/31/22 Updated 1962-1971 history (Added Diablo Test Track Groundbreaking, 1964)
7/31/22 Updated All A2 cars (Updated car 1267 scrapping)
7/29/22 Added Green Line
7/29/22 Updated Orange Line (Misc details)
7/29/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (The Cars of BART's Opening Day)
7/11/22 Updated About (Coming soon: Legacy Fleet: The Story of BART’s Old Cars)
6/30/22 Updated C2 Cars (Misc Details)
6/25/22 Updated Frequently Asked Questions (Misc details)
6/21/22 Updated Frequently Asked Questions
6/19/22 Updated San Francisco Bay Ferry (Dorado photos and details)
6/10/22 Updated C1 Cars (Misc Details)
6/8/22 Updated Home Page (50th Anniversary Celebration and Potential Anniversary Ride)
6/7/22 Added Frequently Asked Questions
6/6/22 Updated Design (Why is BART wide gauge?)
6/6/22 Updated A car to B car Conversion (Subtitles updated)
6/5/22 Updated History: 2013-2022 (Added Article: From A Car to B2 car, Car 108 to 1818: 50 years of Service)
6/5/22 Updated History: 2013-2022 (Added Article: 398 and 1235)
5/31/22 Updated Design (Added 6. State of the Art Car (SOAC))
5/28/22 Updated Revenue Fleet (Added Fleet Size)
5/26/22 Updated Altamont Corridor Express
5/23/22 Updated Treasure Island Ferry (Photos)
5/23/22 Updated San Francisco Bay Ferry (Photos)
5/23/22 Updated C2 Cars (Misc Details, 2580 photo)
5/22/22 Added Purple Line
5/22/22 Updated 1993-2002 History Section (US Flag, Colma Station Opening)
5/22/22 Updated Fleet of the Future (Order details)
5/21/22 Updated San Francisco Bay Ferry (Misc. Details)
5/19/22 Updated B2 Cars (Added Cars In service on Day One, 9/11/1972)
5/19/22 Updated Orders and Deliveries (Added Fleet of the Future Order)
5/19/22 Updated Ad Wraps (Zoho One B2 car numbers)
5/19/22 Updated C1 cars (Car by Car history)
5/19/22 Updated B2 Cars (Car by Car history)
5/19/22 Updated D Cars (Photos Uploaded)
5/19/22 Updated E Cars (Photos Uploaded)
5/13/22 Updated Ad Wraps (Zoho One B2 cars added)
5/3/22 Added: History in the Making: BART's 20th Anniversary
5/1/22 Added Orange Line
5/1/22 Added Alameda County Line
5/1/22 Added Downtown Oakland Line
5/1/22 Added M/V Dorado photo to San Francisco Bay Ferry
4/26/22 Updated Lab Cars and Diablo Test Track
4/9/22 Updated Home Page
4/9/22 Added 1990s BART Car Ads
4/4/22 Updated Lab Cars and Diablo Test Track
3/24/22 Added Mail on BART
3/22/22 Updated SFO AirTrain
3/21/22 Added eBART
3/20/22 Updated C1 cars
3/10/22 Moved Legacy Fleet and Fleet of the Future sections to Revenue Fleet page.
3/9/22 Coming soon: BART Fare Media, Fare Gates, Route/Stations, and Other Bay Area Transit
3/4/22 Added Treasure Island Ferry
3/4/22 Added photos to San Francisco Bay Ferry
3/2/22 Added photos to San Francisco Bay Ferry
3/2/22 Updated A Cars
2/28/22 Updated San Francisco Bay Ferry
2/26/22 Added photos to San Francisco Bay Ferry
2/25/22 Updated A car to B car Conversion
2/24/22 Updated All A2 Car Photo Page
2/23/22 Added photos to Golden Gate Ferry: G.T. Marin
2/22/22 Added photos to San Francisco Bay Ferry
2/21/22 Added photos to San Francisco Bay Ferry
2/20/22 Introducing Modern Ferries of the SF Bay
2/20/22 Added San Francisco Bay Ferry
2/20/22 Added Golden Gate Ferry
2/20/22 Updated E Cars
2/19/22 Updated Midlife Renovation of A and B cars
2/19/22 Coming soon: Modern Bay Area Ferries
2/19/22 Updated Home Page
2/18/22 Updated B Cars
2/18/22 Updated Home Page
1/22/22 Added photos to C1 cars
1/21/22 Updated Ad Wraps
1/21/22 Updated Fleet of the Future
1/16/22 Added photos to A Cars
1/9/22 Updated C1 cars
1/9/22 Updated E Cars
1/9/22 Updated B2 Cars
1/2/22 Updated Opening Day Page
1/1/22 Updated All A2 Car Photo Page
12/28/21 Updated D Cars
12/26/21 Updated C1 cars
12/26/21 Updated All A2 Car Photo Page
12/25/21 Updated A Cars
12/25/21 Updated A2 Cars
12/25/21 Updated All A2 Car Photo Page
12/25/21 Updated B Cars
12/25/21 Updated B2 Cars
12/25/21 Updated C1 cars
12/25/21 Updated C2 Cars
12/24/21 Updated Laboratory Cars
12/24/21 Updated Ad Wraps
12/24/21 Updated C2 Cars
12/24/21 Updated C1 cars
12/23/21 Added All A2 Car Photo Page
12/19/21 Updated C1 cars
12/18/21 Added car Numbering Scheme in Orders and Deliveries
10/5/22 Updated Frequently Asked Questions (How many cars does BART run? - Sep 22 updates)
10/2/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (Fremont Flyer 50th Anniversary)
10/2/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (Day 1 Photos)
10/2/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (Pictures for President Nixon Rides BART (1972))
10/1/22 Updated Purple Line (Misc Details)
10/1/22 Updated D Cars (Misc Details)
10/1/22 Updated E Cars (Misc Details)
10/1/22 Updated C2 Cars (Misc Details)
10/1/22 Updated A2 Cars (Fleet size update)
10/1/22 Updated C1 cars (Car by Car history)
10/1/22 Updated All A2 cars (Updated car 1204)
10/1/22 Updated Home Page
9/24/22 Updated Frequently Asked Questions (What to call the cars)
9/18/22 BARTchives (and BART model railroad sneak peek) featured in the news!
9/15/22 Updated Design (Added article on the design of the BART car)
8/28/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (President Nixon Rides BART (1972))
8/28/22 Updated About (Added Fleet List Screenshot)
8/28/22 Updated B2 Cars (B2 Car 1811 photo added)
8/27/22 Updated Lab Cars and Diablo Test Track (Garrett Corp Brochure)
8/20/22 Added BART Model Railroad (Fremont station progress)
8/15/22 Updated Home page - 50th sticker
8/15/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (The Cars of BART's Opening Day)
7/31/22 Updated Car Ads (BART PD ad replaced by higher quality image)
7/31/22 Updated 1962-1971 history (Added Diablo Test Track Groundbreaking, 1964)
7/31/22 Updated All A2 cars (Updated car 1267 scrapping)
7/29/22 Added Green Line
7/29/22 Updated Orange Line (Misc details)
7/29/22 Updated 1972-1982 History (The Cars of BART's Opening Day)
7/11/22 Updated About (Coming soon: Legacy Fleet: The Story of BART’s Old Cars)
6/30/22 Updated C2 Cars (Misc Details)
6/25/22 Updated Frequently Asked Questions (Misc details)
6/21/22 Updated Frequently Asked Questions
6/19/22 Updated San Francisco Bay Ferry (Dorado photos and details)
6/10/22 Updated C1 Cars (Misc Details)
6/8/22 Updated Home Page (50th Anniversary Celebration and Potential Anniversary Ride)
6/7/22 Added Frequently Asked Questions
6/6/22 Updated Design (Why is BART wide gauge?)
6/6/22 Updated A car to B car Conversion (Subtitles updated)
6/5/22 Updated History: 2013-2022 (Added Article: From A Car to B2 car, Car 108 to 1818: 50 years of Service)
6/5/22 Updated History: 2013-2022 (Added Article: 398 and 1235)
5/31/22 Updated Design (Added 6. State of the Art Car (SOAC))
5/28/22 Updated Revenue Fleet (Added Fleet Size)
5/26/22 Updated Altamont Corridor Express
5/23/22 Updated Treasure Island Ferry (Photos)
5/23/22 Updated San Francisco Bay Ferry (Photos)
5/23/22 Updated C2 Cars (Misc Details, 2580 photo)
5/22/22 Added Purple Line
5/22/22 Updated 1993-2002 History Section (US Flag, Colma Station Opening)
5/22/22 Updated Fleet of the Future (Order details)
5/21/22 Updated San Francisco Bay Ferry (Misc. Details)
5/19/22 Updated B2 Cars (Added Cars In service on Day One, 9/11/1972)
5/19/22 Updated Orders and Deliveries (Added Fleet of the Future Order)
5/19/22 Updated Ad Wraps (Zoho One B2 car numbers)
5/19/22 Updated C1 cars (Car by Car history)
5/19/22 Updated B2 Cars (Car by Car history)
5/19/22 Updated D Cars (Photos Uploaded)
5/19/22 Updated E Cars (Photos Uploaded)
5/13/22 Updated Ad Wraps (Zoho One B2 cars added)
5/3/22 Added: History in the Making: BART's 20th Anniversary
5/1/22 Added Orange Line
5/1/22 Added Alameda County Line
5/1/22 Added Downtown Oakland Line
5/1/22 Added M/V Dorado photo to San Francisco Bay Ferry
4/26/22 Updated Lab Cars and Diablo Test Track
4/9/22 Updated Home Page
4/9/22 Added 1990s BART Car Ads
4/4/22 Updated Lab Cars and Diablo Test Track
3/24/22 Added Mail on BART
3/22/22 Updated SFO AirTrain
3/21/22 Added eBART
3/20/22 Updated C1 cars
3/10/22 Moved Legacy Fleet and Fleet of the Future sections to Revenue Fleet page.
3/9/22 Coming soon: BART Fare Media, Fare Gates, Route/Stations, and Other Bay Area Transit
3/4/22 Added Treasure Island Ferry
3/4/22 Added photos to San Francisco Bay Ferry
3/2/22 Added photos to San Francisco Bay Ferry
3/2/22 Updated A Cars
2/28/22 Updated San Francisco Bay Ferry
2/26/22 Added photos to San Francisco Bay Ferry
2/25/22 Updated A car to B car Conversion
2/24/22 Updated All A2 Car Photo Page
2/23/22 Added photos to Golden Gate Ferry: G.T. Marin
2/22/22 Added photos to San Francisco Bay Ferry
2/21/22 Added photos to San Francisco Bay Ferry
2/20/22 Introducing Modern Ferries of the SF Bay
2/20/22 Added San Francisco Bay Ferry
2/20/22 Added Golden Gate Ferry
2/20/22 Updated E Cars
2/19/22 Updated Midlife Renovation of A and B cars
2/19/22 Coming soon: Modern Bay Area Ferries
2/19/22 Updated Home Page
2/18/22 Updated B Cars
2/18/22 Updated Home Page
1/22/22 Added photos to C1 cars
1/21/22 Updated Ad Wraps
1/21/22 Updated Fleet of the Future
1/16/22 Added photos to A Cars
1/9/22 Updated C1 cars
1/9/22 Updated E Cars
1/9/22 Updated B2 Cars
1/2/22 Updated Opening Day Page
1/1/22 Updated All A2 Car Photo Page
12/28/21 Updated D Cars
12/26/21 Updated C1 cars
12/26/21 Updated All A2 Car Photo Page
12/25/21 Updated A Cars
12/25/21 Updated A2 Cars
12/25/21 Updated All A2 Car Photo Page
12/25/21 Updated B Cars
12/25/21 Updated B2 Cars
12/25/21 Updated C1 cars
12/25/21 Updated C2 Cars
12/24/21 Updated Laboratory Cars
12/24/21 Updated Ad Wraps
12/24/21 Updated C2 Cars
12/24/21 Updated C1 cars
12/23/21 Added All A2 Car Photo Page
12/19/21 Updated C1 cars
12/18/21 Added car Numbering Scheme in Orders and Deliveries
The BARTchives is a nationally recognized site on the history of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system. Contributions are welcome - please see the About page.
