Welcome to the BARTchives, the officially 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 a lifelong BART rider, I have spent the last six years purposely riding and documenting each car in the fleet. From my research, the research of others, official reports, official documents, and various documents here and there, 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.
-Andy T. Payne
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"
- "One of the greatest projects in construction history"
- "The most imaginative and aggressive effort ever made by an American urban region to solve its transportation problem"
- "An example for the Nation" - President Nixon
- "The Spirit of the Future"
- "A Quantum Leap"
- “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”
- "Luxury on wheels"
- "The Impossible Dream"
- "The Silver Fleet"
- "The most comfortable fleet of trains in the world" (Western Construction, April 1973)
- "Rohring like a BART out of hell" (1972 - original cars built by Rohr Industries)
- "The first totally new mass transit system since 1907" (From The BART Design Car, Sundberg-Ferar)
- "Start of the new age of electric railroads in the United States" (From Bullets to BART)
- "A record-breaking project; An impressive engineering achievement; Architecture at its best; No bed of roses" (Western Construction, April 1973)
- "The first transit system in the world to offer 100% usability - every station - for the handicapped."
- "The start of a transit renaissance"
- Pioneers of a new age of public transit
As a lifelong BART rider, I have spent the last six years purposely riding and documenting each car in the fleet. From my research, the research of others, official reports, official documents, and various documents here and there, 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.
-Andy T. Payne
Legacy Fleet exited scheduled service with 9/11/2023 schedule change.
Last Day of Scheduled Service: Sunday, September 10, 2023
Final Ceremonial Run: Satuday, April 20, 2024
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In Scheduled Service
September 11, 1972 to September 10, 2023
September 11, 1972 to September 10, 2023
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The legacy fleet exited scheduled service with the schedule change effective September 11, 2023 - BART's 51st anniversary. No old cars are needed for this schedule, so be prepared to see only Fleet of the Future cars here on out. That being said, there was the rare chance an old train or two out on the mainline when needed through early March 2024.
That being said, the Western Railway Museum now preserves three legacy cars at their location in Rio Vista - a permanent home for the historic fleet!
That being said, the Western Railway Museum now preserves three legacy cars at their location in Rio Vista - a permanent home for the historic fleet!
Final Run of the Legacy Fleet - April 20, 2024
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The final run event was as follows:
MacArthur Station April 20, 2024. 1:00 PM Ceremony followed by final run. The final run was from MacArthur to Fremont stations, just as how they first entered service. Articles: See you tomorrow - Final Run of the Legacy Fleet END OF THE LINE: FINAL RUN OF THE FIRST FLEET Additional details: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2024/news20240311 |
BART Legacy Fleet Preserved - Western Railway Museum
The 1164 at its new home.
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After millions of miles and decades of service, the BART fleet has reached its final stop. Of a fleet once at 669 cars, three cars have been specially chosen for preservation at the Western Railway Museum - the only cars to be preserved as museum pieces.
A2 Car 1164 arrived August 9, 2024 B2 Car 1834 arrived September 11, 2024 (Day One + 52 years) C1 Car 329 arrived October 4, 2024 All three cars are parked inside carbarn 3 and BART has been steadily donating legacy fleet equipment in the meantime. The cars are currently being prepared for public display, and not yet open. ETA September 2025. |
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:
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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
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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 [sic], 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
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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.
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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.
We're Off & Running - BART Day One - September 11, 1972
BART on Day One, the start of revenue service. September 11, 1972.
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It's a flash of aluminum at 80 miles an hour, a comfortable seat in rush hour, a new panorama of the East Bay.
That’s BART, a four-letter word defining the most modern, fastest, and probably most comfortable means of getting from here to there urban America has yet devised. It’s one of the most costly public works jobs on record in an era where the public rarely seems bothered about spending billions over 10 years to reach the moon, but is critical of allocating $1.4 billion in a decade to get from home to work and back, without ulcers. BART is as colorful as the famed Moscow Metro, faster than any subway in the world, at least as spacious as jetliner first class space, quieter, smoother, and better smelling than a bus, and less nerve-racking than the Nimitz Freeway at 5:10 pm. Harre Demoro, Oakland Tribune, BART Day One |
The Legacy Fleet: 1970 - 2024
In scheduled service: 9/11/1972 - 9/10/2023
"Ready Reserve" (backup only) status: 9/11/2023-3/3/2024
Final Run: 4/20/2024
The original, pre-rebuild Rohr Cars (1970-2002)
The rebuilt Rohr Cars (1998-2024)
In scheduled service until 9/10/2023
Unscheduled service through 3/3/2024
Final Run: 4/20/2024
In scheduled service until 9/10/2023
Unscheduled service through 3/3/2024
Final Run: 4/20/2024
The C Cars
C1s: In service from 3/28/1988 to 5/15/2023
C2s: In service from 1995 to 2020
C1s: In service from 3/28/1988 to 5/15/2023
C2s: In service from 1995 to 2020
The Fleet of the Future: 2016 - Present
In service since January 18, 2018
BART through the years
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THE LEGACY FLEET BOOK - Legacy Fleet: The Story of BART's Old Cars
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The BARTchives is quickly turning into a major endeavor - a detailed book covering the history of the BART legacy fleet, from conception to decommissioning. The book explains the design process, construction, operation, refinement, refurbishment, and retirement of the fleet, using thousands of documents, hundreds of hours of analysis, and dozens of personal stories. This book also includes a similar level of detail on the Fleet of the Future thus far.
The book will serve as a comprehensive memoir of these cars, and hopefully serve as the next volume of text following the excellent books on BART’s predecessors, including the Key System, Interurban Electric Railway, and Sacramento Northern. The first printing of the book is estimated to occur in 2025. Reserve a copy here! |
Number Plates - Want a picture of your car?
349 in service
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From time to time, BART sells the exterior number plates from retired cars. I am happy to provide these new "BART-car-plate-owners" a picture of their car back when it was in service.
As of November 2024 I have helped over 100 people get pictures of their cars. Even BART has used my pics! All are welcome. More details available here: BART Car Number Plate Owners - Pictures of your car may be available! |
349 in the collection
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Donations
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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, and most symbolic 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, and most symbolic 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).
BART Scenes
Old and new at Hayward Yard, 2021
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BART and snow, 2023
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Live BART Map
My favorite live BART map is "Where is BART?"
I also use the official BART website (stations page) for ETA times.
I also use the official BART website (stations page) for ETA times.
BART at 50+
In 2023, about half of BART's original 450 car A and B car fleet made to about 50 years since their original construction (and many of them with 50 years of service). This is a record to be celebrated - and a testament to all those who designed, constructed, rebuilt, operated, and maintained them for the past half century.
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BART at 50: Documents, Photos, Articles, etc on the official BART site
It's always the 50th here
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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.
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There are dozens of interesting transit agencies around the San Francisco Bay Area, alongside BART. BART is no island and the pioneering spirit of the system resulted in a new age of public transit in the San Francisco Bay Area. The likes of which included investments in bus, rail, and ferry transportation systems.
As of today, there are three ferry pages. Coming soon are pages on: Amtrak California, CalTrain, ACE, and SMART. |
Recent Edits:
Website may be quiet but progress is steady: Currently working on the book and preservation of the actual Legacy Fleet.
12/10/24 Updated page: Legacy Fleet at Western Railway Museum (Misc Details)
12/8/24 Updated: How it's Made: BART Fleet of the Future (Ohio pics, Pittsburg CA site closed)
11/10/24 Added page: Legacy Fleet at Western Railway Museum
11/7/24 Updated Legacy Fleet: Life After BART (1759 Shake Testing details)
10/23/24 Updated A cars (A car 181 at Concord picture)
10/23/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: BART Trains Testing at 100 mph+
10/11/24 Added Legacy Fleet: Life After BART (Scrapping, Preservation, and Projects)
10/11/24 Updated D cars (3300s details)
10/11/24 Updated E cars (Expansion order car numbers, pictures of 4400s, 4500s)
10/6/24 Updated C2 Cars (Misc Details)
10/6/24 Updated C1 Cars (329 delivered to WRM, Misc details)
10/4/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Chopper Car Finds New Home: C1 car 329 at WRM
9/16/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: 50 years of Transbay Service - A car #227
9/11/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Western Railway Museum: 2 Car BART Train
9/11/24 Updated B2 Cars (1834 arrived at Western Railway Museum)
9/2/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: BART behind the Iron Curtain: BART's Influence on Bucharest, Romania
8/14/24 Video Uploaded: A Matter of Pride: Full Move of A car 1164 from BART Shop to Western Railway Museum
8/10/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Welcome home, BART A car 1164 (Full essay to follow in September)
7/22/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: BART Legacy Fleet Train Operator Consoles for Sale
7/4/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Happy 4th of July - BART's 1976 Bicentennial Celebration
6/28/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: WRM: Wide Gauge Rail for BART Legacy Fleet
6/19/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: 60 Years since Ground Breaking of the BART system (6/19/1964)
6/17/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Wide gauge dollies at Western Railway Museum
6/16/24 Updated D cars (3300s now being delivered)
6/16/24 Updated E cars (4400s Pictures)
5/26/24 Updated A2 Cars (6 cars found new lives, 53 scrapped)
5/26/24 Updated B2 Cars (2 cars found new lives, 378 scrapped)
5/26/24 Updated All A2 Cars (Listed 6 cars with new uses, updated scrapped cars)
5/25/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Two Bagger, 1972
5/22/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Final Car to be Decommissioned (Scrapped) - A2 car #1235
5/11/24 Updated All A2 Cars Added [some] more A2 cars scrapped
5/11/24 Updated home page - About 100 number plate photo requests
5/9/24 BARTchives + Model Railroad mentioned by BART!
5/6/24 Updated D cars (3291, 3292 Pictures)
5/6/24 Updated Home Page (329 and 3292, lineup of cars pictures)
4/28/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Future San Leandro Station
4/28/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Building Hayward Yard - Part 1
4/25/24 Updated: Final Run of the Legacy Fleet (Added pics from BART)
4/25/24 New Article on the Two Bagger: Legacy Fleet - Resting after 52 years of service
4/21/24 New Article: Final Run of the Legacy Fleet
4/21/24 Updated Builder's Plates (Rohr A car cab door)
4/21/24 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - 13 of 59 A cars left, more pictures)
4/21/24 Updated B2 Cars (B2 Scrapping - 22 of 380 B cars left)
4/19/24 See you tomorrow - Final Run of the Legacy Fleet
4/19/24 Updated A2 Cars (13 cars left)
4/19/24 Updated B2 Cars (22 cars left)
3/27/24 Updated C1 cars (Added C1 car construction pictures)
3/11/24 Updated homepage: Final Run of the Legacy Fleet on 4/20/2024
3/7/24 Updated D cars (3004, 3200s Pictures)
3/7/24 Updated E cars (4300s, 4400s Pictures)
3/4/24 Effective today: All trains in scheduled service and ready reserve (backup) are Fleet of the Future. No legacy trains will enter service. There will be one final event for the legacy fleet in the coming months.
2/21/24 Added Page: KE (Express) Track - AKA the C3 track
2/16/24 Updated All A2 Cars (Pictures of 1195, 1203)
2/16/24 Updated C2 Cars (Lineup of C2 cars on Transfer Tracks)
1/14/24 Updated A Line (San Leandro aerial construction)
1/14/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Civic Center, c. 1980s
1/14/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: BART Aerial Structure Construction: T-Piers at San Leandro, 1960s
1/3/24 Updated D cars (Pictures, Misc. Details)
1/3/24 Updated E cars (Pictures, Misc. Details)
1/3/24 Updated All A2 Cars (1272)
1/3/24 Updated A2 Cars (misc details)
1/1/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Today's Derailment near C25 Interlocking
12/26/23 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Car of the Day (12/26): 1226
12/25/23 Merry Christmas
12/24/23 Reminder Number Plate Owners: Pictures might be Available for your car!
12/18/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - Around 20 of 59 A cars left)
12/18/23 Updated B2 Cars (B2 Scrapping - Around 50 of 380 B cars left)
12/18/23 Updated A2 Cars (misc details)
12/12/23 Added Article to the Two Bagger: A car 164 (later 1164) back in the early days
12/11/23 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Alpha and Omega of the ex-original B cars - 1501 and 1774
12/9/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - approx 30/59 A cars left...we're halfway there....)
11/17/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - 1228, 1263)
11/16/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - 1265)
11/15/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - 1223, 1243)
11/7/23 Video Version of Legacy Fleet: The Story of BART's Old Cars
11/7/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping)
11/5/23 Added Article to the Two Bagger: 50 years of San Francisco Service
11/2/23 Added Article to the Two Bagger: BART's First Five Car Train (1970-1971)
11/2/23 Updated A cars (Picture of Prototype car 101 at Union City)
10/28/23 Updated A2 Cars (misc details)
10/27/23 Updated All A2 Cars (1252, 1261, 1210 scrapped 10/23)
10/24/23 Updated All A2 Cars (1226, 1262 scrapped 10/23)
10/20/23 Added Article to The Two Bagger: A Car Scrappings Resume
10/20/23 Updated All A2 Cars (1218, 1233, 1258, 1270 scrapped 10/23)
10/20/23 Updated B2 Cars (Updated to match all B2 cars since scrapped, misc details)
10/20/23 Updated D cars (Cover picture, car by car details sections added)
10/20/23 Updated E cars (Cover picture, car by car details sections added)
10/14/23 Reserve a copy of the BART Legacy Fleet Book!
10/14/23 Updated All A2 Cars (Pics of 1258, 1259)
10/13/23 Updated All A2 Cars (Pics of 1270, 1272. 1270 scrapped and 1272 notes)
10/1/23 Added article to the Two Bagger: Number Plate - B2 car 1809 (A car 237, B car 809)
10/1/23 Reminder Number Plate Owners: Pictures might be Available for your car!
9/23/23 Updated A cars (Page format, slide of A car 127)
9/23/23 Updated B cars (Slide of B car 662, page format)
9/16/23 Added article to the Two Bagger: The Original Interior of the A/B Cars (1970s)
9/16/23 Added article to the Two Bagger: Pictures: Final Weekday of Legacy Fleet Scheduled Service (Part II)
9/16/23 Updated A cars (pictures of interior)
9/16/23 Updated: A History of the Legacy Fleet (pictures of interior)
9/16/23 Updated D cars
9/16/23 Updated E cars
9/11/23 Happy 51st Anniversary of Day 1 - BART's Opening Day
9/11/23 Added Page: END OF AN ERA: FINAL LEGACY TRAIN IN SCHEDULED SERVICE (9/10/2023)
Prior site updates are listed here.
Website may be quiet but progress is steady: Currently working on the book and preservation of the actual Legacy Fleet.
12/10/24 Updated page: Legacy Fleet at Western Railway Museum (Misc Details)
12/8/24 Updated: How it's Made: BART Fleet of the Future (Ohio pics, Pittsburg CA site closed)
11/10/24 Added page: Legacy Fleet at Western Railway Museum
11/7/24 Updated Legacy Fleet: Life After BART (1759 Shake Testing details)
10/23/24 Updated A cars (A car 181 at Concord picture)
10/23/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: BART Trains Testing at 100 mph+
10/11/24 Added Legacy Fleet: Life After BART (Scrapping, Preservation, and Projects)
10/11/24 Updated D cars (3300s details)
10/11/24 Updated E cars (Expansion order car numbers, pictures of 4400s, 4500s)
10/6/24 Updated C2 Cars (Misc Details)
10/6/24 Updated C1 Cars (329 delivered to WRM, Misc details)
10/4/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Chopper Car Finds New Home: C1 car 329 at WRM
9/16/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: 50 years of Transbay Service - A car #227
9/11/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Western Railway Museum: 2 Car BART Train
9/11/24 Updated B2 Cars (1834 arrived at Western Railway Museum)
9/2/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: BART behind the Iron Curtain: BART's Influence on Bucharest, Romania
8/14/24 Video Uploaded: A Matter of Pride: Full Move of A car 1164 from BART Shop to Western Railway Museum
8/10/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Welcome home, BART A car 1164 (Full essay to follow in September)
7/22/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: BART Legacy Fleet Train Operator Consoles for Sale
7/4/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Happy 4th of July - BART's 1976 Bicentennial Celebration
6/28/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: WRM: Wide Gauge Rail for BART Legacy Fleet
6/19/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: 60 Years since Ground Breaking of the BART system (6/19/1964)
6/17/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Wide gauge dollies at Western Railway Museum
6/16/24 Updated D cars (3300s now being delivered)
6/16/24 Updated E cars (4400s Pictures)
5/26/24 Updated A2 Cars (6 cars found new lives, 53 scrapped)
5/26/24 Updated B2 Cars (2 cars found new lives, 378 scrapped)
5/26/24 Updated All A2 Cars (Listed 6 cars with new uses, updated scrapped cars)
5/25/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Two Bagger, 1972
5/22/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Final Car to be Decommissioned (Scrapped) - A2 car #1235
5/11/24 Updated All A2 Cars Added [some] more A2 cars scrapped
5/11/24 Updated home page - About 100 number plate photo requests
5/9/24 BARTchives + Model Railroad mentioned by BART!
5/6/24 Updated D cars (3291, 3292 Pictures)
5/6/24 Updated Home Page (329 and 3292, lineup of cars pictures)
4/28/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Future San Leandro Station
4/28/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Building Hayward Yard - Part 1
4/25/24 Updated: Final Run of the Legacy Fleet (Added pics from BART)
4/25/24 New Article on the Two Bagger: Legacy Fleet - Resting after 52 years of service
4/21/24 New Article: Final Run of the Legacy Fleet
4/21/24 Updated Builder's Plates (Rohr A car cab door)
4/21/24 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - 13 of 59 A cars left, more pictures)
4/21/24 Updated B2 Cars (B2 Scrapping - 22 of 380 B cars left)
4/19/24 See you tomorrow - Final Run of the Legacy Fleet
4/19/24 Updated A2 Cars (13 cars left)
4/19/24 Updated B2 Cars (22 cars left)
3/27/24 Updated C1 cars (Added C1 car construction pictures)
3/11/24 Updated homepage: Final Run of the Legacy Fleet on 4/20/2024
3/7/24 Updated D cars (3004, 3200s Pictures)
3/7/24 Updated E cars (4300s, 4400s Pictures)
3/4/24 Effective today: All trains in scheduled service and ready reserve (backup) are Fleet of the Future. No legacy trains will enter service. There will be one final event for the legacy fleet in the coming months.
2/21/24 Added Page: KE (Express) Track - AKA the C3 track
2/16/24 Updated All A2 Cars (Pictures of 1195, 1203)
2/16/24 Updated C2 Cars (Lineup of C2 cars on Transfer Tracks)
1/14/24 Updated A Line (San Leandro aerial construction)
1/14/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Civic Center, c. 1980s
1/14/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: BART Aerial Structure Construction: T-Piers at San Leandro, 1960s
1/3/24 Updated D cars (Pictures, Misc. Details)
1/3/24 Updated E cars (Pictures, Misc. Details)
1/3/24 Updated All A2 Cars (1272)
1/3/24 Updated A2 Cars (misc details)
1/1/24 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Today's Derailment near C25 Interlocking
12/26/23 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Car of the Day (12/26): 1226
12/25/23 Merry Christmas
12/24/23 Reminder Number Plate Owners: Pictures might be Available for your car!
12/18/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - Around 20 of 59 A cars left)
12/18/23 Updated B2 Cars (B2 Scrapping - Around 50 of 380 B cars left)
12/18/23 Updated A2 Cars (misc details)
12/12/23 Added Article to the Two Bagger: A car 164 (later 1164) back in the early days
12/11/23 Added Article to the Two Bagger: Alpha and Omega of the ex-original B cars - 1501 and 1774
12/9/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - approx 30/59 A cars left...we're halfway there....)
11/17/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - 1228, 1263)
11/16/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - 1265)
11/15/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping - 1223, 1243)
11/7/23 Video Version of Legacy Fleet: The Story of BART's Old Cars
11/7/23 Updated All A2 Cars (A2 Scrapping)
11/5/23 Added Article to the Two Bagger: 50 years of San Francisco Service
11/2/23 Added Article to the Two Bagger: BART's First Five Car Train (1970-1971)
11/2/23 Updated A cars (Picture of Prototype car 101 at Union City)
10/28/23 Updated A2 Cars (misc details)
10/27/23 Updated All A2 Cars (1252, 1261, 1210 scrapped 10/23)
10/24/23 Updated All A2 Cars (1226, 1262 scrapped 10/23)
10/20/23 Added Article to The Two Bagger: A Car Scrappings Resume
10/20/23 Updated All A2 Cars (1218, 1233, 1258, 1270 scrapped 10/23)
10/20/23 Updated B2 Cars (Updated to match all B2 cars since scrapped, misc details)
10/20/23 Updated D cars (Cover picture, car by car details sections added)
10/20/23 Updated E cars (Cover picture, car by car details sections added)
10/14/23 Reserve a copy of the BART Legacy Fleet Book!
10/14/23 Updated All A2 Cars (Pics of 1258, 1259)
10/13/23 Updated All A2 Cars (Pics of 1270, 1272. 1270 scrapped and 1272 notes)
10/1/23 Added article to the Two Bagger: Number Plate - B2 car 1809 (A car 237, B car 809)
10/1/23 Reminder Number Plate Owners: Pictures might be Available for your car!
9/23/23 Updated A cars (Page format, slide of A car 127)
9/23/23 Updated B cars (Slide of B car 662, page format)
9/16/23 Added article to the Two Bagger: The Original Interior of the A/B Cars (1970s)
9/16/23 Added article to the Two Bagger: Pictures: Final Weekday of Legacy Fleet Scheduled Service (Part II)
9/16/23 Updated A cars (pictures of interior)
9/16/23 Updated: A History of the Legacy Fleet (pictures of interior)
9/16/23 Updated D cars
9/16/23 Updated E cars
9/11/23 Happy 51st Anniversary of Day 1 - BART's Opening Day
9/11/23 Added Page: END OF AN ERA: FINAL LEGACY TRAIN IN SCHEDULED SERVICE (9/10/2023)
Prior site updates are listed here.
BART in brief: “BART had gone too far, the critics, said, and history proved their argument was partially correct. Others argued that BART had to plow fresh ground because the industry was stagnant, and they were also partially correct.”
“Every six minutes on weekdays, a silvery, fully-automatic rapid transit train speeds at 70 mph through the Transbay Tube of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system. Electric traction of the Key System...characteristics could not survive. But, BART is running. The Technology will survive. And, someday, someone will write nostalgically about those slant-nosed electric trains that replaced the busses that had replaced the trains on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.” – Harre W. Demoro (1939-1993), Pacific News, March 1978
The BARTchives is a nationally recognized website on the history of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, with a focus on the legacy fleet. Contributions are welcome - please see the About page.
No portion of this website was written or produced using A.I. technology.
No portion of this website was written or produced using A.I. technology.
