A Car to B Car Conversion
Private Collection.
First Round of Conversions: 1978-1982
The early BART revenue fleet orders from Rohr totaled 450 cars. They consisted of 176 A cars (cab) and 274 B (midtrain) cars. This was a rather high ratio of A cars to B cars, and time would tell that more B cars would be needed.
Towards the latter half of the 1970s, it was determined that an additional 35 B cars would be needed for the increased service, including Saturdays and Sundays. Where would BART get these B cars?
New cars would cost about 1 million dollars per, and entail a four year delivery process, As a result, an alternative was considered.
In 1978, work began on converting certain A cars (often with defective and damaged cabs) into B cars. This included the development of jigs to maintain structural integrity of the Y end (former cab end), and rewiring. The project was a success, and throughout BART history, 113 A cars (about 2/3 of the A car fleet) were converted into B cars.
The savings were enormous – the price per car ranged from $35,000 and $55,000, depending on the extent of previous damage.
Towards the latter half of the 1970s, it was determined that an additional 35 B cars would be needed for the increased service, including Saturdays and Sundays. Where would BART get these B cars?
New cars would cost about 1 million dollars per, and entail a four year delivery process, As a result, an alternative was considered.
In 1978, work began on converting certain A cars (often with defective and damaged cabs) into B cars. This included the development of jigs to maintain structural integrity of the Y end (former cab end), and rewiring. The project was a success, and throughout BART history, 113 A cars (about 2/3 of the A car fleet) were converted into B cars.
The savings were enormous – the price per car ranged from $35,000 and $55,000, depending on the extent of previous damage.
Converting car 133 into car 812. Private Collection.
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Private Collection.
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The first car, ex A car 147, renumbered into B car 801 (presently 1801), came online on May 6th, 1978, followed by the second convert, ex A car 137, renumbered into 802 (presently 1802) on September 29, 1978. A lack of material halted the conversion process in 1979, but conversions resumed in 1980 thought 1982. A total of 35 cars were planned and successfully converted.
Private Collection.
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Private Collection.
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A car 143, the famous Fremont Flyer, was reborn as car 826, the 26th off the conversion line. It runs as car 1826 today.
There is no relation between the former A car number and the 800 series B car number.
There is no relation between the former A car number and the 800 series B car number.
Second Round of Conversions, 1993
BART Times, Jan 1993
Western Railway Museum Collection
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As a footnote, two more A cars (191 and 246) were converted into 800 series B cars in 1993, by Delaware Car works. The 1.8 million dollar conversion and rebuilding process of these cars was used to determine the rebuilding process for the entire Rohr built fleet. See Rebuilding page for more details.
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Third Round of Conversions, During Midlife Rebuilding
A total of 76 A cars were converted into B cars (technically B2 cars) as part of this midlife rebuilding between 1998 and 2002. These direct converts + rebuilds are numbered 1837-1913.
The cars previously converted into B cars (801-837) were rebuilt into B2 cars (1801-1837).
Together, all 1800 and 1900 series B2 cars were originally built as A cars. Broadly speaking, they are no different from the rest of the B2 car fleet today, and an integral fraction of the BART fleet.
The cars previously converted into B cars (801-837) were rebuilt into B2 cars (1801-1837).
Together, all 1800 and 1900 series B2 cars were originally built as A cars. Broadly speaking, they are no different from the rest of the B2 car fleet today, and an integral fraction of the BART fleet.
Old cab, new cab. The former prototype car 107 (see the A car page) cab is preserved at the Western Railway Museum. BART/Adtranz photo.
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B2 Car 1906, a garden variety converted B2 car.
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Car Numbering Guide
Current B2 Car Number - Former B Car Number (if applicable) - Former A Car Number
===These cars below were built as A cars, converted into B cars, and rebuilt into B2 cars===
1801 - 801 - 147
1802 - 802 - 137
1803 - 803 - 109
1804 - 804 - 155
1805 - 805 - 183
1806 - 806 - 117
1807 - 807 - 139
1808 - 808 - 240
1809 - 809 - 237
1810 - 810 - 176
1811 - 811 - 159
1812 - 812 - 133
1813 - 813 - 154
1814 - 814 - 169
1815 - 815 - 126
1816 - 816 - 222
1817 - 817 - 166
1818 - 818 - 108
1819 - 819 - 193
1820 - 820 - 138
1821 - 821 - 101
1822 - 822 - 142
1823 - 823 - 146
1824 - 824 - 118
1825 - 825 - 224
1826 - 826 - 143
1827 - 827 - 216
1828 - 828 - 211
1829 - 829 - 123
1830 - 830 - 221
1831 - 831 - 215
1832 - 832 - 197
1833 - 833 - 131
1834 - 834 - 120
1835 - 835 - 178
1836 - 836 - 246
1837 - 837 - 191
===These cars below were directly converted and rebuilt (A to B2 cars)===
B2 car number - Original A car number
1838 - 122
1839 - 190
1840 - 112
1841 - 115
1842 - 104
1843 - 124
1844 - 119
1845 - 110
1846 - 125
1847 - 128
1848 - 111
1849 - 102
1850 - 209
1851 - 271
1852 - 106
1853 - 172
1854 - 113
1855 - 114
1856 - 116
1857 - 121
1858 - 127
1859 - 129
1860 - 130
1861 - 135
1862 - 132
1863 - 136
1864 - 140
1865 - 134
1866 - 141
1867 - 148
1868 - 144
1869 - 149
1870 - 151
1871 - 145
1872 - 150
1873 - 160
1874 - 165
1875 - 153
1876 - 157
1877 - 156
1878 - 161
1879 - 162
1880 - 163
1881 - 170
1882 - 175
1883 - 158
1884 - 217
1885 - 167
1886 - 168
1887 - 107
1888 - 182
1889 - 171
1890 - 186
1891 - 173
1892 - 185
1893 - 187
1894 - 174
1895 - 177
1896 - 179
1897 - 180
1898 - 188
1899 - 192
1900 - 199
1901 - 181
1902 - 189
1903 - 194
1904 - 202
1905 - 198
1906 - 200
1907 - 268
1908 - 213
1909 - 196
1910 - 201
1911 - 207
1912 - 273
1913 - 214
===These cars below were built as A cars, converted into B cars, and rebuilt into B2 cars===
1801 - 801 - 147
1802 - 802 - 137
1803 - 803 - 109
1804 - 804 - 155
1805 - 805 - 183
1806 - 806 - 117
1807 - 807 - 139
1808 - 808 - 240
1809 - 809 - 237
1810 - 810 - 176
1811 - 811 - 159
1812 - 812 - 133
1813 - 813 - 154
1814 - 814 - 169
1815 - 815 - 126
1816 - 816 - 222
1817 - 817 - 166
1818 - 818 - 108
1819 - 819 - 193
1820 - 820 - 138
1821 - 821 - 101
1822 - 822 - 142
1823 - 823 - 146
1824 - 824 - 118
1825 - 825 - 224
1826 - 826 - 143
1827 - 827 - 216
1828 - 828 - 211
1829 - 829 - 123
1830 - 830 - 221
1831 - 831 - 215
1832 - 832 - 197
1833 - 833 - 131
1834 - 834 - 120
1835 - 835 - 178
1836 - 836 - 246
1837 - 837 - 191
===These cars below were directly converted and rebuilt (A to B2 cars)===
B2 car number - Original A car number
1838 - 122
1839 - 190
1840 - 112
1841 - 115
1842 - 104
1843 - 124
1844 - 119
1845 - 110
1846 - 125
1847 - 128
1848 - 111
1849 - 102
1850 - 209
1851 - 271
1852 - 106
1853 - 172
1854 - 113
1855 - 114
1856 - 116
1857 - 121
1858 - 127
1859 - 129
1860 - 130
1861 - 135
1862 - 132
1863 - 136
1864 - 140
1865 - 134
1866 - 141
1867 - 148
1868 - 144
1869 - 149
1870 - 151
1871 - 145
1872 - 150
1873 - 160
1874 - 165
1875 - 153
1876 - 157
1877 - 156
1878 - 161
1879 - 162
1880 - 163
1881 - 170
1882 - 175
1883 - 158
1884 - 217
1885 - 167
1886 - 168
1887 - 107
1888 - 182
1889 - 171
1890 - 186
1891 - 173
1892 - 185
1893 - 187
1894 - 174
1895 - 177
1896 - 179
1897 - 180
1898 - 188
1899 - 192
1900 - 199
1901 - 181
1902 - 189
1903 - 194
1904 - 202
1905 - 198
1906 - 200
1907 - 268
1908 - 213
1909 - 196
1910 - 201
1911 - 207
1912 - 273
1913 - 214
Sources:
"Turning A's into B's a Success: The Saga of the Fremont Flyer: Epilogue." BARTalk, November 1981
Kristopans, Andre. "Modern Urban Rail Systems." October 2019
"Turning A's into B's a Success: The Saga of the Fremont Flyer: Epilogue." BARTalk, November 1981
Kristopans, Andre. "Modern Urban Rail Systems." October 2019
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