Legacy Fleet Life After BART: Scapping AND Second Life for Some Cars
Of the 669 BART legacy cars, 10 cars found new uses. This page outlines the uses all 659 scrapped and 10 non-scrapped cars.
Images from Scraper Bike, Sierra Train House, Metrobar, and Western Railway Museum
Scrapping (659/669 cars)
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The legacy fleet was built with a timeframe of around 20-30 years of service life for the cars. These cars fulfilled that duty and with the Fleet of the Future as their direct replacement, the next logical step was to remove these cars from the property. With such age of the cars, there was no legal restriction or funds required to be paid back to the federal government – the useful life of the cars had passed and depreciation made their value far less than 1% of their as-built cost. Beyond their useful life, 10 of these cars found great uses such as preservation and rental homes, and the remaining 659 found a far more utilitarian use – scrap metal.
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It was very important to identify and decommission the right cars at the right time. Decommissioning too few cars would result in jam-packed yards, while too many cars would result in impacts to revenue service. It was a careful balance across many variables through these final years.
Once identified for decommissioning, the car was taken from the yard and moved into the shop. For almost all the cars, the decommissioning process took place at Hayward Shop. Shops harvested serviceable parts that were able to be reused on other cars. This process, called cannibalization, included a wide range of parts including traction motors, axles, wheels, HVACs, couplers, battery cables, seats, windows, doors, and more – a was a wide range of parts taken out, reflecting the needs at the time. Being careful stewards of the environment, hazmat materials were always removed from the cars too (such as hydraulic fluid used for brakes, Freon used in the HVAC, and the car's 36 volt battery). With the trucks removed, the car was trucked over to the scrapyard.
Scrapping/Decommission Dates:
First car decommissioned: C2 Car 2528, November 2019
First B2 car decommissioned: 1770, January 2020
First C1 car decommissioned: 321, January 2020
First A2 car decommissioned (bad car): 1208, August 2020
Last C2 car decommissioned: 2558, August 2021
Last C1 car decommissioned: 311, June 2023
First A2 car decommissioned (non-wreck/bad actor): 1233, October 2023
Last A2 car decommissioned: 1235, May 2024
Last B2 car decommissioned: 1587, May 2024
The final BART legacy cars to reach end-of-life decommissioning were a group of 5 cars on the week of May 20, 2024 – one month after the final run. The last car BART Legacy Car to be decommissioned and sent to the scrapyard was #1235 on May 21, 2024.
First car decommissioned: C2 Car 2528, November 2019
First B2 car decommissioned: 1770, January 2020
First C1 car decommissioned: 321, January 2020
First A2 car decommissioned (bad car): 1208, August 2020
Last C2 car decommissioned: 2558, August 2021
Last C1 car decommissioned: 311, June 2023
First A2 car decommissioned (non-wreck/bad actor): 1233, October 2023
Last A2 car decommissioned: 1235, May 2024
Last B2 car decommissioned: 1587, May 2024
The final BART legacy cars to reach end-of-life decommissioning were a group of 5 cars on the week of May 20, 2024 – one month after the final run. The last car BART Legacy Car to be decommissioned and sent to the scrapyard was #1235 on May 21, 2024.
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The cars were cut up into small chunks by an excavator with hydraulic shears, turning the cars into feedstock for the shredder. Once the shears cut up the car, a material handler with a grapple stacked the pieces into a pile. This pile was then fed into a conveyer belt feeding the shredder. Schnitzer used a 9,000 hp mega-shredder manufactured by Riverside Engineering. Shredders are regarded as the “heartbeat” of the yard, setting the pace for both incoming feedstock and outbound products.
Image source: https://dtsc.ca.gov/metal-shredders/
The output of the shredder was fist-sized aggregate, composed of ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and residue which is chemically treated (named CTMSR – Chemically Treated Metal Shredder Residue). CTMSR can include seat cushion material. Of an estimated annual 582,000 tons of aggregate, approximately 195,000 tons (33%) was disposed as CTMSR.
The metal aggregate was then separated into ferrous metal and non-ferrous metal, which in turn was separated into non-ferrous metals and CTMSR.
Each BART car produced about 22 tons of metal – 15 tons of steel, 6 tons of aluminum, and 1 ton of copper.
The metal aggregate was then separated into ferrous metal and non-ferrous metal, which in turn was separated into non-ferrous metals and CTMSR.
Each BART car produced about 22 tons of metal – 15 tons of steel, 6 tons of aluminum, and 1 ton of copper.
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These four images above and below: Source: BART.
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The metal was loaded onto ocean-going ships, headed to mills in Pacific Rim Countries. The countries included South Korea, Bangladesh, Singapore, India, and Vietnam.
For example, the Nemrut Bay took presumably steel to Gwangyang, which is known for the POSCO Gwangyang Steel Works – the largest steelworks in the world. POSCO created a range of steel parts for use by other firms in creation of finished products.
For aluminum, Aluminum companies in Vietna noted a wide range of uses for aluminum, including the following:
From there these metals may be used to make new appliances, automobiles, and electronics. Perhaps one day, we will run into what was once the carbody of a BART car, in a new form.
For example, the Nemrut Bay took presumably steel to Gwangyang, which is known for the POSCO Gwangyang Steel Works – the largest steelworks in the world. POSCO created a range of steel parts for use by other firms in creation of finished products.
For aluminum, Aluminum companies in Vietna noted a wide range of uses for aluminum, including the following:
- Industrial aluminum
- LED Lights
- Railing
- Solar panels
- Heat sinks
- Aluminum for construction
- Doors
- Windows
- Aluminum furniture
- Medical products
- Transportation
- Aerospace
- Aviation
- Automotive
- Electronics
- Recreation/sports
From there these metals may be used to make new appliances, automobiles, and electronics. Perhaps one day, we will run into what was once the carbody of a BART car, in a new form.
Other Uses - Life after BART - (10/669 Cars)
The Legacy Fleet was aptly named. No other rapid transit system in the world used aluminum bodied cars for frontline service for over 50 continuous years, and, arguably, no other rapid transit cars represented such a forward-looking concept of post-WWII public transportation.
As can be seen by this text, they lived long and illustrious lives. It was only fitting that a few select cars lived on, in one form or another. Or as written on the BART website:
As BART’s railcars have a tremendous sentimental value with passengers in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, an upcoming opportunity will soon be available for the public to submit proposals to give these cars a second life.
Not every BART legacy car was scrapped – a few found alternative uses, and three cars were specially selected to be to be forever preserved – virtually as operable as they last rolled in service, alongside many historical artifacts from the Legacy Fleet and the from BART system of yesteryear.
Specifically, 10 cars found new lives outside of BART. The remaining 659 legacy cars were scrapped from 2019 to 2024. The final car to be sent to the scrapyard as part of the decommissioning project was car 1235 in May 2024.
The following cars were selected for projects outside of BART. Each car and project is detailed below:
As can be seen by this text, they lived long and illustrious lives. It was only fitting that a few select cars lived on, in one form or another. Or as written on the BART website:
As BART’s railcars have a tremendous sentimental value with passengers in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, an upcoming opportunity will soon be available for the public to submit proposals to give these cars a second life.
Not every BART legacy car was scrapped – a few found alternative uses, and three cars were specially selected to be to be forever preserved – virtually as operable as they last rolled in service, alongside many historical artifacts from the Legacy Fleet and the from BART system of yesteryear.
Specifically, 10 cars found new lives outside of BART. The remaining 659 legacy cars were scrapped from 2019 to 2024. The final car to be sent to the scrapyard as part of the decommissioning project was car 1235 in May 2024.
The following cars were selected for projects outside of BART. Each car and project is detailed below:
A Cars
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1164 - To Western Railway Museum, for preservation, delivered August 9, 2024.
Historical Notes: Former test/engineering car c. 1970s, 1990-1992. Slated to be clearance car for SFO extention start 2/2002. 1 of 4 last original A cars (final 22 A/B cars pre rehab, 4/29/2002) The only BART A car preserved. |
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1203 - Arthur Mac’s Tap & Snack
Car to be delivered at a future date. From BART: A mainstay for pizza, hot wings, and beer in Oakland, Arthur Mac’s Tap & Snack plans to expand – by adding a BART car to its retinue in downtown Hayward. The restaurant wants to see the legacy car used purely for fun – it will transform the car into a “retro videogame arcade and kids play area,” as well as extra seating for weatherproof dining. Arthur Mac’s – an anagram in tribute of the MacArthur BART Station – said its vision for the legacy car “is to create a time capsule that transports our customers and community members beyond the confines of time and space.” Historical Notes: Final run of legacy fleet 4/20/24 |
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1212 - To Original Scraper Bike Team
Car to be delivered at a future date. From BART: The Original Scraper Bike Team works to enrich and empower urban youth in East Oakland by offering bicycle skill training, mentorship programs, and by encouraging creativity and art. The organization was awarded a legacy BART car that will be divided into two sections: One half will serve as a bike shop, which will provide free bike repairs and help children learn to build and decorate their own Scraper bike; the other half will be a clubhouse for community events and Scraper Bike Teams’ mentorship program. The car will be decorated with murals by local artists. Historical Notes: Lead car, first train in ATO in the Transbay Tube 8/10/73. Final run of legacy fleet 4/20/24 |
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1234 - To Sierra Train House
Car to be delivered at a future date. From BART: A partnership of private residents will transform a legacy car into a “metaphoric train station that blends the space age-modern esthetics of BART and a cozy cabin” in a Gold Rush-era town in the Sierra Foothills. The structure will be constructed as green as possible, with a solar panel roof, a gray water system and passive cooling, the partnership said. The owners hope to see the house last upwards of 100 years. |
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1253 - To a local sports team
Car to be delivered at a future date. |
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1260 - To Metrobar/Hospitality in Transit
Car to be delivered at a future date. From BART: The BART puns don’t stop there. Hospitality in Transit, the purveyors of “metrobar” – built from an old Metro car in Washington D.C. – intend to bring a similar concept to the Bay Area with “BARTbar.” To be placed at a yet-to-be-decided location, the primarily outdoor venue will serve as a coworking space, café and meeting place during the day and transition to a beverage-slinging joint by night. “We hope BARTbar will bring people together through local drinks, food, art, and culture,” the partners of Hospitality in Transit said. “We’re committed to being a space that supports and uplifts Bay Area creators and communities." Historical Notes: Final run of legacy fleet 4/20/24 |
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B Cars
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1834 - To Western Railway Museum. Delivered to WRM and preserved effective September 11, 2024
Historical Notes: Nixon car. Final run of legacy fleet 4/20/24 The only BART B car preserved. |
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1759 - BART Earthquake Shake Test Car, delivered to test site in August 2024.
Historical Notes: Final run of legacy fleet 4/20/24 |
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C Cars
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323 - To Hayward Fire Department, delivered December 2022
From BART: A legacy BART car may soon help save lives. That’s the plan for the Hayward Fire Department, who intend to repurpose their car as a training “prop” to provide “station familiarization, vehicle rescue simulations and safety of the track and third rail system.” The department plans to keep its car “for many years” and noted that they will provide continuous maintenance and repairs. This car was stripped of non-essential equipment due to weight considerations on the mock aerial. |
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329 - To Western Railway Museum
Delivered at preserved at the Western Railway Museum effective October 10, 2024. Final complete C car, and final BART car with complete chopper control. The only BART C car preserved. |
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Last Updated: 10/11/2024
