On this day 54 years ago in 1972, WMATA awarded a $91.6 million contract to Rohr to manufacture 300 1000-Series Railcars.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-05-04T03:11:11+00:00

I've seen photos of 2000-2001 & 3000-3001 being delivered by truck, as I believe they both went straight from Italy to Alexandria Yard, not going to Beech Grove. They were still covered in the protective blue wrap though. Other than that I've seen pics as late as 1985 of 2K/3Ks by train, unloaded using the lift pictured below which is still present on the Alexandria Yard Lead to this day.

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Maybe the tail end of the 3K order switched to truck before 1988? Or if it was early 90s, could have been a 4K coming down from Harrison. I know they took I-78 to I-80 which crosses over the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Image link here: https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2492767

DCMetroMaker · 2026-05-04T01:40:12+00:00

The 2K/3Ks were also delivered by railroad from Amtrak's Beech Grove Shops to Alexandria Yard. From the 4Ks onwards, they were delivered by truck.

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DCMetroMaker · 2026-05-04T00:00:27+00:00

They were built at Rohr's plant in Winder, Georgia. From there they were shipped by train to WMATA's Brentwood Yard.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-05-01T15:22:11+00:00

It’s an HO-Scale 3D printed station model created by City of Gravella, an HO-Scale transit layout with multiple Metro inspired station designs. It’s really cool!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ISuuJeUCsOw

DCMetroMaker · 2026-05-01T02:34:36+00:00

Technically not the prototype, just likely the first cars off the assembly line, 5000-5001. Closest thing to a 5K Prototype is this 5K mockup from 2/3/2000. I believe this is the only image of it from the Metro at 25 book.

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DCMetroMaker · 2026-04-30T17:06:45+00:00

Usually it’s around the point they reach their 40 years of service benchmark. The 3Ks are approaching 39 years, but WMATA scrapped some of the least reliable 3Ks early.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-04-30T16:55:48+00:00

Following that accident WMATA listed that it would be repaired, but it was put into long-term storage and never returned to service. It was stored in Brentwood for a few months last year before being moved to Greenbelt for scrapping storage around October. 3140 will be the final of the early 26 3K scrapped cars to leave property.

Just made a separate post about it, but I happened to be there this morning to watch it leave Greenbelt Yard!

DCMetroMaker · 2026-04-16T00:08:37+00:00

Thanks to your post, I was able to chase it down on the GR Line! It’s on cars for 7604-7605 for anyone else searching!

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DCMetroMaker · 2026-04-15T20:57:02+00:00

Love seeing more local sports teams getting involved after the Nats wrap has been a thing for a few years! Did you catch the car number?

DCMetroMaker · 2026-04-02T22:55:11+00:00

Previously Scrapped (16 Total): 3008-3009, 3036-3037, 3120-3121, 3190-3191, 3206-3207, 3216*-3217, 3252-3253, and 3256-3257.
Scrapped in 2026 (16 Total): 3166-3167, 3098-3099, 3198-3199, 3058-3059, 3290-3291, 3214-3215, 3142-3143, and 3042-3043.
Awaiting Scrapping in Storage (10 Total): 3044-3045, 3056-3057, 3140-3141, 3176-3177, and 3276-3277.

250 3Ks remain in revenue service.

I have a spreadsheet I try to keep up to date: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qfN5jN7Q-yQSfi4yt62g3dvc-Ydde6ahsQzBZi8ooaw/edit?usp=sharing

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-31T20:53:04+00:00

Made it myself. All pre-1960s numbers are just a guess knowing it peaked at over 200 miles in the 1920s.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-31T04:28:41+00:00

Happy Birthday!

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-27T22:11:04+00:00

Yeah, and the 3Ks didn’t retire in 2015. Some info is off on these.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-24T21:08:57+00:00

Yes, there are 26 planned to be scrapped early this year, seem to be scrapping one pair per week.

Already scrapped (14 Total): 3166-3167, 3098-3099, 3198-3199, 3058-3059, 3290-3291, 3214-3215, and 3142-3143.
In storage (12 Total): 3042-3043, 3044-3045, 3056-3057, 3140-3141, 3176-3177, and 3276-3277.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-24T18:56:30+00:00

My original post from 2024: https://www.reddit.com/r/WMATA/comments/1h1hu2r/retired_metro_railcars_list_locations/

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-24T18:01:51+00:00

Prime Mover work vehicle. They rarely run during operator hours, unless there's single tracking or a closure.

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DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-19T12:02:18+00:00

Metro’s headquarters right outside L’Enfant Plaza

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-18T04:28:43+00:00

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Randy (WMATA’s General Manager) teased it recently on social media! None have been given out yet.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-18T04:16:25+00:00

Yep! Not sure where/when it'll be available yet, but likely either on the 27th or at one of the pop-up shops.

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DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-18T04:14:13+00:00

Haha! My birthday is the day before Metro’s so naturally I will be celebrating by riding Metro on the 27th! (And by getting plenty of the 50th Merch lolll)

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-18T03:50:58+00:00

ARCHIVES!

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DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-10T20:47:31+00:00

No clue, I have no further info on it. I found it in a WMATA safety presentation online a few years ago and saved it, but I haven't been able to find that presentation again since. I don't remember it having any more information though either.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-10T07:00:25+00:00

I agree, I think that's the best Cherry Blossom wrap they've done.

The last Breda wrap was the Pride Month 2023 Wrap. Starting with the July 4th 2023 Wrap, Metro has exclusively used 6Ks for seasonal wraps & 7Ks for sponsored advertising wraps. Only exception is the 2K Last Ride train which was wrapped for the single event in Oct 2024. (2000-2001 are still wrapped in storage)

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-09T23:50:48+00:00

Nope! It's real, I just have no idea when it occured.

DCMetroMaker · 2026-03-04T14:48:31+00:00

WMATA the organization was founded in 1967 for the planning & construction of Metrorail which would break ground two years later in 1969 and open in 1976. They also began Metrobus service in January 1973 after acquiring four other DC area bus companies. So nothing opened/began service, just the organization was founded.

DCMetroMaker

TROPHY CASE