addition, the master controllers also had a tendency to short out more frequently relative to other classes, leading to high failure rates. Meanwhile, the Westinghouse-powered cars had resistors mounted in the open for slipstream cooling as had been the traditional means; this setup was found to be more reliable and was reused in newer cars up to the R22 order. In theory, both types of R16s could be run together, but in practice, this was found to be less than desirable, so cars would be segregated by electrical running gear to provide better fleet reliability. The R16s were also the heaviest 60-foot subway car built at the time, weighing in at some 85,000 pounds per car, until the 75-foot cars, which weighed around 89,000 pounds per car, eclipsed them. History The R16s were delivered between 1954 and 1955 in a kale green paint scheme and first placed into passenger service on January 10, 1955, on the BMT #15, (now ). Two cars #s 6318, and 6463 were painted gold for the golden jubilee celebration in 1955. R16s 6300–6349 were transferred to the in preparation for the opening of the former Long Island Rail Road's IND Rockaway Line on June 28, 1956, as the Transit Authority wished to use its newest equipment available for the line's inaugural. After the late 1950s, the cars were returned to the BMT Eastern Division and would remain there until the late 1960s and the early 1970s, when they were transferred to various lines throughout the system. During the 1970s, R16s could be found intermixed with other cars and in far away places from their previous running grounds. Photos of R16s in the Bronx or Queens show them both in complete consists as well as with other fleets. In 1968, many cars were repainted into a bright red scheme. The whole R16 fleet was given the new MTA corporate silver and blue scheme in 1970, and the cars kept that scheme until retirement. During the early 1970s, the R16s had their door motors replaced with door motors similar to those used by the R44s. As the replacement door motors were mounted in the walls rather than under the seats, distinctive sloping wall panels (unique to the R16s) appeared. In 1979, car 6429 was rebuilt with a new front end, large picture windows, and new doors; it was a prototype car for a complete rebuilding of the