VIDEO: W4 Interlocking Supervisory Tower, Relay Room, CBTC installation and explanation.

[itmaybeokay]

 

This is a real gem. Footage inside W4 tower, in the relay room, at flushing shops installing car equip. 

 

Enjoy. 

[QM1to6Ave]

Cool! How come the T/O on what looks like the L is still manipulating the throttle (or whatever it is called)? Isn't the point of CBTC that she doesn't have to do that?

[INDman]

When leaving a terminal, the T/O must perform a sensitive rolling test and a running brake test. This can only be done by operating the train the old fashioned way.  

[Snowblock]

The thing that this video fails to mention, and something that is getting a lot of criticism elsewhere, is that even though W4's interlocking is from 1940, it only has a couple more years before it gets replaced with a brand new master tower and there is ALREADY work going on to replace it. Futhermore, W4's interlocking still WORKS. Until the new tower opens, it is still getting the job done. It's not like we're STUCK with this ancient equipment. We've been rapidly replacing mechanical interlockings with new computerized and new technology. And not just on the lines with CBTC or ATS. This is a process which has been going on for quite some time now. The BMT and IRT started upgrading in the 1960s and are now completely replaced (the ONLY mechanical tower left is the lower level of 239 yard) and the IND should be completely done within the next 10 years.

[MHV9218]

The thing that this video fails to mention, and something that is getting a lot of criticism elsewhere, is that even though W4's interlocking is from 1940, it only has a couple more years before it gets replaced with a brand new master tower and there is ALREADY work going on to replace it. Futhermore, W4's interlocking still WORKS. Until the new tower opens, it is still getting the job done. It's not like we're STUCK with this ancient equipment. We've been rapidly replacing mechanical interlockings with new computerized and new technology. And not just on the lines with CBTC or ATS. This is a process which has been going on for quite some time now. The BMT and IRT started upgrading in the 1960s and are now completely replaced (the ONLY mechanical tower left is the lower level of 239 yard) and the IND should be completely done within the next 10 years.

 

You're totally right, but I don't think this is a 'failure to mention,' if you will--this is a pretty intentional point they've skipped, because this video has a very specific job. Propaganda is a pretty negative term, but that's essentially what this is: show a shockingly old part of the system without much context, drum up support for the MTA, lean on civic and state leaders for funding. And for that, the video has worked pretty well--it's getting a lot of traffic, especially among the government circles. And if it can actually help convince some out-of-touch pols that the system needs more funding, then it's done a good job. So I support the video, even with its semi-inaccuracies, because the goal is a good one.

[itmaybeokay]

The thing that this video fails to mention, and something that is getting a lot of criticism elsewhere, is that even though W4's interlocking is from 1940, it only has a couple more years before it gets replaced with a brand new master tower and there is ALREADY work going on to replace it. Futhermore, W4's interlocking still WORKS. Until the new tower opens, it is still getting the job done. It's not like we're STUCK with this ancient equipment. We've been rapidly replacing mechanical interlockings with new computerized and new technology. And not just on the lines with CBTC or ATS. This is a process which has been going on for quite some time now. The BMT and IRT started upgrading in the 1960s and are now completely replaced (the ONLY mechanical tower left is the lower level of 239 yard) and the IND should be completely done within the next 10 years.

 

The video was picked up by the likes of gizmodo, and gothamist, and digg - who all in their short write ups make it sound like this is the norm rather than the exception. Headlines like "The subway still runs on 100 year old technology" are more inaccurate than the video itself. 

 

Also, if we want to be technical about it you can say the subway runs on 200 year old technology, since the core concept of a railroad is largely unchanged. I mean, you can say modern aircraft "run on" 100 year old technology since they use airfoils. 

 

I think a lot of the uninformed who are watching this think that this is the main control room for the whole subway, or that they all look like this. 

 

Sure, the video is a bit of propaganda - but with good cause, and also delightfully informative. (Although, as a video producer by trade, I take issue with the sound editing. but that's for another forum). 

 

Honestly I've wanted to get a peek inside W4 tower since I heard that it still has the original interlocking gear and this is probably the best view I'll ever get unless I press my nose against the glass or something.