brakethrow

There's something in our NYC tap water. 😅 You don't hear of kids from other cities using the subway as their personal playground - at least not to this extent. 

Also, can dispatchers tell if a train has moved/what speed its going or only once it knocks down a signal? With how antique our system is, I always assumed the latter.

On 7/26/2023 at 10:35 AM, djtoro7 said:

I don't see these cars lasting on the rails of NYC. But we'll just have to wait and see.

I remember seeing similar comments when the 160s were entering service. Is this in reference to future maintenance of the cars or the actual tracks? I know the ride quality for our rails aren't the best but I never thought they could damage the trains similar to driving a car on shitty roads.

Sorry for what may seem like a dumb question but I thought trains were a lot tougher than that.

On 3/19/2023 at 6:12 PM, Kamen Rider said:

As I’ve been saying, a lot of the changes are “under the hood”/ “backstage/back of house”-ish stuff the riding public doesn’t get to see or interact with.

22 hours ago, engineerboy6561 said:

That makes a lot of sense; if you wouldn't mind I'd love a summary of what's different from your perspective, and whether you (or any of the other RTO folks on here) would consider this "another NTT" or the start of a third generation of train (after the SMEEs and Gen 1 NTTs).

I second this. I too am curious to know the major differences. 

From a train operator's perspective, how do they run? How's the braking and are they noticeably faster than the R160s and 179s?

All these videos of highschoolers riding on top of the (7) train has me wondering what is the protocol for when motormen see this on approach on the adjacent track?

4 hours ago, darkstar8983 said:

Probably because some stations have curves right at the start and ends of them, needing a slow acceleration to take the curves. Imagine the  train leaving Crescent St at high acceleration, or the      leaving City Hall and Cortlandt St to name a few 

But that's why there are three notches for power - switching, series, parallel. With parallel having the fastest acceleration. I believe most t/o's put the controller in series when pulling out of a station with an immediate approach of a track switch or curve.

On 11/1/2021 at 9:08 AM, darkstar8983 said:

The ENY R160s/R179s also do not look cosmetically good (and neither do Mosholu's R142/R142A's on the ). The latter cars do not look like they've EVER been washed.

For the longest I've been thinking, if a movie director ever needed a trainset to help cultivate a gritty NYC scene, they can just use an R142A off of the 4. 

On a different note, why is the acceleration for our cars only 2.5 mph? Subway trains in other cities (WMATA especially) seem to take off fast. 

Late night t/o had the R179 moving. Nothing but fast yet comfortable stops. The fast braking introduced me to a unique tune from the propulsion that I have never heard on any other trip with an R179.

Only video I was able to find which captures that 4-tone I'm referring to which can be heard from 0:19-0:22.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dMPnq6BoPA

Any feedback from those who got to operate these cars? How is the braking compared to the other NTTs?

I actually don't find the propulsion sound on these things all that great. Siemens still takes the cake IMO.

Is the acceleration on these any faster than the NTTs currently in service?

On 6/5/2021 at 6:29 PM, BMTKateMeltonLine said:

Do yu know what time?

*Not my photos* Original fb post and photographer here. Seems like railfans were out in full force yesterday. Anyone knows when the next set will be delivered? It's been years since I went out and photographed trains. Bought a mirrorless cam a few months back and it's pretty much collecting dust..

Original fb post and photographer here.

And what's up with the small ass windows??

Friday afternoon my n/b  train was stuck at Parkside for 20-30 mins due to fallen tree branches. Conductor announced that the t/o is working on removing them from the tracks. Not sure what the protocol is but If they're small enough to be removed by hand I can't imagine the t/o willingly sitting there until help arrives but then again based on what many have said here about management overplaying their power I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. 

Also, on occasion t/o's heading s/b at Brooklyn Bridge would head out the cab and go to the crew room. I wonder why. 

Is this true?

2 hours ago, R10 2952 said:

I think you're seriously underestimating just how big an aspect of the job dealing with petty supervisors and non-stop micromanagement can be; every acquaintance I had growing up who worked in NYCT said putting up with shitty bosses was at least 50% of the job.  No job can truly be enjoyable if the person directly overseeing you, his boss, and most layers of management above are rotten to the core, and will try to get you severely disciplined or even fired for the slightest or even perceived (i.e. nonexistent) infraction.

I've read many of the horror stories of crews having to deal with management but didn't know it was horrible to this extent.

Quote

You talk of job enjoyment, but the reality is that for the majority of us ordinary folks in this country, life is not about doing what you want to do, but doing what you have to do to not end up on the streets.

No mom and dad, had to get it on my own since the age of 15 - trust I'm well aware. Seeing as this is a job that many enthusiasts dream of doing I was simply curious. Just like the guy in the video below, I wondered if that's the case with most other operators. 

Management aside, do most train operators enjoy their job?

Despite different braking characteristics of different equipment, I can't help but feel that running up/down the same line multiple times a day gets boring real quick.

Are those newly added high voltage labels above the trucks of the 142s really necessary? Probably as useless as the arrows they placed at the doorways of the 160s years back.

Just gestured a m/m to blow the horn. Two blows followed and I felt like a little kid again. Lol some things you just never grow out of.

1 hour ago, Lawrence St said:

I still can not tell the difference between an R62 and an R62A, except for the dirt (cause 207th St never deep cleans the front of the R62A's).

I never cared enough to know the difference, same with the 68/68A.  Though I like how easy it is to distinguish an R142 from an R142A.142As have a more vivid appearance with darker contrast. 142s look washed out in comparison lol.

On a different note I'm loving the smooth rides/braking with the R179s on the A/C. When the R160s arrived more than a decade ago (damn time flew) I didn't think it could get any smoother. Now I wonder what the R211s have in store in terms of ride comfort.

1 hour ago, trainfan22 said:

They removed the bench on the N/B platform at Union Square on the Broadway line. Personally, I pissed about this cause I use to love sitting at that bench to wait for R68/A N/Q/W trains.

 

 

I hate when they remove benches in the system, it's more comfortable to wait for the train sitting down, especially in the summer.

Ugh.. please don't remind me of waiting underground for a train during the summer 😓

What an ugly train.. Possible propulsion doesn't sound appealing either. Is the power handle going to be in the middle or is there still a lack of consideration for the t/o's?

What bus model is 9510? Rode it the other night on the B12. Not a bus fan but this model stood out to me. The back doors open/close much faster than the traditional one's. Always hated that delay the traditional one's had when closing. I don't like how some of the seats on the left face towards the right though. 

What's with so many of these odd speed restrictions throughout the system? 13mph, 26mph, 17mph, etc, etc. Also how exactly do they determine speed limits in general?

3 hours ago, XcelsiorBoii4888 said:

aaaannnndddd that's all folks, the M9s now run like the M7s, just more soundproof and no rattling and squeezing like the M7s. 

 

I blame the LIRR with their brutal infrastructure, (aggressive switches and rough tracks) and something about their maintenance just gives me piecemeal, and I feel that's because of their operations in rotating cars all the time. You can have a shitty pair with a good pair, and this can vary across 4/6 different pairs on a consist, allowing you to feel everything and how they interact with each other. 

Tbh, I love these cars though, but everything featured on this train should've been a standard M7 spec, and the M9s should've been just additional trains (similar to the R179s) before a majority next generation fleet comes to replace the M7s.

How do they run like the M7s?

From my experience, they do actually make some subtle squealing which I think will eventually get just as bad as the M7s. I was a little disappointed when hearing it.

I think they're alright. Interior lighting is a bit too strong and the colors gives me hospital vibes.

I wonder what the turnover rate for bus drivers are. Whenever I encounter a new and semi enthusiastic driver, I wonder how quickly that enthusiasm will die down. Having to deal with the unappreaciative/disrespectful public and these clown drivers on the road must be beyond stressful.

R62 on the 4..but why?