Railfan 007

Its been a while since I have rode the buses, but I got this transfer combo on an Eastbound B82 SBS that was hilarious:

To be fair, comparing any fleet to the R62s is quite foolish, as the most of the R62s are in some yard at night (except for a few sets doing the late night run the ), which is why they have a high MDBF.

Even though it's been here for over a month now, it needs a wash more than some of the current sets on the C, which is weird. In other news, some folks that love tagging trains in ENY made their way over to the C...

3287-3296 is running in revenue service. Couldn't take a photo, however it is currently running to Lefferts Blvd.

From my travels today: 3238-3247 is coupled with 3238 and 3247 in the middle of the train, probably going through the same testing 3010-3019 did, but running in service Also, I caught 3253-3257 testing on the flats. Its possible 3248-3252 has moved on to simulated stop testing, no clue as I didn't see it

This is why I try to refrain from making idea about where equipment will go, and if I do, at least give multiple options of where equipment will go, as what might make the most sense in terms of benefits/future plans may not be what the MTA will do AT ALL. Also, when you make an idea known to everyone, with or without reliable sources, once you have a little support, the few obsessive fans that read the forums will jump off 1 WTC with it and shout it from the rooftops. Making plans for where car equipment will go isn't a bad thing, as it promotes discussion. However, a healthy bit of skepticism needs to be kept until such ideas are acted upon, and that what some fans fail to do. ---- With the R179s coming in for the , would it be possible that the same or lower number of R46s would move to Jamaica or is it too soon to tell?

It seems like the R32 set that was running on the from Rockaway Park to Far Rockaway showed up to the test track after the weekend. Idk why, but here is a video of it:

Its not that I know better lol. I have learned a lot through studying system, reading committee meeting pdfs, (I skim them unless something catches my eye that I like. They are wild long lmao) and from touring the system as a hobby. You live, you learn, you grow. There is always more to learn, and we all have to be open minded to it. Not everything will be correct, but we have to learn to differentiate what makes sense and what doesn't, and why such things the MTA does/doesn't do are the way they are, and remember to add a mix of common sense. That's all lol. A thorough clean can change that. Like anything that needs maintenance to run optimally, over time it needs a bit of TLC. Hopefully the Deep Cleaning Program can encompass the entire fleet, and in the future, it gets rolled into the SMS program for subway cars. Plus, once the R211s come in, the R160s will be outdated lol. Are you going to dislike them then too? When the 68s were built, they were built for the needs of that time in the 1980s. They still serve them well today, just not as well as other cars (dwell times are higher with them compared to 60' cars). Still, they serve there purpose, and will continue to do so for the next 10-15 years. With the amount of signals you can see on the L from Broadway Junction to Livonia Av, I doubt its one big block. It also means there would need to be a 10 min gap in service, which I know is untrue, as I remember one day I got off at Canarsie Rockaway Pkwy and a 32 was pulling into Canarsie yard like it was running right behind. It only happened once, so I'm not sure, so someone who has inside knowledge would need to clarify further.

Did you read what I quoted? Seems like you missed what I quoted here is the piece I was referring to: This isn't the first time subwayfan1998 has said this, so please read the quotes to understand why I said what I said my post. Obviously. It's a SMEE, not an NTT train that can be equipped with CBTC equipment. Does the run on 8th Avenue between 59th St and Jay St? No they do not. Do the 68/As need to leave the then? No they do not, as they won't be affected by 8th Avenue CBTC. In case an issue happens on 6th Avenue, and s have no choice but to run via 8th Avenue, can they still run via 8th Avenue? Hell yes. A MAJOR misconception of CBTC is MTA is installing it in a way that prevents trains that are not CBTC-compatible from running. R179s have already visited Canarsie Yard for a wash, hell even 32/42s were a common sight to see heading to/from Canarsie Yard during off-peak for a wash, and they are not CBTC-equipped for the . The garbage train on the ? A set of 62As, and the entire line has CBTC active. So yes, 68/As should be able to run on 8th Avenue after CBTC has been installed and activated, especially during emergencies. Trains not equipped with CBTC still have to use the track anyways, whether they are revenue service trains or maintenance trains. Lastly, what is CTBC? For someone who quotes Communications-Based Train Control over and over again, and uses it as their evidence to support their point constantly, you would think you can spell the acronym correctly by now.

It isnt an R179 discussion, so moved here. The big idea floating around is the will lose their R160s to Jamaica Yard and receive R46s that are currently running on the because of Queens Blvd CBTC. However, my opinion is the R46s currently in Jamaica yard will stay there till the base order of R211s shows up, so nothing needs to be shuffled around. Why send R46s to CI to fill Jamaica with 160s, then move some 160s back after the base order arrives? That seems a bit excessive. In time between now and a little more than a year when the production R211s start showing up, we will all figure out the answer for this. Till then, its a guessing game.

10-car R160s ran on the due to a General Order, where the F couldn't make its way down to Coney Island, and the did instead, and borrowed sets from the for service. For regular, daily service, once the R211s come, it will be 8-car trains. Its up to the MTA if they will be 8-car R160s or R179s. The / ran R160s due to the reasons you explained. They needed extra service due to the march, and the cars had to come from somewhere lol. The Fast Forward plan (whenever it starts) doesn't bother the / for 10 years, so the R68s aren't going anywhere until it time to retire them. They may have some age to them, but they run just fine. Quit hating on them, its starting to get old. Why would the / lose R160s? Unless the swap between CI/Jamaica happens, its unlikely anything is moving out of Coney. One thing I have yet to understand is why everyone shuffles cars all over the place to yards that don't currently use them. What is wrong with a fleet sitting in its current yard till it retires, unless its for a line planned to have CBTC?

He quoted a post about in service sets. I doubt he meant "delivered" as in all on property (as that's what it actually means lol), he probably meant "delivered" as in running in service and completed testing. I could wrong though, so happy283 would need to explain 🤷‍♂️

spoke a little too soon lol. 3070-3073 is still testing afaik with 3146-3149 from ENY. After that passes, then it will be finished. 3238-3242 and 3243-3247 (both 5-car production sets) are both on MTA property, specifically Pitkin Yards. They should be hitting the test track sometime soon, that's if they haven't already.

Its not really an R179 discussion, so I quoted it here. Once QBL gets CBTC fully implemented, there wouldnt be a need for the to receive NTTs, as it doesnt run along QBL currently. However, the plan for the to receive NTTs was due to the shutdown, as the would have gotten 480' (8-car) trains for the / to deal with the boost in ridership. As of right now, there isnt any plans for the to get NTTs, but the assumption is when the R211s start arriving, the will be getting the 480' trains that currently running on the .

Where did the MTA say the will be getting R211s, and the Option order for the /? Link to the source please and thanks. Its not about where they are needed really, as MTA can shuffle the fleet however they like. However, when Option order #2 comes, it would make sense to send most of those trains to CI for an increased spare factor, as the base order and Option order #1 would mostly cover all the 32/42/46s that need to retired.

There are only 4 480' (8-car) R211 trains coming in Option 2. If it was 10 or more 8-car trains in the order, I would agree with you they would be heading to the . Im highly skeptical these 4-car R211s will make their way to ENY with the amount of trains ENY already has, and the minimal impact 4 R211 trains will make in the 's current fleet. The idea of ordering B cars to expand 480' (8-car) train to 600' (10-car) trains has been brought up time and time again. Until there is a contract/plan put forth by the MTA with a company for more B cars, let the idea die. Its not going to happen. So because the R143s are about to be 20 and have a low MDBF they should be kicked off the ? Really? While it is good to keep the fleet young for maintenance purposes, MTA isn't going to shuffle the fleet like this. Like I said, there are only 4 480' R211 trains. Not enough to make a dent in the fleet for the . The only lines that most likely will have 480' trains in the future are the /, , , and possibly the . ENY or CI will house the 4-car sets, however I see it being more likely that CI will hold them for service on the .

That's incorrect, as the original order was for 754 cars. 2 were scrapped before the GOH program, and 2 more were retired after the 125th St derailment in 2017. There are 750 cars. That's not a legit reason lol. If after the upgrades and tunnel repairs happen to the and the the line needs a boost in frequency, MTA most likely will convert some more 160s for the , as they are right there lol. When all the current R179s off the head to the , it will be barely enough to remove the current 68/68As off, unless some R179s out of ENY head to the also. So sending the 4-car R211s to the would help fully cover the line's fleet. A new Nassau-south Brooklyn route? Really? The Williamsburg Bridge is tight enough as it is with the // during rush, and you want to add another? 😐 Unless MTA is planning on sending the to Bay Ridge-95th or 9th Av during rush after the 4th Av express track repairs, I highly doubt they are going to move it from its current terminal at Broad St. It would be better to send the to Brooklyn than the , so that is probably what can happen with the extra R211 sets.

If Coney Island / Jamaica Yard swap doesn't happen by the time production cars roll in, there is no doubt R211s will be heading Jamaica. I also highly doubt CI will get R211s either, unless its the 4-car sets for service (in combo with the R179s coming from the for Crosstown CBTC). The base order should lead to all the R46s being pushed out of Jamaica yard and either retired outright from Jamaica (if they haven't been moved to CI yet), or to retire the R32/42s straight from Pitkin/207th (if the swap has happened). The base order and Option #1 is a total of 1,100 cars (Base order of 460, Option #1 of 640), which is 10 cars short of a train for train replacement of the 32/42/46s. R32 = 222 cars (22 600' trains) *rounded down R42 = 50 cars (5 600' trains) R46 = 750 cars (93 600" trains) *rounded down, actual is 93.75 trains Total = 120 600' trains, or 1,200 60' cars However, when Option #2 is exercised, it would produce enough cars to outright retire the 32/42/46s and 68As (IF MTA WANTS TO. Its highly likely they might want to boost their spare factor instead). There are 405 cars (40.5 600' trains) and 32 cars (4 480' trains), which would total 1,505 cars (150.5 600' trains) and 32 cars (4 480' trains). If MTA decides to retire the 68A instead, the B Division fleet age would be dramatically lowered, and that would be another reason for R211s to be in Coney Island besides the 4-car sets. IMO, the 4 car R211s shouldn't be on the , and instead some 4-car R160s could be converted for extra service, if the needs more cars. (Unless these 4-car sets are purposefully earmarked for the ) R68A =200 cars (25 600' trains) Total (including 32/42/46 and 68A) = 145 600' trains, or 1,450 60' cars I have a question about Option #2. The R143 order, R160 4-car order, and R179 4-car order are all odd number amount of 4-car sets (53 sets, 93 sets, and 47 sets respectively). Also every NTT 5-car order is an even number (R160 = 258, R179 = 26). Even the the base order and Option #1 are all even number of 5-car sets. Does anyone know why the 5-car sets turned into an odd amount of sets and 4-car sets into an even amount of sets for Option #2?

I would assume 3238-3242 would hit the test track sometime this week before 3243-3247 arrives. If next week 3248-3252 is spotted coming in, it finally means Bombardier is accelerating the delivery of cars and is starting to meet the 1 car per day production rate. Fingers crossed 🤞 I didn't see it Thursday, and the last time I saw it was early April. No clue where it could be, but since its now part of the fleet, it can show up at anytime, even overnight when no one is out. Another 5-car set is already here, with another incoming, so soon there will be 2 on the , it will be more common to find a 10-car set soon.