M. Friday 1986

Greetings to all. I'm a member of these forums since early 2009. And while I am not as active as I used to be over the last couple of years or so, I'd like to take advantage of this time to express a few words. Aside from the issues that have been going on here as of late, and despite people moving towards social media platforms over the years, the people who DO care about this place deserve lots of credit. I certainly do thank them for all the hard work that they do put in and for the helpful information that they do provide to the masses. It was here on these forums where I was introduced to active participants in the community a few years ago. I've met some fantastic and very respectable friends here, many I still keep in contact with to this very day. I've come to meet some of these in person and it is exciting to get to meet like-minded people who share a common interest - people like realizm, MC CJ, Turbo19, Around the Horn, BM5 via Woodhaven, ScreechyFlange, lupojohn, pelhamlocal, and several others to name a few. I've seen some of these people evolve and grow in maturity over time and are now doing some amazing things for the transit community. Over time, I ended up branching out to other things and I am now taking part in a very active role in transit preservation, where I've been helping to restore equipment and helping a museum 90 miles north of New York City reemerge into a growing and more robust operation. If it weren't for those interactions here, I probably would not be where I am today, for it was here where it actually began. Should these forums re-emerge into something better and on a clean slate, let's ALL get together and help not only make it a better place, but let's take that lead and make the community a better place. Let's make this place not only one where we can share information with one another, but insights, contributions, projects. Let's bring about more invigorating and beneficial interactions and show the community that we are truly and surely united. One community. One unity. M.F.'86

The Redbirds at Unionport Yard were repainted to simply cover the graffiti. It wasn't a full repaint, it was only to cover all the tagged up areas on the affected cars.

Something from the New York Transit Museum's Facebook page: R142 6315, being prepped up for the 2000 World Series (the Subway Series) baseball games. Looks to be at the East 180th Street Shop. Note R26 car 7775, one-half of the remaining R26 pair still in existence. That pair's currently sitting at Concourse Yard in the Bronx.

Today while on a trip to the Transit Museum, I happened to be on the R44 subway car when I peered right into the cab window. I noticed they were using the cab as storage for a huge box of light tubes. But then on the operator's seat I saw something more interesting. There was a group of wires coming right out from an open upper panel above where the train operator would sit. This mess of wires came down and were then hooked up to what appeared to be two black boxes, resting on a blue cooler, which rested on the operator's seat. One of those two black boxes had a green light on. It appeared to me to be either a radio or a modem of some sort (I'm not sure what these are). These boxes were plugged into a power brick on the floor. That power brick was plugged into one of those thick orange extension cords that went up to the cab window facing the wall, going up along the wall, over the railcar, and then plugged into a support column. I have no idea what was going on in there. But I'm guessing they're trying to figure out a way to get the LCD signs working? I haven't been there in a while, but I also see that they figured out how to stop that annoying electric buzzing under-carriage sound. So any ideas what I was looking at? Thanks MF '86

No specific lines. They tested in and around 207th Street Yard, as per SubChat. The tests concluded mid-April.

Yup, it's true. In fact they tested the first three cars (8002-8004) a few weeks ago.

For those interested, the New York Transit Museum gave a sneak peak on the progress of restoration of the IND pump car. Check it out here: https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152167709723843&id=89895068842&set=a.190236633842.131481.89895068842&source=46&refid=13 If you also look carefully, you might find a sneak glimpse of one of the R110A pump cars to the right.

Random Observations and Notes: Late Rain Edition - 4/15/14 On my way home through my evening commute: All eight R33ML TOMC cars are back at 207th Street Yard. They are parked on the track next to the main shop (where the Arnines are normally parked). It was said that R33WF car 9306 came up with these cars over the weekend. I assume this car is in the shop with R36WF pair 9586-87, in preparation for this Saturday. Meanwhile at Concourse Yard, R40M car 4480 has a graffiti tag on the side of the car (facing the Jerome Avenue El), closest to the front of the car. No clue how long that tag's been there or if it's even recent. Finally, here's a quick snapshot of this pair towards the back.

The events that have occurred yesterday were one of the lowest I’ve seen in the community. And while I agree with any of the things that’s been said on this thread the last few hours, I would like to add one more thing: It’s true. Lots of us take this hobby for granted. Lots of us would rather chase than actually ride the trains. Lots of us would do anything at all costs to take that one photo. Lots of us will complain how one type of railcar should be saved or how we don’t like this other type of railcar, or how we like one particular kind of subway car and make sure no one else forgets it. We rather not get to know the old timers who have had many years of experience with the equipment and instead, blabber on about why we like *insert car model here* so much. Many of us have no idea what goes into preservation or what makes a train run….we might not know all the nuts and bolts that make that subway car – a subway car. But we can tell you, for example, how many R188s ran on the today. A number of us even have had the chance to ride the front car of a train through just about any part of the system looking at the rails though the window as the train moves from station to station. But no, we have to get that shot or that video of that one tunnel we’ve seen many times…..because yes, we’re riding on an R1-9 and that’s just a completely different experience as an R40, or an R44, or an R160. Because most of us are only focused on who’s the better railfan or the better busfan. And this is all unfortunate. And really sad. It’s one reason why I ended up leaving the community years ago. The community became one focused on unnecessary drama, rather than the interests that attracted most of us here in the first place. But then last summer, something happened that brought me back. Much of the time I was gone, from time to time, I used to lurk onto various forums. One thing that caught my attention was this guy right here: https://www.facebook.com/r36preservation This guy is doing something that many people have made fun of in the past for. He saw that some subway cars were being retired. He saw the historical value of those subway cars. He was inspired to do something about it. He focused his attention on a pair of subway cars that sat in storage for a number of years. I even remember he received flack for years ago for trying to do something about it.Then last year, we lost those subway cars to the scrapper. That caused him to really work hard on trying to get to where he is today – raising funds, organizing events and uniting various communities. All while attempting a saving history: two subway cars that are just about almost complete in restoration. I feel that, if it weren’t for this guy, perhaps certain things would’ve happened. I know all that he’s done has been a really interesting experience and he’s learned a lot along the way. But at least he’s doing something. Something that we could be doing. I gave him $20 towards his efforts. And I regret nothing. I thank him for what he's done and continues to do. It’s because of that one guy….and because I saw how we’ve lost a number of subway cars last year to the scrapper…that made me want to go out and take photos of what we have now saved. I guess this is why I’ve taken as much time to try to document what we have right now. It might seem half-assed. I will admit to that. And I know that this is not enough. But thing is, I want to do more. And we should do more. I want to do more than just snap photos and gather data. I want to not only learn the equipment, but “feel” it. I want to know what goes behind keeping the equipment we have running. I want to help restore. I want to paint. I want to clean. A few times a week I pass by 207th Street Yard to and from work, and I see these R12 and R14 cars sitting there. Lots of times I think to myself “Shoot, if they went out to ask us to volunteer to help ‘em clean, fix up, help assemble, and even paint these metal boxes of railcars, where do I f*ckin’ sign up?” But how? Where do we start? Lots of us, myself included, can only go as far as, say, donate money whenever we visit the Transit Museum. I make it a point to donate some money – whether $20 or $5, or even some spare change – whenever I visit. Because even spare change can go a long way – maybe towards that one cracked window that’s covered with scotch take on the one R15 subway car, for example. Here’s where I make a plea to the museums out there that have personnel and volunteers who work hard and pour in their blood, sweat, and tears, and their souls, to keep the equipment we’ve grown up with working. It’s because of them we can be nostalgic and relive the memories we had when riding that subway car or on that bus. Specifically, I make this plea to the New York Transit Museum and NYCT. Other museums, like the Illinois Railway Museum, regularly ask for volunteers. They make it an effort to look for volunteers to help fix, clean, restore their equipment, as well as help ‘em move. They do many things to keep the public interested and wanting to see more – from music festivals to air shows….they make an effort to bring people in. And they make it worthwhile. That’s how they get their donations and the help they need. Why can’t we really do that here? Not that NYCT doesn’t make an effort in bringing people in to ride the trains and visit their collections. They make an effort to bring people for special events to the museum occasionally. But is it enough? Can they do more than just put up a few lines on their website? Or on a small ad on the train, or by a few blurbs on social media? Why not attract more people to the museum with bigger ads? Or with other mediums (i.e.: newspapers)? Don’t just aim towards the railfan or the busfan or to the kids who do enjoy the collections….aim to bring all kinds of people to visit the collections. Find ways to make the casual rider or the Average Joe care about the museum. Advertise on the news…hell, get the mayor in on it. I remember those MOD trips that went literally everywhere. Why not have more fantrips like that, rather than just one part of the line? I heard that in the past, there used to be auctions. Why can’t we have those again? And speaking of transit fans, why have they not reached out to this very community? These sites? We have more than just transit fans: we come from all walks and boast various different kinds of talent in various crafts. Wood-making. Painting. Assembly. Electricity. Mechanics. Even as something simple as cleaning. Documenting. Filing. Advertising. You name it, it can be found here. I know of a handful of people who, if there were a way to help out in restoration, even one part of a subway car, or one bus, they would be more than willing to do it, with little to even no pay. Bring us in. Entice us in. Attract us to the equipment. Not only give us reasons on why we should ride ‘em instead of chasing ‘em, but show us why it is important to do so. Why not open your doors, give us some paint brushes, some old rags, a broom and a mop, and we can give out hearts, blood, sweat, and tears to keeping the equipment we enjoy riding on. I know that the suggestions I made above all involve money. Everything involves money. And we as transit fans have to also do our part. If we want to see Redbirds restored…if we want to keep seeing buses running every holiday season, we have to do more than just take a photo. We have to make it a point to put in some spare change in that clear box near the exit at the museum. Ask questions and listen, rather than speak and “know it all”. Let’s start making gatherings, collect funds towards attempting to fix up something that needs attention (and nowadays, it’s a lot of it). Let’s participate more in these events. The point is that, we need to collaborate with one another in a positive and effective way. Let’s work together. Let’s interact with one another. Let’s get to know each other. Let’s actually do things towards the hobby we enjoy. Museums, open your doors. Both your front doors and your back doors. Ask for the help, let us help. Some of us want to make a difference. Try to bring about a bigger audience. Attract us to your grounds. Prove to us why we should care. Fellow transit fans, let us not only take a photo or document what we see, but also let us show that we do care. Let’s act – we don’t only like the *insert favorite subway car*, but we will do all we can to make sure nothing happens to it in the course of time, so that our kids, and their kids, and so on and so forth, can enjoy what we enjoy. Ask ourselves why we like what we enjoy and find ways to express that through actions. These opinions are solely of my own, whether one agrees or otherwise. They are not to offend or make one person or group look better than another. They do not reflect a larger group, these opinions are just my $2.50. Thanks for reading.

That's an interesting turn of events. I could see the R40, R42, and maybe even R16 6387 (it's been in the shop for a while now) in that mix. The R40M at Concourse Yard hasn't moved in years. Who knows if those might make it... Then there's the R38 pair at Pitkin that was restored in 2009, but hasn't been in operation in years as well. Then you have the preserved R32 cars.... That's possible, actually. That, or maybe to shift cars around, who knows. The R40 pair's to be restored sometime this Summer.

Hey guys? Any ideas what's currently happening at 207th Street Yard today? I just drove by 207th Street Yard along 10th Avenue a while ago and saw briefly some movement going on; the Arnines (381, 401, 1000, 1300, 1802) are parked right outside the shops. Saw some people in front if the shop...looked pretty busy in there. I also saw car 103 by herself with the R30 storage pair (8481/8522) and I never noticed they painted the front end of the car in green while the rest of the car's in primer red still. Also, R42 4572-73 were moved and hooked up to the R40 pair, 4280-81. The TOMC R33MLs were moved somewhere else I assume; didn't see em in front of the shop when I drove past.

Facebook post discussion here from R36 Preservation https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=763168883733898&set=a.149783025072490.38077.121609891223137&type=1&permPage=1

If I remember, I was told once it was for three reasons (anyone can chime in or help me otherwise): 1) line at the time in 1998 was not capable of OPTO (One Person Train Operation) on the Concourse Line. It operated R32/38s. 2) line had too many terminals - 168th Street, Bedford Park Blvd, World Trade Center, Euclid Avenue, and until the '90s, Rockaways. 3) For simplicity in operations; aside from the above reason, I heard something about that they needed two seperate line supervisors to coordinate two lines down Concourse, a 6th Avenue one and an 8th Avenue one. After the swap, only one supervisor was needed. SUPER EDIT: sorry for the edits, typing this all on my phone.

Paranoid |||||||||||| 46% 50% Schizoid |||| 14% 40% Schizotypal |||||||||||| 50% 56% Antisocial |||||||||| 38% 46% Borderline |||||||||| 34% 45% Histrionic |||||| 30% 35% Narcissistic |||||||||||| 42% 40% Avoidant |||||||||||| 42% 48% Dependent |||||| 30% 44% Obsessive-Compulsive |||||||||||||| 58% 45% LMAO

Today's observations - 2/3/14 Passed by 207th Street Yard on the Deegan a little while ago. I observed what appeared to be R42 cars 4572-73 parked with the RPC Arnines. So I take it cars 100-484-1575 are back at the Transit Museum. Also, a random thought: I saw that all the flat cars parked on the north side of the yard have been moved elsewhere, leaving the R12/14 cars there as well as the remaining R110B cars. Maybe new storage space for the preserved Redbirds and R40M at Concourse Yard? They would be heading there to 207th anyway. Just a though.

A random observation: yesterday afternoon, I was on a northbound riding from 14th Street to 42nd. It ran on the local tracks, but skipped from 14th to 34th Street. One thing I've been noticing is that the T/O didn't sound the horn as he / she bypassed the station. I recall they do so when performing a battery run or in this case, when the train runs their normal express route on the local. Same thing happened last weekend on a different battery run on a southbound train as we skipped from 135th to 96th Street - the T/O bypassed stations between those stations without sounding the horn. I wonder, is this a new practice now not to sound the horn when bypassing a station? Also: saw this on the MTA's Flickr page:

...well....there goes my snack time for the night...

From what I observed in the past, usually they would run a single locomotive around the yard, running one track at a time, to clear out the snow from the rails, enough to run a train through. Recently I've seen photos of workers using shovels to clear out switches in yards as well.