NYCtrainfan01

Strangely, the change from the models to CGI was one of the better things they did. Yes, the models are much more nostalgic, but the CGI allows a lot of things that the models and gauge layout couldn't do, such as having humans working instead of being stationary and allowing the engines to legitimately talk. Furthermore, it's much more cost-effective, allowing HiT and its CGI developers to build up the atmosphere digitally rather than spend a lot of money laying out the railroad, cameras, and models.

 

When Emily was introduced in season seven, she was relegated to a secondary/tertiary role; Britt Allcroft was still producing the show. Despite getting less and less screentime since deviating away from Awdry's stories following season four, Duck was still somewhat secondary. When HiT acquired the rights for the series, it limited the cast drastically. They brought back plenty of the cast afterwards (including Duck), but many of the writers obviously don't pay attention to the series' past history and routes to lay out a good story while respecting the laws of the British railroading system.

That's a few things I like about CGI... The engines actually talking, Humans now move and talk...

One thing I also like about the later seasons is that they gave each engine their own voice... Other than that, I prefer the older seasons...

Yeah I stopped watching after season 4. I only watched an episode a few years ago not realizing the show was still running and they have only been reairing episodes from season 12? And up. Everything else I just watched on YouTube. Just watching the show, you can just tell it was all going downhill. Characters acting out of character, unnecessary accidents, etc.

I hear you... I prefer the older seasons too...

Emily may have been the first female steam engine but she wasn't the first female on the show... Mavis was the first female I believe... She's a diesel type engine...

I have notice a few other engines gone too... Twins Bill and Ben, Twins Donald and Douglas, Boco, and Oliver to name a few... I miss the actual train models...

In reference to Henry's Flying Kipper incident... Although Henry was rebuilt and supposedly got rid of his special coal problem, That problem was often popping up every now and then...

According to the Railway Series (The books Thomas the tank engine show is based out of) Henry was originally a prototype engine built from two separate engines... (Which also caused his bad coal issues due to him being built the way he was) The plans were stolen and Henry was built then eventually sold to Sir Topham Hatt... The reason why Henry was rebuilt so quickly after the Flying Kipper incident was because Sir Topham Hatt had connections with the owner of Stainer... Henry was rebuilt as a LMS Stanier 5MT "Black 5" 4-6-0....

The Railway Series and the actual show differ in alot of things... Although somethings are the same...

Jump the shark moment: introducing a female engine Emily and booting off one of the more popular engines, duck. All for political correctness, and who friggin cares about gender? They are machines! They can't have 'children'.

Anyway, the real decline was the switch from models to cgi. The storyline totally went to the shitter. Everyone has Alzheimer's or something in forgetting the lessons they learned from another episode, and too Thomas centric. If Thomas screwed up that many times he should be 'fired' long ago. They can still do a good story with good morals without watering it down for the pre k kids. Also as far as fing up the continuity, Henry's problem with regular coal was fixed after the flying kipper accident. He shouldn't need the special coal, another bullshit pc move to show some sort of handicap.

As for why I'm ranting, it's because in favor of greed and the need to make it safe for today's pc kids, they ruined a great show from our childhood. I'd have Ben perfectly satisfied if they ended the show way earlier before the decline, but blame the greed. It is a victim of its own success.

They got rid of Duck for Emily? No wonder I haven't seen Duck in a longtime...

You aint kidding !

 

 

Not so much long in route length, but regarding the avg. trip time per rider... It lags due to the stint b/w riverdale/231st & the alone, let alone b/w riverdale/231st & tracey towers..... And the high volume of pax utilizing pretty much every stop (embarkers/disembarkers) along GC b/w like 161st & BPB only reinforces the point.... I say let riders take that 1 stop on the (4)/(5) from 125th to 138th for the Bx1 & be done w/ it (which is what's currently done in noticable enough numbers anyway)... I would not extend that route to Manhattan either, fam....

Exactly! The Bx1 and Bx2 does get heavy usage... Also lags in lots of sections...

That's what folks are doing... I've seen folks take the or to catch the Bx1 at 138th...

have any of you seen any crazy fare beating to the extreme on the m35? with kids climbing through the window!

video courtesy of our very own dmouse 

 

Oh yeah, I've heard of the fare-beating on the M35...

The M35 is fare-beater heaven... It's sad too...

Really let em use extended BX1 LTDs select runs only not enough of em to justify a separate express bus. When bx1 LTD is not running there is no demand use subway. The demand is not there. sunday the bxm4 is practically empty on 75% or more of it's trips. Only full time line with less than 500 riders means not enough demand.

I'm sorry but I still don't see the Bx1 being extended to Manhattan...

a measly 414 pax please they should be on the subway or extend bx1 LTD select 30 min trips to harlem 123rd at 2nd ave for 5th ave bxm lines no excuse. They barely even use their bus economy is not a good enough excuse as other rush hour only lines have MORE ridership than this bus gets in a whole week. If service levels were determined by ridership then other lines with 800+ or even in 700s range will be full time not rush hour only. The numbers prove it's redundant everything else is an excuse.

I wouldn't extend the Bx1... That line is already too long... Keep the Bx1 out of Manhattan...

So then just make it a local route all the way. Not really an express line if it makes all stops on GC and then Manhattan.

Thing is, the BxM4 doesn't make all the stops on GC...

Yep and the other issue is Woodlawn is what the BxM4 is mainly for but Woodlawn is not very big, so I would examine if the loss of ridership is solely because of the economy or if there are other issues as well.

 

 

It doesn't make all stops on the Grand Concourse.... What part of eliminated stops doesn't make sense??

I agree...

Maybe eliminating stops south of Tremont? But then again that ADA issue about Concourse line...

So how do we fix the BxM4? Less stops on Grand Concourse?

That already happened... Folks were not too happy with that...

Yep, MTAB drivers don't earn nearly as much as NYCT drivers and that is something that has been brought to my attention by some of those B/Os... The was asked to take over those private bus lines because most were losing money like crazy.  Under Bus I don't think that bus service has gotten much better aside from the new buses, as most lines have suffered terribly from service cuts.  

Actually service in some areas did get better... The B100/B103 and some of the EX Green LInes routes come to mind... But yes, lines did gets cuts...

Under Bus, Only 4 routes were cut... The Q89, QM23, BxM4A and BxM7B...

That could be changed at anytime just like this MTS RTS and the R179 orders. Hell, the new 600 to 1300 buses will be here before this game comes out.

While true, Similar games made by Rockstar has gone through numerous delays... Such as the older GTA games, Red Dead Redemption, Max Payne 3, LA Noire and so on... With the long waits however, All of those games were great!

Max Payne 3 was originally a cancelled game... Picked up by Rockstar when Remedy gave/sold total rights to the Max Payne series... MP3 was supposed to be released back in '09 but was not released until last year...

Trust me, I'm disappointed but at the same time, I'm so used to Rockstar (Hell, any game company) delaying games that it doesn't really get me upset...

A friend of mine has been waiting on a game call Final Fantasy XIII Versus for years since it was announced... Square Enix annouced that game back in '07 if I'm not mistaken and since then, no progress whatsoever... No trailers, no photos, no videos of that game...

Basically what I'm trying to say is that we all (In general not just you, Turbo19 or I) need to be patient because at least we have info like trailers, photos, videos and so on... All we can do now is wait...

Damn lying bastards. I don't mean it literally but come on, this has been an on going project for how long? This isn't the Rockstar I'm used to at all.

 

And I wonder why I no longer consider myself a gamer...

I know what you mean... Hey, on the brightside, we now have a release date!

Turns out that GTA V will be released on 9-17-13:

http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/48591/grand-theft-auto-v-is-coming-9172013.html

Oohh myy yooo these RTS suckkk...

Dammm I wish UP had some Orion Vs or something other than RTSs.

RTS in 2013??

#DATSDATSHYTIDONTLIKE

I'm sorry but are you serious? The RTS's are still here because the bus itself has withstanded the test of time... They are one of the strongest and best buses ever bult! Nothing last forever though... When they retire, thier legacy will still stand!

Yup, that's the one. After that, they upgraded from a Capstone C30 to a Capstone C65 turbine, but by then it was too late. They pulled all 4 (1302-1306) out of service

 

...although 1306 actually never saw passenger service, that one was always a training bus

Ah I see... Thanks for confirming that!

Oh nothing major, just randomly spontaneously combusting for the Orion VIIs, and the infamous M60 incident with the DesignLines with that unproven Capstone turbine system

What was that incident again? I heard something like one of the DesignLines stalled out on the M60 at Triboro... Is that true?

Edit: Did some research... It turns out that one of the Designlines couldn't make the climb on the Triboro...

Finally saw a XD60 in person! #4727! She looked beautiful! No photo though unfortunately...

Thanks, and does anyone know the exact amount of XD60s kb will have 60 or 30

KB is going to get 60...

B35, B41, B44, B46, Bx1, Bx2, Bx15, Bx19, M14, Q111, Staten Island lol...

Along with any route that passes through Fordham rd lol...

i remember it being based somewhere else in the 90s 

It was based out of Gleason before Grand if I remember correctly...

LMAO!! You're telling me!  I speak Spanish, Italian and also a little French and German and hearing him speak Spanish gives me a headache.  

Yeah me too lol...

In my Bloomberg gringo accent... Muy bien chico... Espannnyolll dos...    

LOL! I speak spanish but it's hard to understand Bloomberg's spanish...

Lol, or what if they had to run an 07 hybrid as an express to fill the service gap? Wait another hour?im sure if CS and cp could swap some local and express lines, then there could be a justification to run those Vikings again. I know only CS can support them, but what about the former pBL garages? Could they house the Vikings?

LOL about the O7's...

Once the merger between NYCT and MTA Bus happens then that sounds like a good idea to have CS and CP swap routes...

Speaking about swaping routes when the merger happens, I can see the Bx29 and a few other routes going to Eastchester...

-----------

Anyone knows if/when Yonkers will close?

Is it "Pretend-to-be-Harry" day or what?

 

LOL... The M Avatar might be the new default for folks who have not chosen an avatar...

Considering the circumstances, guess they figured there was no point in running the Q30 w/ the Q17 (also) running b/w Jamaica & HHE during late night hrs...

 

Yep... No point in that at all...

Such a slow day today...