Harry Posted September 26, 2010 Share #1 Posted September 26, 2010 New York City Subway F.A.Q. Common questions and answers about subways in New York City. If anyone wants to chip in some FAQs please post here. Thanks to everyone who contributes info. Explanations of Terms Headway - Amount of time between vehicles (trains or buses). An increase in headway is a DECREASE in service. (inverse relationship). Frequency - Number of vehicles (trains or buses) in a certain period of time, usually an hour. An increase in frequency is an INCREASE in service. (direct relationship). ABD (abandon) - An interval that has been dropped for a variety of reasons. Absolute Block - A section of track on which a train is NOT permitted to enter while occupied by another train. Anti-climber - Installed on both ends of all cars. They are designed to prevent one car from overriding the floor level of the next car in the event of a collision. Approach signal - a fixed wayside signal, used in conjunction with one or more home signals, to control the approach thereto. Aspect (signal) - The color or position of a light displayed by a wayside signal. Automatic Block Signaling - A series of consecutive blocks, the use of which is governed by automatic and interlocking signals. Automatic Interlocking - an interlocking controlled by circuit logic, so that train movements follow each other in a predetermined sequence. Automatic Stop Arm - A mechanical are located on the wayside that works in conjunction with a wayside signal. When a wayside signal displays a RED aspect, the associated stop arm will be in the tripping position. If a train passes a RED signal, the stop are will apply the trains emergency brakes. Automatic Train Supervision - A programmed, computerized system-- currently running on the "A" Division and the "L" line-- providing the following functions: automatic control of "line ups", starting lights, train identification, and real time tracking of all trains. Bad Order - A defect. Battery Run - For a long gap in service (3 head ways or longer), it is usually necessary to give a "battery run" to a series of intervals. The number of stations skipped decreases with each interval. NOT the same as a "skip". Brake Handle - A tools used to manipulate a valve, which controls the Air Brake System of a train. Car-borne Tripping Device- Trip **** - a mechanical device mounted underneath a train which, when struck by a "stop arm" or any other obstacle, results in an emergency application of the trains brakes. Central Business District (CBD) - from 59th Street to the Battery. Double Ended - A train with a train operator at either end to facilitate movement. Dwell Time - The time a train is in a station with its doors open. End Door Light - A blue light on the end of a 75' car which, when illuminated, indicates that an end door on that car in unlocked. Extra Train - A train not listed on a time table. It may be ordered into service by RTO supervisors. Fixed Signal - A signal of fixed location indicating a condition governing the movement of trains. Gap Station - Key locations between terminals where trains pass and times are recorded. Also a location where trains can be properly spaced, held for connections, turned or rerouted. Gap Train - A train held in reserve to replace a passenger train that has been taken out of service. General Order - A plan placed in effect any time train service needs to be diverted from its regular route for track repairs or other work. Headway - The time span between trains traveling one the same track in the same direction. Home Signal - A fixed signal at the entrance to a route or block, governing trains entering that route or block. Interlocking - An arrangement of signals and switches so interconnected that their movement must succeed each other in proper sequence and for which interlocking rules are in effect. It may be operated manually or automatically. Interval - The scheduled departure time of a train. Lay-up - A train being removed from customer service and returned to a storage facility. Light Train - a train of customer service cars being operated over a route without customers. Marker Signal - A signal used to define the limits of train movement. Pilot Valve - A valve contained in the master controller that operates to set a car or train in emergency when the master controller is released and the brake valve is NOT in the full service position. Rail Control Center (RCC) - The place where train supervision and control for the entire system is accomplished. Relay - To move cars from a particular track onto a relay track or main line track and return it to an adjacent track. Road Car Inspector (RCI) - A car inspector located at terminals and other key stations who can help with the repair or removal or disabled trains. SMEE - Self-lapping mechanical electric equipment. That's for you Subwayguy! Snow Bird - Revenue cars stored underground due to inclement weather. Work Motors (Horses) - Cars that are used o provide motor power for moving inoperative or non-motored cars such as flat cars, gondolas, etc. Redbird - A name given to multiple IRT car classes including the R26, R28, R29, R33ML, R33WF, R36ML, R36WF during the GOH period. They were called that because of the bright red color they were given. Several B-division car classes (R27, R30/R30A) were also given the same color scheme and ere called the BMT Redbirds. -Actually, the cars that railfans know today as redbirds, were originally called Silver Foxes when they first hit the line in the late 80's. The R29s, which were delivered in Cardinal Red with bright yellow hand holds, were the first New York equipment (SG says the term came from Boston) to be called Redbirds. TA personal called rebuilt 4 motor Low-V work motors Redbirds as well. Those cars were painted red so they could be told apart from other 2 motor Low-V work motors. Subway Acronyms and Abbreviations MTA - Metropolitan Transportation Authority NYCT/NYCTA - New York City Transit/New York City Transit Authority IRT - Interborough Rapid Transit BMT - Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit IND - Independent Subway SAS - Second Avenue Subway CBTC - Communication Based Train Control LIRR - Long Island Rail Road SIR - Staten Island Railway MNR - Metro-North Railroad PATH - Port Authority Trans-Hudson NJT - New Jersey Transit WTC - World Trade Center CI - Coney Island Willy B - Williamsburg Bridge TPH - Trains Per Hour LES - Lower East Side GO - General Order T/O - Train Operator QB - Queens Blvd ENY - East New York SMS - Schedule Maintenance System TSS - Train Service Supervisor OPTO - One Person Train Operation ATO - Automatic Train Operation BIE - Brakes in Emergency C/A - Collection Agent CWA - Continuous Welded Rail OOS - Out of Service RCI - Road Car Inspector RTO - Rapid Transit Operations ROW - Right of Way SIR - Staten Island Railway SIRTOA - Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority SMEE - Straight-air Motor Car Electro-pneumatic Emergency WD - Wheel Detector C/R - Conductor Subway Radio Codes 12-1 - Emergency 12-2 - Fire/Smoke 12-3 - Flood/Serious Water Condition 12-5 - Stalled Train 12-6 - Derailment 12-7 - Request for Assistance 12-8 - Armed Passenger 12-9 - Person Under Train 12-10 - Unauthorized Personnel on Track/Catwalk 12-11 - Serious Vandalism 12-12 - Disorderly Passenger/s Why are the subway routes colored the way they are today? The colors on the routes are based on the Manhattan trunk line. are red because they run on the IRT 7th Avenue Line are green because they run the IRT Lexington Avenue Line are orange because they run on the IND 6th Avenue Line are blue because they run on the IND 8th Avenue Line is purple for the IRT Flushing Line is lime green for IND Crosstown Line is gray for 14th Street/Canarsie Line. are brown because they run on the BMT Nassau Street Line. shuttles are black/dark gray. are yellow because they use the BMT Broadway Line So the IND lines are the to trains, while the BMT is to ? Sort of. That only refers to the legacy of the service pattern. However parts of different lines use both former BMT and IND trackage. For instance: The is IND for all of Manhattan and most of Brooklyn, as well as the Rockaways, however from the portal past Grant Avenue to Lefferts Blvd. is part of the former BMT Fulton Elevated The B is IND in Bronx and Manhattan, but once it crosses onto the Manhattan Bridge and points south, it is BMT The D is IND in Bronx and Manhattan, but once it crosses onto the Manhattan Bridge and points south, it is BMT The F is IND in Queens and Manhattan, and half of Brooklyn, but once it enters Ditmas Avenue, it is BMT The M is BMT from Metropolitan Avenue to Essex Street. Once it takes the Chrystie Street Cut, the rest of its run is on the IND. The is BMT for the entirety of its run except for the IND section which extends from the 11th street connector out of the 60th Street tube, which takes the R onto the IND Queens Blvd. Line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EE Broadway Local Posted November 1, 2010 Share #2 Posted November 1, 2010 A couple of acronyms: H & M = Hudson And Manhattan Railroad (Predecessor to PATH) Lex = Lexington (Avenue) MaBSTOA = Manhattan And Bronx Surface Transportation Operating Authority TA = Transit Authority (New York City Transit Authority) Shoe: A metal contact block connected to the subway car which makes contact with the third rail. Subway Routes Also Have Names: I.R.T.: West Side: Broadway-Seventh Avenue Local Express East Side: Lexington Avenue Express Local Flushing (Corona) Line Local Express Forty-Second Street Shuttle Subbranches: Pelham Line Local Express B.M.T. Broadway Local Express Local Fourteenth Street-Canarsie Line Nassau Street (Centre Street) Express Express Subbranches: Archer Avenue Astoria Brighton B Express Q Local Broadway (Brooklyn) J Express M Local Z Express Fourth Avenue (Brooklyn) D Express N Express R Local Franklin Avenue Shuttle S Jamaica J Z Myrtle Avenue M Sea Beach N West End D IND. Sixth Avenue ( Express Express Local Local Eighth Avenue Express Local Local Rockaway Park Shuttle Brooklyn-Queens Crosstown Local Subbranches: Concourse B Local D Express Culver F Fulton Street A Express C Local Queens Boulevard E Express F Express M Local R Local Rockaway Park Shuttle S Washington Heights A Express C Local 53d Street B D E M 63d Street F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East New York Posted November 15, 2010 Share #3 Posted November 15, 2010 I would like to thank everybody who contributed to this thread. More updates are soon to come. @EE Broadway Local - As soon as I figure out the best way to incorporate your post, I will. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broadway Local Posted November 24, 2010 Share #4 Posted November 24, 2010 Subway Yard Homes: IRT: East 180th Street- Home of the 239th Street Yard- Home of the 240th Street Yard- Home of the Corona Yard- Home of the Jerome/Mosholu Yard- Home of the - 42nd Street Livonia Yard- Home of the Westchester Yard- Home of the BMT: 207th Street Yard- Home of the Concourse Yard- Home of the Coney Island Yard- Home of the (- Franklin Avenue East New York Yard- Home of the Jamaica Yard- Home of the Pitkin Yard- Home of the - Rockaway Park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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