SUBWAY - Random Thoughts Topic

[Lance]

12 hours ago, paulrivera said:

Interesting move by the  expanding the midday GO window to 9:30am to 3:30pm. I get why they did it (to increase worker productivity) but won't it affect service quality at the tail end when the schools let out?

They're expanding the windows on all service change periods. Some night work is starting at 10pm and weekend work can begin as early as 8pm on Friday if this weekend's advisories are anything to go by.

9 hours ago, Calvin said:

A couple of thoughts on the line:

* I remember some stations have countdown clocks, IIRC

*Also, if the 5th car of the train isn't working properly, can the c/r move to the 6th car of the train to open and close the doors of the train (for example, 33 St-Rawson St) ?

 

I know both Grand Central and 5 Avenue have them installed. They aren't wired in yet, so no PSAs about nonsense. As for your second point, I'd imagine it's possible. I saw a conductor managing the doors from the 5th car when I was on the  a couple of days ago.

[P3F]

How difficult is underpinning? Ignoring other issues with these projects, would things like extending the short platform at Bowling Green to 510 feet be possible using current construction methods?

[Lance]

It depends on what's above the station. If there's nothing above and it's just the road, it's much easier than if there was say, several buildings, electrical and plumbing materials, etc. above the tracks and tunnels.

On the subject of the matter, what would be gained by extending the shuttle platform at Bowling Green? It doesn't connect to anything besides the old South Ferry station and that can only handle five cars.

[quadcorder]

The only use I could see would be adding a switch from SB / after Wall Street to allow terminating   trains without blocking service. However, I think this might run under 1-25 Broadway, which would complicate matters considerably.

[B46 via Utica]

Countdown clocks active on the line

Jamaica Center ParsonsArcher

 

 

Sutphin Blvd 

[Daniel The Cool]

15 minutes ago, B46 via Utica said:

Countdown clocks active on the line

Jamaica Center And Sutphin Blvd was reportedly to already have the countdown clocks when the  Train stations were completed.

[B46 via Utica]

22 minutes ago, Daniel The Cool said:

Jamaica Center And Sutphin Blvd was reportedly to already have the countdown clocks when the  Train stations were completed.

Never seen it on the before tho. Then disregard the irrelevant information.

[PMac18]

17 hours ago, Calvin said:

 

*There's only 1 R142A train with a 5-car leftover on the Pelham line: 7596-7610

Does anyone know the reason for this recent move? Why the rest of the R142A trains were sent to the  besides just one train?

[jon2305]

3 hours ago, PMac18 said:

Does anyone know the reason for this recent move? Why the rest of the R142A trains were sent to the  besides just one train?

I guess those R142As is to cover service since the lost a few of it's Bombardier R142s to the .

[trainfan22]

18 hours ago, Calvin said:

A couple of thoughts on the line:

* I remember some stations have countdown clocks, IIRC

*Also, if the 5th car of the train isn't working properly, can the c/r move to the 6th car of the train to open and close the doors of the train (for example, 33 St-Rawson St) ?

 

IDK about ntt but I rode an R62A 1 train and 6th car the C/R normally works in had broken A/C, so the C/R operated from the 5th car.

[JTrainUK]

Is it just me or has the Broadway 7th Ave  line been really unreliable recently? It has delays again now...

[JubaionBx12+SBS]

6 minutes ago, JTrainUK said:

Is it just me or has the Broadway 7th Ave  line been really unreliable recently? It has delays again now...

Most lines have been and generally are unreliable. Even our best lines are delayed close to one fifth of the time which is beyond unacceptable for a major subway system. 

[Bosco]

20 hours ago, Calvin said:

A couple of thoughts on the line:

* I remember some stations have countdown clocks, IIRC

*Also, if the 5th car of the train isn't working properly, can the c/r move to the 6th car of the train to open and close the doors of the train (for example, 33 St-Rawson St) ?

 

I don't see why that would be a problem as the cabs are right next to each other (the 5-car sets are always facing Manhattan, the 6-car sets always facing Queens).

 

19 hours ago, Ntrainfave said:

What's the difference between Alstom and Siemens R160s other than the sound of the motor? 

Also same question for the difference between R160A and R160B (alstom) besides the sound of the doors opening?

In addition to the other obvious differences, the mechanics are somewhat different.  Siemens motors accelerate and decelerate slightly faster than the Alstom motors on startup.  However, the Alstom motors have better braking (regenerative braking cuts out at 1 mph, as opposed to 4 mph on the Siemens sets).  This is why they try not to mix the two sets, even though it's possible and has been done on rare occasions.

A little fun fact about the door motors: the Vapor motors are mechanical (they move through a thread, hence the whirring sound).  OTOH, the Fuji motors are magnetic (hence why they are silent).  Intuitively, the Fuji motors are more reliable but also more expensive.

 

4 hours ago, Daniel The Cool said:

Jamaica Center And Sutphin Blvd was reportedly to already have the countdown clocks when the  Train stations were completed.

Just because the  was one of the earlier lines to get countdown clocks doesn't mean the  got them at the same time.  Multi-level stations (such as 145 St ) are being done separately. While the upper level at 145 St  have been online for a while, the lower level  just went online a week ago.

Edited November 3, 2017 by Bosco

[Daniel The Cool]

Just now, Bosco said:

Just because the  was one of the earlier lines to get countdown clocks doesn't mean the  got them at the same time.  Multi-level stations (such as 145 St ) are being done separately. While the upper level at 145 St  have been online for a while, the lower level  just went online a week ago.

According to this post from Lance in another thread

 

Quote

Jamaica Center and Sutphin-Archer use the same station codes for both levels.

https://www.nyctransitforums.com/topic/50659-countdown-clocks-are-active-on-the-r-line/?do=findComment&comment=939201

[Bosco]

I missed that then.  It's not surprising the MTA is inconsistent with the installation.

[S78 via Hylan]

Construction at 121 St is finally moving along as the platform has been rebuilt along with part of the wall.

[Lance]

I cannot speak for when the actual clocks were turned on at Jamaica Center and Sutphin Blvd on the line, but SubwayTime has included real-time information for the at those stops since the clocks were turned on for the line back in the summer.

1 hour ago, S78 via Hylan said:

Construction at 121 St is finally moving along as the platform has been rebuilt along with part of the wall.

It's about time. Maybe we'll get it and 104 Street back in service before the Astoria rehabs are complete.

Edited November 4, 2017 by Lance

[LegoBrickBreaker101]

I honestly doubt it, but does anyone know if the R62A is out this weekend (since it showed up for the same G.O. back in October)?

[Around the Horn]

4 hours ago, LegoBrickBreaker101 said:

I honestly doubt it, but does anyone know if the R62A is out this weekend (since it showed up for the same G.O. back in October)?

There was one out earlier

[s111limited]

Just curious, why do a lot of R143s on the  have howling motors? I first started noticing them with those sounds around early 2015.

[MassTransitHonchkrow]

On 11/4/2017 at 10:16 PM, s111limited said:

Just curious, why do a lot of R143s on the  have howling motors? I first started noticing them with those sounds around early 2015.

If you're talking about the sound it makes when they accelerate, that's because the R143, R142 and R188 are Kawasaki-built. They seem to share the same components for propulsion.

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

Seems the has a program to 96 St/2nd Ave via 63rd St on the R160s. Just spotted one at 34th St Herald Sq (Broadway)

Edited November 6, 2017 by RestrictOnTheHanger

[P3F]

16 minutes ago, RestrictOnTheHanger said:

Seems the has a program to 96 St/2nd Ave via 63rd St on the R160s. Just spotted one at 34th St Herald Sq (Broadway)

No R46 today, then.

[Bosco]

5 hours ago, MassTransitHonchkrow said:

If you're talking about the sound it makes when they accelerate, that's because the R143, R142A and R188 are Kawasaki-built. They seem to share the same components for propulsion.

While those are Kawasaki trains, those have AdTranz/Bombardier propulsion packages.  Even then howling motors are not limited to those trains.  There are plenty of howling Alstom-powered trains and a few Siemens sets as well.  

As for the cause of the howling, I'm not entirely sure but I am curious as well.

[RailRunRob]

32 minutes ago, Bosco said:

While those are Kawasaki trains, those have AdTranz/Bombardier propulsion packages.  Even then howling motors are not limited to those trains.  There are plenty of howling Alstom-powered trains and a few Siemens sets as well.  

As for the cause of the howling, I'm not entirely sure but I am curious as well.

Is the howl kinda like an extra tone during acceleration?  Possible the motor and power supply are out of sync? I know the R143's are based on a 3 phase system I was at Kawasaki for those. So it's all based on power frequency and phases as all AC inductions are.  Could be something there. I've been removed from the industry for about 14 years I do understand the basics but maybe someone that works in the shop knows a bit more.

Edited November 6, 2017 by RailRunRob