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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2020 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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From: "NEW YORK SUBWAYS"* (Gene Sansome):
"........in 1913, the City of New York took ownership of the Steinway tubes, and the IRT was selected as operator of the line. These tunnels were two, single-track trolley tunnels, built by the New York & LOng Island Railroad Company......."
"......after a brief reconsideration of the resumption of the idea of trolley service, the IRT concluded that it would be best to convert the line to a heavy rapid transit-style operation......."
".......the standard IRT cars of the day were impractical because of the steep grades* in the tunnels. IRT car engineers redesigned the standard "Lo-V' of that era with a slightly lower weight, and a gear ratio better suited for running in these tunnels......"
".....originally, these cars were known as "Belmont Cars" (IRT shopmen referred to them as "Boilers"); only 12 cars were required for the initial service. The moniker 'Boiler' was coined because of the large air reservoir tank located in the motorman's cab, which made a hissing noise as the car operated......."
*Interestingly, the IRT cars built in 1938 for the upcoming World's Fair (the first IRT cars to do away with vestibules) were also dubbed "Steinways", and were able to MU with older equipment.
*Grades in the Steinway tubes were/are a steep 4.5%; the "conventional" IRT equipment of that era were unable to handle the steep grades in the tunnels.
The "Steinway" cars served the Flushing line (#7) until 1950, when they were displaced by new equipment (R-12/14/15); the cars were transferred to the IRT's "mainlines", where they ran until about 1963/1964, before again being displaced by new equipment.
A small number of "Steinways" served the Bronx section of the 3rd Avenue El until 1969.
"NYO" |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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This page on the IRT's Flushing line has much history, and also talks of the original plan to use streetcars in the tubes under the East River.
Interesting to note, that, these cars would not have used the usual overhead wires, but, instead would have used an overhead third rail (short sections of overhead third rail were originally used at Pennsylvania Station, and, in more recent times, at Grand Central, at terminal throats)
Clearly, the use of "streetcars" in these tunnels was not conducive for future efficient operations.......
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/IRT_Flushing_Line |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2020 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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This page recalls Woodside's historic "recycled" car barn (the long-forgotten New York & Queens County Ry.); the last trolleys used this facility in 1937*........
www.forgotten-ny.com/1998/09/woodsides-trolley-barn
*In June, 1930, the entire western section of the car barn was destroyed in a massive and highly-destructive fire; a large number of streetcars were also destroyed in the blaze. The area once occupied by the burned-down section of the barn became an outdoor storage yard, and was used by STEINWAY until the last streetcars were replaced by buses in 1939.
This outdoor storage yard held cars of the NY&QRy, STEINWAY, as well as ex-JAMAICA CENTRAL equipment.
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:43 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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A NY&QCRy Birney, seen resting between assignments at the Woodside car barn (the barns were to the back of the photographer in this shot).......
https://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/nyqr07.htm
(courtesy: davesrailpix) |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2020 12:20 am Post subject: |
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A time-honored scene, once so commonplace on streetcar systems throughout the country; a NY&QCRy's motorman is here seen "changing ends" at the College Point Ferry terminal (the two-slip ferry terminal is out of the picture)......
https://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/nyqr02.htm
(courtesy: davesrailpix) |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2020 8:49 am Post subject: |
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Here's one of the more modern STEINWAY cars, seen laying over in the open storage yard at Woodside; as mentioned earlier, this yard was created after a fire destroyed a large portion of the building.......
https://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/stein12.htm
(courtesy: nycsubway.org) |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 23266 Location: NEW JOISEY
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