BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS POST)

"Many, many volumes were spoken"..............so much for "BUILT IN AMERICA", and "BUILT TO LAST"...............

"NYO"

["ST. LOUIS CAR COMPANY"]

["AMERICAN CAR & FOUNDRY"]

["PULLMAN-STANDARD"]

["BUDD"]

['PRESSED STEEL']

["CBTC=CHAOS BY THE CARLOAD"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Not being from "Noo Yawk" myself, I'm wondering..........

1:

I know that on the "Es-Eye-Are" the old B&O CPL's have been replaced, so I am guessing the current signals (not at all that old) will also be replaced with "See-Bee-Tee-See", or, has the changeover already taken place?

2:

Anyone document how the "R-211's" (aka "The GRUMMANS of the subways") have performed on non-CBTC trackage with traditional block signals, vs operating on CBTC trackage?

Dang shame the "Are Toity-Too" Brightliners were not placed in reserve, to be able to lend assistance today.........

"NYO"

["BUDD"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Thanks for the info.

Sad to say, but, as more and more lines go over to "See-Bee-Tee-See", rest assured, "signal issues" and "service disruptions" are. without a doubt, going to become more and more numerous and commonplace.

Just thinking about bygone rapid transit signalling......

Until 1967, PATH motormen who operated trains on the PRR/H&M/PATH "joint service" line to Newark until 1967, were also required to pass a PRR rulebook examination, as position light signals were still being utilized between Journal Square and Newark.

The PRR-owned "MP-52s" were equipped with cab signals, and, as such, had to be positioned at each end of a consist.

Too bad the "Brighton Belle" "R-68" concept of "low-tech" trains could not have continued; just thinking now of the "El-Eye-Double-Are"..........are there any of the venerable "M-3s" still running, or is all NTT "M-7s"/"9s"these days?

"NYO"

["M"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

On the "El-Eye-Double-Are," it'd be all M-7/9 at this point; I've not seen a double side door on their cars in who knows how many years.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Back in the very early 1980s, I often used to hop on an ex-NYC 1950s MU for a short hop up to 125th Street, where I'd jump off and get a train heading back into GCT, before grabbing a Lex train downtown, just for the fun of it (all SMEES, back then!)

HATED that "Ronan" paint on those old NYC electrics(!!)

"NYO"

["5:25 WHITE PLAINS EXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

As you are from "Noo Yawk", perhaps you can help out here..............

I've just viewed a series of outstanding photos on SubChat; quite a few were of the "East Side Access" facilities at Grand Central (I have not visited GCT since 2002)

Spectacular photos, but, I must admit, the new station and connecting corridors (IMHO) seem to hint at a bizarre melange of "Beneath The Planet Of The Apes" and "2001: A Space Odyessy"........too blank, bare, and sterile for my tastes (only the directional hints at the "olden days")

Question:

Photo caption of the curving passageway (that blank design just spooks me out) says that it was built within the curve of the old lower level loop (now, I DO know that the loop has been OOS for many years now.

Does any part of the loop still exist with tracks and related infrastructure, or has it all been obliterated?

I also know that there is a large food court in the old "Suburban Concourse" on the lower level; are any of the tracks/gates on this level still in revenue use today?

60-odd years ago, Your's Truly can still recall the growling, grumbling, and screeching of ancient "S" motors hauling empty NYC/NH consists around that loop, prior to taking the train back up to the long-vanished Mott Haven Yard for servicing......a lifetime ago.

Appreciate, as always, any info....I've been curious about this for some time now......

"NYO"

["5:20-BREWSTER LOCAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Side_Access *

*(excellent, highly-detailed article w/ a numer of interesting photos)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Sighhhhhh.....

Just "loined" that the "See-Bee-Tee-See" currently in use of the Canarsie line ("L") which has been around for some time, is now in need of "tech refreshing"; this would, then, be the "second generation", in a sense, of "See-Bee-Tee-See" on this former "Bee-Em-Tee" line.

And look at how the old tried-and-true block signals did their duty so faithfully and reliable, decade after decade after decade......progress......you can have it.....it's all so much hype............

"NYO"

["LL"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Indeed, simple "common sense" left the the MTA when they were still at 370 Jay, in downtown Brooklyn

Think, now, of the level-headed "brass" that ruled the IRT and BMT when they were still "independent" companies; heck, look at how efficiently the "Eye-En-Dee" was originally run by the City, way back in the day.

Heck, even the "flamboyant" BMT didn't dabble in "futuristic" signalling!

PATH (the "tubes") is "hand-and-hand" with the "Em-Tee-Yay"........they've put ALL their "eggs" into the CBTC basket, with NO BACKUP system!!

Literally, in this case, it's all "down the 'tubes' ".........

"NYO"

["537 REP"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

You could be right, there.

BTW, over the weekend, I 'hoid" on 1010 WINS that 5th "Aven-oo" is supposed to be getting a HUGE "pedestrian friendly" makeover/upgrade over the next number of years, and traffic lanes will be reduced from five to three.

Now......let's how the "Em-Tee-Yay" deals with this, regarding the bus routes involved........

["M"]