DaveJfr0 posted:So I've been in the city for a little over 6 months. I've taken some random shots of some interesting things over that time that I have questions on.
They are seen here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QTeduRUyebd6wH849
I have some questions on some of the photos.
The 1st photo...there is a box in between the tracks. I'm assuming there is some sort of sensor on the trains that can read that little square and know that they're stopping in a good spot?
The 2nd photo is of an odd red/white light (green signal is in the distance)...what is that signal for? I've seen them in some other stations, but can't quite figure out what it means.
The 3rd photo has a few things in yellow. One of them is on the third rail cover....why is that square yellow? Also, what is the yellow pipe for? I get why its yellow, but not sure if its an electrical conduit or some sort of strengthening rod that I don't see hardly anywhere else.
The 4th image...what am I looking at? There is a handle that looks like it goes to the box on the ground...but I can't figure out what thats all for. Does it cut the power to the third rail?
The 8th image shows a crumbling stairway...whats in the locked off door? Signal equipment? Seems like a crazy place to put something.
The 9th image...so there are two drains there..one is in the ground and one is at the height of the ties? Why is it so high? Also interesting is that there are two rails together on the platform side. I don't see this hardly anywhere else. Is it because there is a slight curve on that part of the platform?
The work train...what is that flatcar typically used for? The yellowbird RD421?
The photo after the worktrain with the orange rail joiner...why is it orange? What are those encapsulated wires between the tracks for?
The photo with the signal and the box and the yellow handle. What does the yellow handle do? Cause a manual red signal?
The 42nd street photo with the pipe in the ceiling...there was water dripping down that pipe into the middle of the subway tracks (DT side, closer to 42nd). Where the heck is that water coming from and why? lol.
I'm amazed that the ties stay in the concrete slots so well.
Ok Dave You have heard some pretty good guesses but let me tell you what they really are
1-The 1st photo...there is a box in between the tracks. I'm assuming there is some sort of sensor on the trains that can read that little square and know that they're stopping in a good spot?
That box is a CBTC Transponder Computer Based Train Control. They are only used at the urrent time on the number 7 train and also the L train. They are currently installing the infrastructure on the F but it is years away If you see them anywhere else its for future use
2- The 2nd photo is of an odd red/white light (green signal is in the distance)...what is that signal for? I've seen them in some other stations, but can't quite figure out what it means.
This is called a single shot Grade Time signal There is a posted speed limit at least 600 feet before it that a motorman must read and adhere to. All the signals work in time with those yellow stop arms in the track. If you approach that signal at a higher speed than posted the stop arm will not go down and the signal will not go to green. If the train strikes the stop arm there is a trip cock on the bottom of the car that dumps the air and places the train in Brakes in Emergency. If a motorman does this he has to go to the penalty box for 5 minutes and feel shame. The signal you have in the picture is at 57 and 7 and the posted speed is 20MPH You will see trains slow as they enter the station to 20 or less If you walk down the platform that speed limit sign is abot 50 feet from the platform end in the station It says GT 20
3- The 3rd photo has a few things in yellow. One of them is on the third rail cover....why is that square yellow? Also, what is the yellow pipe for? I get why its yellow, but not sure if its an electrical conduit or some sort of strengthening rod that I don't see hardly anywhere else.
This little square is a marker It is similar to a mile marker but it also has a sign behind it that says HVB. HVB marks the location of a High Voltage Box
which is tapped from the third rail to run the emergency station lighting system. The square on the yellow on the protection board marks where the tap is The yellow pipe has the wire that leads to the emergency lighting system Box
4- The 4th image...what am I looking at? There is a handle that looks like it goes to the box on the ground...but I can't figure out what thats all for. Does it cut the power to the third rail?
These handles are train control They stop trains from going where they shouldnt be If the arm is up the train should not try to pass because it will strike the petcock on the front of the train the and place the trains Brakes in emergencyWhen the stop arm is up the signal directly across from it is red
5- The 8th image shows a crumbling stairway...whats in the locked off door? Signal equipment? Seems like a crazy place to put something.
Behind those doors are the power feeds and splices from Con Ed
6- The 9th image...so there are two drains there..one is in the ground and one is at the height of the ties? Why is it so high? Also interesting is that there are two rails together on the platform side. I don't see this hardly anywhere else. Is it because there is a slight curve on that part of the platform?
Track with the cut ties and the trough in the middle werent the way they were originally installed All the original track had full ties with ballast just like any other railroad. The higher drain cover is a leftover from that time I believe the concrete embedding with the trough started in the late 1960's The lower drain was from when that track was converted
7- he work train...what is that flatcar typically used for? The yellowbird RD421?
That flatcar can be used for anything I have seen tools, power equipment, junk, construction materials , vacuum equipment, sand blasting equipment etc etc etc on those cars I have also seen them used as platforms to install new signal cable
8-The photo after the worktrain with the orange rail joiner...why is it orange? What are those encapsulated wires between the tracks for?
That red painted joint is called an insulated joint IJ It seperates two blocks on the signal rail Just like our models there is one rail used for signalling and it is seperated into blocks. The axels of the train complete the circuit to the signal rail to change signals from green to red etc etc. Every 600 to 1000 feet there is an IJ Sometimes the signal rail will be switched to the other side and you will seecables going across the middle of the rails. Any joint that is insulated for signal purposes will be painted red You will see the red paint on switch arms to prevent the running rail from connecting to the signal rail.
9- The 42nd street photo with the pipe in the ceiling...there was water dripping down that pipe into the middle of the subway tracks (DT side, closer to 42nd). Where the heck is that water coming from and why? lol.
This was probably a drain from one of the upper levels that has lost its leader Obviously the leader was never replaced and the water just drips down. There is probably a hole somewhere near the back wall that the leaader would have led to
Sorry Mitchell Patrick isnt the only one that would know these things
