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The first and second modules are detailed in this OGR thread: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...odular-subway-layout

This third module is going to be a bit of a fantasy layout: underground, a rendition of a station on the first IRT subway line on the Upper West Side of Manhattan; above, a rendition of Old San Juan. So, a combination of two of my favorite things. 😃

Photos to come as soon as I figure out why my new A32 Galaxy phone is not letting me upload photos to the OGR site. 🤔

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Forming third rail cover board from 1/32" x 3/16" basswood.

Cutting slots in the wood on alternate sides to facilitate bending:

20211224_140759

Using a contour gauge to get the required curvature of the board, then wetting the board and pinning it into place to dry.

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It took several tries repeatedly wetting and shaping the board without breaking it before the contour was "good enough".

20220123_15570720220123_155725

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Last edited by West Side Joe

Possible design for the station walls, using a photo of the Times Square original station wall as a starting point.

The medallions on either side are by the Puerto Rican artist Ana Santiago.  Other examples of her work can be seen here:

https://www.pinterest.com/diafe2000/yolos-art/

Viejo San Juan Station Sign 2

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Last edited by West Side Joe

Original subway stations were pretty short, and they were soon extended for longer trains. But in some cases the extensions had to be built on curves, and the cars were too far from the platform in those locations, so extenders were installed.

The extenders are retracted until the train comes to a stop in the station, then they extend to fill in the gap between the platform and the car doors.  Once the doors close, the train waits for the extenders to retract, then it can leave the station.

Original subway stations were pretty short, and they were soon extended for longer trains. But in some cases the extensions had to be built on curves, and the cars were too far from the platform in those locations, so extenders were installed.

The extenders are retracted until the train comes to a stop in the station, then they extend to fill in the gap between the platform and the car doors.  Once the doors close, the train waits for the extenders to retract, then it can leave the station.

Thanks very much Joe', for the explanation.  I had no idea.  Funny, my Dad was a motorman in the 40s... on the IRT and other lines too.  I can just imagine what is reaction to the modern technology of the past few years.....  You have a very interesting educational thread'.. 👍✔

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Video:

https://youtube.com/shorts/YhB9XrrSx_g?feature=share

After my first Covid experience (three days under the covers), AND  a nasty cold three weeks later (with antibiotics, expectorants, steroids and nebulizer treatments), installation of the moving part of extenders is complete. Now follows installation of the platform overlay.

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Last edited by West Side Joe

@West Side Joe  great mechanical engineering job.

The "kids" today use modeling software to design and do a virtual build so that they will be reasonably certain the extenders will operate as expected.  What modeling software did you use?  What control software are you using?

Second - if I did this - I would forget the platforms were extended and have the cars leave the station. What would/will happen if you also forget to retract the platforms?

I have really enjoyed following your sojourn in subway modeling. Thanks for documenting and sharing. Jeff

I confess I did not use any modeling software for design or for control. I searched for model grilles that were the approximate scale size, and sketched an approximate idea before putting it together with Plastruct girders and sheets that I had on hand.

I also explored various turnout control machines (and the possibility of manual control) before settling on the Peco Smartswitches, which offer a very fine degree of programmable control with a separate control unit, that then can be set and left alone. I didn't realize how big of a field there is in modeling applications for servo control, including model airplanes and cars.  The components of the Peco Smartswitches are actually made by a Taiwanese company that sells a range of servo control components to hobbyists. These servos can also be used for animations like working gates, moving equipment, etc.

And just like the real extenders, if they are not retracted as the train leaves, there will indeed be damage! 😁

Very cool  Love them 



"Original subway stations were pretty short, and they were soon extended for longer trains. But in some cases the extensions had to be built on curves, and the cars were too far from the platform in those locations, so extenders were installed."

This really isnt true   The stations were curved from day 1.  Until they stopped using it South Ferry had the platform extenders on a total of 5 car train   They made announcements at the previous station to move to the first five cars as the back would not be open   The platform extenders were there a long time and were the responsibility of the signal maintainers to make them work properly

I stand corrected. I was under the impression that some stations (14th Street on the East Side?) were lengthened into curves and thus needed the extenders. That's the back story for my layout. 😁

I also understood that some curved stations (City Hall, South Ferry) originally didn't need extenders because the first subway cars only had end doors which were close to the platforms, but that extenders were needed when they started using cars with center doors (not at City Hall, which closed early). In any case, extenders are cool! 😃

Last edited by West Side Joe

I stand corrected. I was under the impression that some stations (14th Street on the East Side?) were lengthened into curves and thus needed the extenders. That's the back story for my layout. 😁

I also understood that some curved stations (City Hall, South Ferry) originally didn't need extenders because the first subway cars only had end doors which were close to the platforms, but that extenders were needed when they started using cars with center doors (not at City Hall, which closed early). In any case, extenders are cool! 😃

Now that is true  Gap fillers were needed after 1940 whne the cars had doors the length of the cars   The end doors of the old cars would be closer to the platform and I think people were smarter then and didnt step between the platform and car  LOL

"... they actually don't start retracting until after the train starts moving and bumps them slightly. "

Really?  Bumping a stationary item? That doesn't sound safe. I have seen yellow signs with black lettering, at the platform ends, that state "SLOW UNTIL GAP FILLER SIGNAL CLEARS"  The signal has a red lamp, and a lighted white section with the abbreviation for gap-filler, "GF". When the red lamp is extinguished, the train can move at normal speed. I believe that the initial slow forward motion of the train is detected by a track circuit, (similar to the practice of "keying by" a stop signal) which then retracts the gap filler. When the gap filler is fully retracted, the signal clears.

On another note, I believe that there are gap-filler platforms at the west end of the shuttle between Grand Central and Times Square.  Unlike the other ones at South Ferry and 14th Street, which are the intersecting grid types, the ones at Times Square are more like the ones you have built. They are solid and slide under the fixed platform.

Last edited by Arthur P. Bloom

I didn't know there are special signals at those stations indicating when it is safe to proceed. As a bystander on the platform, though, it seems to me that the extenders do actually gently bump against the train as it begins to move. It could (most likely is) just an optical illusion.

Now I think I will need to incorporate such a "gap filler" sign and signal on my layout module! 😁 I doubt that such a garish sign was used in the 1960's, though; I think I'll make up a 1960's style sign, blue with white lettering. It's too good not to include.)

21019602674_3bbdfb1916_bNYCS_SF-Loop-platform-sig+tunnel

The west end of the Times Square shuttle station was completely rebuilt and the trains now stop before the curve where the extenders were located.

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Last edited by West Side Joe

I didn't know there are special signals at those stations indicating when it is safe to proceed. As a bystander on the platform, though, it seems to me that the extenders do actually gently bump against the train as it begins to move. It could (most likely is) just an optical illusion.

Now I think I will need to incorporate such a "gap filler" sign and signal on my layout module! 😁 I doubt that such a garish sign was used in the 1960's, though; I think I'll make up a 1960's style sign, blue with white lettering. It's too good not to include.)

21019602674_3bbdfb1916_bNYCS_SF-Loop-platform-sig+tunnel

The west end of the Times Square shuttle station was completely rebuilt and the trains now stop before the curve where the extenders were located.

Certainly possible. It would be more protypical as well, because if you have ever seen these things in action, they actually don't start retracting until after the train starts moving and bumps them slightly.  But I'll leave it to an electronic whiz kid to take the concept to the next level. 🙂

There was a time I took the train from South Ferry a few times a week. it looked like the train bumped the extenders every time and that's what made them retract. Or that's how it looked, the extenders did get bumped every time. I don't think a circuit could work for this. The servos are to slow as compared to the train moving.

Before I resume progress on "Old San Juan", I'm going to build one more module to serve as a storage yard for two subway sets, because I broke down and bought the MTH R1 set 🤩 (my wife caught me trying to sneak it into the garage 🤣), and it would be nice to have both the R1 and the R27 sets out of the box and ready to run without having to unpack them.  So I rearranged a bunch of stuff in the attic to make some space.

20221018_180611

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Testing idea for platform columns. The part between the white collars will be above the platform, and the rest will extend below the platform to the track baseboard.

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Very nice, Joe. Always liked the look of the old round columns better than the “I-beam” style that is so prevalent these days. Before I retired, there were a few still on the 28th St. stop on the Lex (I went to school and then worked there for 38 years!!!). I did a quick internet search and found a picture of the long abandoned 18th St. station which showed the footings for the columns and you have a really good match. Great job.

Joe;

@AlanRail certainly did a nice job on those footings!!!

The pics indicate that they may be subject to copyright, so here are two links to some pics from the early days of the Subway.

https://ephemeralnewyork.wordp...reet-subway-station/

https://forgotten-ny.com/2012/...-postcards-part-2-2/

And if you REALLY want to model a spectacular station

https://www.6sqft.com/nyc-city...tation-tour-history/

Last edited by Apples55

Great links and photos.  Also thanks to Steve Markowitz for sending me some links.

The colorized photo implies the original color of the columns was brown.  However, I have also seen photos of green columns in later years.  One thing I've learned in modeling these stations is that there appears to be a precedent for just about anything you can imagine.  So I'm leaning towards the same rich dark green that I used for the 42nd Street station module, because I like it more.

I agree that if someone ever models the City Hall Station, that will be a pinnacle in subway modeling!  And gap fillers are not required, since the station never had them and only end doors opened on the cars in that station.

Last edited by West Side Joe

For my sidewalk subway entrance I was planning to kitbash the Lemax subway kiosk (needs alteration as the proportions are not right) with the Modeltechstudios generic O scale vintage subway entrance kit (too wide). It bothered me that the resulting entrance in O scale would overpower my 9" wide street scene above the station. Then I came across this 3d printed "S" scale exact replica of an IRT entrance kiosk on Shapeways, and realized it is perfect for the limited space I have. S scale can work well on an O scale layout in the right circumstances.

20230101_181918

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Last edited by West Side Joe

For my sidewalk subway entrance I was planning to kitbash the Lemax subway kiosk (needs alteration as the proportions are not right) with the Modeltechstudios generic O scale vintage subway entrance kit. It bothered me that the resulting entrance in O scale would overpower my 9" wide street scene above the station. Then I came across this S scale exact replica of an IRT entrance kiosk on Shapeways, and realized it is perfect for the limited space I have. S scale can work well on an O scale layout in the right circumstances.

20230101_181918

It certainly can, great find and nice work!

Or in those stations that have a platform on either side of a single track (which will come in handy at the end of this post). I totally agree with your point. I plead extenuating circumstances:

The layout is a module that connects with two other ones, all of them the same size. On the other modules (a tunnel and an express stop) I've placed the single track on the edge away from the viewer (the "back"). Since this module was a local station, I routed the track from the connection with the other modules, to the "front" so the viewer could see the station from the platform edge all the way to the back wall, which I hope to embellish with the beautiful tile work and station signing of the original 1905 IRT stations. But the s-curve  geometrics of the Lionel tubular track placed it so close to the front edge that there was no room left for the third rail at the front.

So knowing that when necessity rears its head (such as at the station illustrated in the link below) the third rail can be located under the platform edge, I throw myself on the mercy of the court.😁

http://www.nydailynews.com/res...T47L345JGGB5HOM.jpeg

Last edited by West Side Joe

Or in those stations that have a platform on either side of a single track (which will come in handy at the end of this post). I totally agree with your point. I plead extenuating circumstances:

The layout is a module that connects with two other ones, all of them the same size. On the other modules (a tunnel and an express stop) I've placed the single track on the edge away from the viewer (the "back"). Since this module was a local station, I routed the track from the connection with the other modules, to the "front" so the viewer could see the station from the platform edge all the way to the back wall, which I hope to embellish with the beautiful tile work and station signing of the original 1905 IRT stations. But the s-curve  geometrics of the Lionel tubular track placed it so close to the front edge that there was no room left for the third rail at the front.

So knowing that when necessity rears its head (such as at the station illustrated in the link below) the third rail can be located under the platform edge, I throw myself on the mercy of the court.😁

http://www.nydailynews.com/res...T47L345JGGB5HOM.jpeg

Not at all, it’s still well done and spectacular.

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