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@CBQ_Bill posted:

...a subway layout is really "bottom shelf", just below the street & surface RRs.

😀

Bill

Indeed, to me, that is the challenge of modeling a subway: the fact that by definition it is underground, making it hard to add a lot of detail and still keep it visible. But the many subway layouts on this forum show modelers can rise to the challenge in diverse ways. 😀

Station platform lighting contract complete. Some punchlist items remain, but it's time to move on to the next phase: installing the station wall along the track.

20210211_12520120210211_12523420210211_12530820210211_12535320210211_12545920210211_12554320210211_125729

W. Side Joe ---  EXCELLENT first class looking work.  Neat,  realistic, very straight columns and fabricated "plastruct" steelwork authentically replicated.  And the platform and details and signage -- stairway -- newstand, etc.  Outstanding - especially the "lighting" system.   Great Work !

Joe F

W. Side Joe ---  EXCELLENT first class looking work.  Neat,  realistic, very straight columns and fabricated "plastruct" steelwork authentically replicated.  And the platform and details and signage -- stairway -- newstand, etc.  Outstanding - especially the "lighting" system.   Great Work !

Joe F

Nice to see another subway modeler! 

My tunnel modules just passed the twenty year mark.

Installing a Wayintop 8mb mp3 sound module in my subway tunnel module with the streetscape on top. Downloaded a 2 minute clip of NYC street sounds from Soundsnap, copied the file onto the Wayintop, and configured it to play the clip continuously until the play button is pressed again. Now creating a box to mount everything under the layout.20210221_223018

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  • 20210221_223018

Board screwed into place and speaker glued to silicone gasket to cut down on vibration noise. Holes drilled on other side to serve as a speaker "grille". Speaker box will be under layout module, and battery box and play button on top of layout surface.  The sound clip is actually 2 minutes long, but 7 seconds is all I could load (5 mb attachment limit).  Nonetheless, placing the speaker inside the box improves the loudness and sound quality due to the echoing inside.

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  • 20210222_215144
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Last edited by West Side Joe

Station platform lighting contract complete. Some punchlist items remain, but it's time to move on to the next phase: installing the station wall along the track.

20210211_12520120210211_125729

Outstanding modeling. I really like the green you chose for the columns and the framework. Rustoleum was a good choice  it has the right old school look to it . Those columns were usually re- painted so many times the paint was 1/4" thick on them.

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Last edited by G-Man24

Modular is the way to go.  I have 15 modules all electrically isolated, but I cannot lift them to work under.  I use Conch Jones connectors for electrical connections between modules.  The problem is isolating the track.  I have totally disconnected inter-track connections in the past and have had alignment issues, so now I use plastic rail joiners.

Thanks.  It's an interesting point you make about the ballasted track.  When I began the first (cut and cover) module, I followed the original IRT construction.  When I began the station module, I began to learn about the differences between the first contract and the Dual Contracts, including the use of a paved concrete roadbed in those stations instead of ballast, and the provision of a walkway along the BMT tunnel walls, and half-height concrete separators between adjacent tracks.  So strictly speaking, ballasted track is incorrect in the Times Square station.  Nonetheless, I like the way it looks.  Modeller's license.

Hello W S Joe

As far as ballasted track in a Times SQ. Station, likely NOT in the 1917-18 built new Times Square "express" station for the new 1916-18 built southern extension of the old IRT West side mainline from W. 42nd Street south to South Ferry Loop.

But the original built 1904 IRT first mainline from South Ferry to Grand Central Station on what was before 1918, from 1904, an express station,  and since 1918 the "Shuttle Line easterly Station" -- and continuing west under 42nd Street to the original Times Square originally LOCAL Station -- (now the west end of the shuttle) -- had ballasted track as built.  So "technically"  the Times Square original pre-1918 mainline station would have been ballasted, if I recall correctly.  The original route from South Ferry loop, north to, and west under/across 42nd street to Broadway, and north on Broadway to Dyckman Street (and east to 149th & 3rd Ave)  built between 1902 and 1905,  was all ballasted track.  See 1954 photo below of ballasted track at Grand Central "shuttle" station with a Deck Roof Hi-V Car with manual operated door (see end control levers).  I rode these Hi-V cars on the shuttle a number of times until they were replaced by 1957 and remember the ballasted trackways.  "SO", your ballasted track and "Times Square" station model has a -- ummm,  authentic  precedent !  I really miss the old IRT the way it was back in those long ago times !

Regards - Joe F



[23k, 604x540)<br><b>Country:</b> United States<br><b>City:</b> New York<br><b>System:</b> New York City Transit<br><b>Line:</b> IRT Times Square-Grand Central Shuttle<br><b>Location:</b> Grand Central<br><b>Car:</b> Hi-V 3653 <br><b>Photo by:</b> Frank Pfuhler<br><b>Date:</b> 12/12/1954<br><b>Notes:</b> Deck Roof High-V with Manual Doors<br><b>Viewed (this week/total):</b> 0 / 4218

BELOW showing a track map and layout of the original Times Square LOCAL STATION of the original 1904 IRT first subway "mainline" where it curves from west under W. 42nd Street to north under  Broadway.  As originally built BEFORE the 1918 opened southerly west side extension  to South Ferry.

Great info, Joe. What is the "platform of lower station" that I see on that drawing?

Your post also now explains to me why the GCT end of the shuttle is so wide: it had two island platforms when it was an express station. Thanks for that insight.

Although my 42nd St. module is trying to keep to BMT practice because my Lionel subway is an R27, I still would like a future module to follow the original 1904 IRT station practice, because that's the line I've ridden since I was a toddler in shorts getting poked by the stray ticking from the straw seats in the Lo-V cars. 😊

The wording is confusing about that 'platform" - it really was an underpass below the 4 tracks between the uptown and downtown local platforms.  It ran under the east sidewalk of Broadway and is still there today.  It was to be extended to W.41st street but never was done. I believe it was extended to be connected to the (beneath) the West Side IRT new Times Square express station 2 island platforms.   It was made redundant as an "underpass" walkway when the shuttle was created -- but remained in use quite a number of years for the westbound (former N/B) platform passengers of the shuttle and its fare paying both area there, to get to the opposite E/B (former S/B) platform and make connection to the new southern west side IRT extension.  Because the former N/B local "now shuttle" track was connected to the new northbound local track coming up north from the new Times Square Station of the new south extension mainline tunnel from South Ferry.


In later years and due to passenger rush hour speed, convenience and safety for crossing the 4 tracks,   a quickly removable portable wide wooden platform was placed over the former N/B "shuttle" local track,  to connect with a newly permanent concrete platform running across the other 3 "bumper ending" tracks of the shuttle at its own Times Square Station.  Below are some photos from me of this arrangement.

BELOW -- LEFT - looking west along former N/B local mainline track at Times Square "shuttle" track # 4 back in 1958 showing the portable removable wooden platform placed across it where it connected to the 1918 built west side IRT Mainline local track. Stairway to upper level 1904 opened fare control area is seen still in use at end of platform

BELOW -- RIGHT - looking west in more recent time showing the basic same scene and more clearly is seen the trackway and steel framed and wooden deck portable removable platform across the former uptown local track, now shuttle track former # 4 track.  In distance is seen the new 4 track lower west side mainline crossing / passing by / the curving former 1904 opened 4 track R-o-W original mainline which is now part of the shuttle segment. At left edge of photo is shuttle track # 3 which was the former N/B Mainline express track thru this station when it was part of the original 1904 opened original mainline.

IRT Shuttle Time SQ NB Local Track & Sta-1958IRT Times SQ Shuttle traxck to W. side mainline-2018N at Times Sq to first IRT route from 42St to B'way

ABOVE -- view north along the 1918 opened new northbound local track of the 1918 built lower west side IRT Line from South Ferry. The original northbound local track from the 1904 original built east side mainline, is seen entering westward and connecting to the west side new mainline local track under Broadway,  The curving empty spaces between the curving rows of columns indicate where the original 4 tracks from the original 1904 mainline route from the east side curved to turn from W. 42nd Street,  northward under Broadway and head north to Harlem and the Bronx.

regards - Joe F

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  • IRT Shuttle Time SQ NB Local Track &amp; Sta-1958
  • IRT Times SQ Shuttle traxck to W. side mainline-2018
  • N at Times Sq to first IRT route from 42St to B'way
Last edited by Joseph Frank

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