Grand Central Madison TERMINAL DISCUSSION THREAD

Negative. The signals in the GCT tunnel are not reduced-aspect signals. They are conventional color-light signals showing standard signal aspects. The same as they now have in Harold Interlocking.

https://untappedcities.com/2023/11/08/h ... l-madison/

THE OVERLOOKED WAYFINDING SIGNS AT GRAND CENTRAL MADISON

Can you see the teal “48” on the floor in the picture below? This subtle and often overlooked sign is part of a color-coded wayfinding system in Grand Central Madison that applies to the whole station. On our upcoming tour of the art in Grand Central Madison, you can locate these signs, uncover hidden works of art in the historic train terminal, and learn about the inspiration behind new pieces by famous artists such as Kiki Sith and Yayoi Kusama!



The concourse of Grand Central Madison, deep below the historic train terminal, stretches from 48th Street to 43rd Street. To help commuters navigate this massive space, a color-coded system was devised to mark each cross-street. Each street from 48th to 45th Street has its own artwork and a signature color. 48th Street is teal, 47th is purple, 46th is dark blue, and 45th is green.
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I don't see a "48".

It’s there. Look at the teal and you see a very large 4
Then using the lit circle as the bottom
You can see a smaller 8

Most NY commuters don't walk slowly enough to take all that in (especially with those other people's feet in the way), but the different colors should be enough for regulars to get the picture pretty quickly.

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere: Westbound at HAROLD, is there a special signal aspect, like an arrow, on distant and home signals, to indicate whether a train is routed to Penn Station, GCT, or Hunterspoint Ave.? I've seen some head-end videos but haven't been able to spot anything. In Germany, which also has speed signaling, there would be a prominent P, G, or H in lunar white just under the color-light aspect.

There are white arrows that will be lit for westbound trains routed for Grand Central. There are eastbound white arrows lit for trains routed to the Port Washington Branch.

Thanks. Did they put in an alternative vertical arrow for the NYP route to provide a positive indication either way?

Head-end View wrote: ↑Sat Oct 21, 2023 7:43 pm Negative. The signals in the GCT tunnel are not reduced-aspect signals. They are conventional color-light signals showing standard signal aspects. The same as they now have in Harold Interlocking.

The signals in the GCM tunnels are not the same as the triangle 3-color light signals that are in Harold. They look like NYCT transit signals with a single set of red, yellow, and green bulbs (and only one set, not two like the signals in Harold and other non-reduced aspect interlockings). Are they really showing all of the standard aspects with three colors/bulbs?

Point taken rdr2253. You're right, and I hadn't realized they are only single head signals. I just watched cab-ride videos in both directions and it seems that even approaching a diverging route, a single green or yellow is displayed. Could be different signal rules are in effect in the Grand Central Tunnels and maybe the cab-signal indicator shows a more specific signal aspect or maximum allowed speed. Good question.

Maybe some LIRR employees on here could fill us in on that.

Rode into Grand Central this morning, since that's where the train I hopped was headed. I have to say, it's not particularly confusing to get from the LIRR track to the subway. It just takes a long time; they aren't as close to each other as the Penn Station LIRR tracks and the 1-2-3 or A-C-E subway tracks. But going the other direction -- from the 4-5-6 subway tracks to the LIRR tracks is a lot more confusing. Some of it is no doubt just familiarity versus the absense thereof, but Grand Central Madison LIRR isn't a single destination space. It's like following directions to the mall when what you want is instructions for how to get to the specific department store you need to get to. After a certain point you don't want to follow signs to the waiting area, you want signs telling you how to get to the departing train to Ronkonkoma or Patchogue or whatever before it pulls away without you. A sign telling you you want track 2345 or 1711 isn't as helpful as the sign as Penn telling you the corresponding train is on track 17 or 20 -- the relevant tracks at Grand Central seem to be spread out across several levels and getting to them is an intimidating challenge.

48th St. tiles

Travelled to GCM today for the first time in several months. Although there are still no stores or shops in the LIRR concourse, after a full year a little progress has been made. There are now a few food and snack stands including a coffee and bagel stand.

So you can at least finally get a cup of coffee at Grand Central Madison. It's about friggin time.

Another food gain for the terminal: NYPost

https://nypost.com/2024/03/21/us-news/p ... dison/amp/
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has reeled a former Penn Station eatery, and long-time favorite of commuters, into the Long Island Rail Road’s new terminal beneath Grand Central — convincing the oyster bar Tracks to open a second branch on the East Side.
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Construction will begin shortly afterward, though the expected opening date for the second Tracks location was not immediately available.
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Jeff Smith wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:27 am the expected opening date for the second Tracks location was not immediately available.

Yesterday they said, this fall.