Railroad Forums 

Discussion of the past and present operations of the Long Island Rail Road.

Moderator: Liquidcamphor

 #1531276  by Kelly&Kelly
 
When the M-1s first came, many attempts were made at operating two car trains. That didn't go well. For many years,four car units were regularly run, but as the battery and motor-alternator conditions of the cars deteriorated, brakes would sometimes apply (and wouldn't release) when the units gapped, so four-car trains were eliminated.

The MP-54's were very simple machines and any motorman/engineer could coast them through long gaps. The M-1/M-3 electrical systems tend to make brake applications when gapped if battery voltage isn't sufficient to maintain the release in control circuits. It's safe to say, though that a modern MU train in good condition is capable of coasting long distances also, but there are just too many variables in their complexities (motor/alternators, inverters, control circuitry, a/c pumps) involved to tolerate the risk.

Gap jumpers (snakes) were stored at many interlockings which were named in the Special Instructions. One particularly sorry set we were called to use was stored in the salt box at Valley. The asbestos insulation was crumbling off it as were the rotted and split wooden handles at each end. Or once, in Hall, a newspaper was stuffed to bridge a small gap between a third rail shoe and the third rail. A pail of water was thrown on it and with a smokey exploding flash from hell, it provided enough of a path to propel the cars a couple of feet back onto the rail. The Mechanical Department manager responsible for this pyrotechnic technological fete was, for the remaining 30 years, known to everyone as "Flash".

As we used to say, "That's railroading"
 #1531330  by northpit
 
I thought Flash got his name because of his ability to be on scene of equipment problems at any location in moments.He was a savior to the RR many times
 #1531357  by MNCRR9000
 
Sad to see Queens Tower close but guess that is the price of progress. Hopefully they will be able to save Queens and Nassau like they did with some of the towers on the MNRR New Haven Line.

So with Queens being remoted to JCC how much territory do they now cover besides Hall, Jay, Queens and I think the Port Washington branch?
 #1531624  by BuddR32
 
Kelly&Kelly wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 7:54 am Or once, in Hall, a newspaper was stuffed to bridge a small gap between a third rail shoe and the third rail. A pail of water was thrown on it and with a smokey exploding flash from hell, it provided enough of a path to propel the cars a couple of feet back onto the rail. The Mechanical Department manager responsible for this pyrotechnic technological fete was, for the remaining 30 years, known to everyone as "Flash".

As we used to say, "That's railroading"
Thanks Kelly for the history lesson. I knew the nickname came from an actual flash, just didnt know the particulars. Had he done that today, he'd be a CAM :(
 #1531681  by Head-end View
 
Wasn't there also a troubleshooter from M of E known as "Flash"? A guy who used to respond very quickly from home to the location of a disabled train to fix the problem? Or is that the same person you're talking about?
 #1531687  by BuddR32
 
Head-end View wrote: Tue Jan 21, 2020 9:22 pm Wasn't there also a troubleshooter from M of E known as "Flash"? A guy who used to respond very quickly from home to the location of a disabled train to fix the problem? Or is that the same person you're talking about?
One and the same