Railfanning SIRT operations

[frank754]

I had a chance to visit the SIRT last year (2009), took the ferry, but didn't leave St. George as it would have been a long wait for the boat back. I wandered the platform a bit and took some pictures, and the gentleman I met was actually quite kind, and didn't have any problems with me there. Got a picture of the motorman controls:

and St. George platform area:


Here are two from way back in 1971 with the original 1925-era Pressed Steel B&O cars at Tottenville:

[Head-end View]

Good job Frank; nice photos!

[andre]

amazing shots of the old 1925 era cars, do you have more?

[frank754]

Those are the only 2 I took, back in those days I was a teen, and film was expensive. Wish they had digital cameras back then.

[Head-end View]

One of only 2 rides I have ever taken on SIR was on those old trains in their last years circa 1972. A round-trip from St.George to Tottenville. And you could see out the front........

[Storknest]

SIR did replace a lot of the old signals on the line, however checked today, still the B&O style aspects

Are they B&O style or actual B&O? I have always wondered especially if you go to Tompkinsville, there is one large signal there I figure is an authentic B&O signal, I think there are 1 or 2 others on the line like it. The others look the same but smaller and have the one light on top. I always wondered if the smaller lights were unique to SI.

I always liked the spot between Bay Terrace and Oakwood Heights where the bridge is that the never built highway was supposed to go under.
I also figure any of the pedestrian overpasses are good for above shots, places like Oakwood Heights, Great Kills, Annadale (I think has one) and Atlantic offhand.

[andre]

SIR did replace a lot of the old signals on the line, however checked today, still the B&O style aspects

Are they B&O style or actual B&O? I have always wondered especially if you go to Tompkinsville, there is one large signal there I figure is an authentic B&O signal, I think there are 1 or 2 others on the line like it. The others look the same but smaller and have the one light on top. I always wondered if the smaller lights were unique to SI.

I always liked the spot between Bay Terrace and Oakwood Heights where the bridge is that the never built highway was supposed to go under.
I also figure any of the pedestrian overpasses are good for above shots, places like Oakwood Heights, Great Kills, Annadale (I think has one) and Atlantic offhand.

by "authentic B&O do you mean signals that were installed by the B&O?
also the B&O style is just meaning the same rules/system and aspects that were established by the B&O but simply carried over after the transition to SIRTOA operation in the 70s (no need to reinvent the wheel)

[Storknest]

SIR did replace a lot of the old signals on the line, however checked today, still the B&O style aspects

Are they B&O style or actual B&O? I have always wondered especially if you go to Tompkinsville, there is one large signal there I figure is an authentic B&O signal, I think there are 1 or 2 others on the line like it. The others look the same but smaller and have the one light on top. I always wondered if the smaller lights were unique to SI.

I always liked the spot between Bay Terrace and Oakwood Heights where the bridge is that the never built highway was supposed to go under.
I also figure any of the pedestrian overpasses are good for above shots, places like Oakwood Heights, Great Kills, Annadale (I think has one) and Atlantic offhand.

by "authentic B&O do you mean signals that were installed by the B&O?
also the B&O style is just meaning the same rules/system and aspects that were established by the B&O but simply carried over after the transition to SIRTOA operation in the 70s (no need to reinvent the wheel)

What I mean about Authentic B&O signals I guess is exactly that, I see them mostly between Clifton and Tomkinsville.
Like this.
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?77028
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?77030
And on the gantry here
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?109976

Now I have also noticed a second signal, it looks similar to the B&O but is smaller, about a third around, and the white light on top is actually part of the main signal. This same signal I have seen as dwarfs, on masts and on the gantry in Great Kills seen from the public parking lot. I cannot find pictures anywhere currently and anytime I take photos, I get questioned.

Tompkinsville was the easiest place to see the difference last I knew, there was a large signal I figure to be a B&O and smaller ones also so you can compare them.

I have read they are doing some type of signal upgrade so I figure these smaller ones are a modern design using the B&O signaling, just a smaller head.

I have also noticed about 3-4 different switchstands so far on the line also.