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Discussion relating to the operations of MTA MetroNorth Railroad including west of Hudson operations and discussion of CtDOT sponsored rail operations such as Shore Line East and the Springfield to New Haven Hartford Line

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 #1515444  by shadyjay
 
ajp wrote: Sun Jul 28, 2019 9:29 pm a question to the experts could the new haven side have
have more old board space because they had more destinations?

History of the train boards above the ticket windows:

Prior to 1967... no departure boards in a central location. Individual boards at track gates with roll signs. Space over ticket windows used for advertising. You probably had to ask at the ticket window or info booth to find your track number, or just stroll the concourse looking at the over-gate or under-balcony indicators.

Solari boards were put up in 1967-1968... one for NH, one for NYC, both mounted over NYC ticket windows. No boards over NH (east) windows.

After the PC takeover, the NH board became a board for New Haven Line trains, the NYC board for Harlem-Hudson Line trains.

Sometime around this time, the overhead gate triangular indicators had their "destinations" removed and just "TRACK ##" inserted. A whole array of these were mounted underneath the balconies to accommodate those tracks not in the main concourse.
Later, in the 1980s, 3 Omega boards installed. Similar to the Solari board, but there were now 3... one for New Haven Line departures, one for Harlem-Hudson Line departures, and one for "All Train Arrivals". Survived until c 1997.

During the GCT 1996-1998 restoration, the LCD boards were installed (the ones that were just replaced with the digitals). This brought about the first time ever that a departure board was placed over the former NH ticket windows. 3 boards given to New Haven departures and 1 general information board. Over the active ticket windows, 2 boards for Harlem, 1 for Hudson, 1 for general info. Train arrivals moved off the boards and onto a computer monitor at the info booth.

The New Haven Line is IIRC the busiest commuter rail line, and, as mentioned above, during rush hour/peak hours, there are numerous departures within a 1-hour period, all to various destinations.
 #1515466  by RearOfSignal
 
ExCon90 wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2019 3:53 pm I think what you'd need to do is go to GCT at the height of the evening peak and note the departure times of the first and last trains shown on the board for each line. You'd need 20 to 30 minutes' worth of departure times visible on the board at one time to provide some reassurance for passengers, particularly those unaccustomed to train travel, particularly rush-hour travel.
20-30 minutes is no problem but there is no need to have the tracks for next 18 trains listed, especially on weekends when 18 trains covers close to 3 hours of service. It’s not like you have to go through a TSA security screening as if you’re flying.
 #1515467  by DutchRailnut
 
You should get promoted , really .
 #1515469  by RearOfSignal
 
You mean get promoted and have a genius idea about changing the designation of mechanical tracks in Danbury. No thanks I’ll leave that to you.
 #1515640  by andrewjw
 
Has there been any consideration to the approach of the LIRR boards in Penn, which show the time and track for the next* departure to each station? NJT has a similar "board" on a bunch of LCD TVs next to their ticket windows in Penn.

(*Obviously, they will show the second or third departure when that is an express that passes the previous departures.)
 #1515693  by Ridgefielder
 
ajp wrote: Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:27 pm now that the big displays are installed and have passed muster with the rr and historical commission
and rearofsignal says the track boards will follow
I wonder of the displays around the subway entrances and tvm lobbies will follow suit?
I was always amused that there was a departure display in
the old Annie Moore’s bar across the street from the Vanderbilt entrance
Don’t know if the new Annie’s was graced the same way
The new Annie's is not. However, Stout, on 41st between Mad & Park, is. The board is up on a 52" flatscreen front & center-- visible from pretty much the entire (very large) bar. Think there are a couple other area watering holes that do the same thing.
 #1516256  by PC1100
 
shadyjay wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2019 4:15 pm
ajp wrote: Sun Jul 28, 2019 9:29 pm a question to the experts could the new haven side have
have more old board space because they had more destinations?

History of the train boards above the ticket windows:

Prior to 1967... no departure boards in a central location. Individual boards at track gates with roll signs. Space over ticket windows used for advertising. You probably had to ask at the ticket window or info booth to find your track number, or just stroll the concourse looking at the over-gate or under-balcony indicators.

Solari boards were put up in 1967-1968... one for NH, one for NYC, both mounted over NYC ticket windows. No boards over NH (east) windows.

After the PC takeover, the NH board became a board for New Haven Line trains, the NYC board for Harlem-Hudson Line trains.

Sometime around this time, the overhead gate triangular indicators had their "destinations" removed and just "TRACK ##" inserted. A whole array of these were mounted underneath the balconies to accommodate those tracks not in the main concourse.
Later, in the 1980s, 3 Omega boards installed. Similar to the Solari board, but there were now 3... one for New Haven Line departures, one for Harlem-Hudson Line departures, and one for "All Train Arrivals". Survived unail c 1997.
The triangular signs over the main concourse gates and the flat ones (now gone) over the archways to the east side and west side gates were blanked and permanently lit up in 1985. This is when the gate indicators were modified and the curtains (the signs at the gate with the train time and name or destination and station stops) handled by the Ushers (Gatemen in NYC days) were replaced by the flap Omega signs. The 1967 Solari Board was replaced by the Omega Board that year as well and the TV monitors with train information installed. Previously the triangular and flat signs were set up by the Ushers to show the destination or train name and then the light turned on while the train was boarding. After the Usher closed the gate to allow the train to depart they would turn the light off.
 #1516857  by Ridgefielder
 
PC1100 wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2019 10:48 pmThe triangular signs over the main concourse gates and the flat ones (now gone) over the archways to the east side and west side gates were blanked and permanently lit up in 1985. This is when the gate indicators were modified and the curtains (the signs at the gate with the train time and name or destination and station stops) handled by the Ushers (Gatemen in NYC days) were replaced by the flap Omega signs. The 1967 Solari Board was replaced by the Omega Board that year as well and the TV monitors with train information installed. Previously the triangular and flat signs were set up by the Ushers to show the destination or train name and then the light turned on while the train was boarding. After the Usher closed the gate to allow the train to depart they would turn the light off.
I recall that when the signs were temporarily un-blanked in the late 1990's restoration the old roll curtains were still there, with train names. The Rip Van Winkle, Commodore Vanderbilt, Berkshire, Mayflower and others all made a last ghostly appearance.