Internal Website (Radar)

Here's an interesting Website that the MTA put together for internal real time operating information. With the combining of Metro North and the LIRR's information systems, this is no longer being done internally by the Railroad:

https://radar.mta.info/

If you click on a train on the map, you'll see passenger counts, car numbers, consists, and OS times at stations.

Good stuff!

Inbounds odd numbers, outbound even?

I love it.

Just spent 20 minutes geeking out on that...wow. There's so many cool features in it. You can even generate the train departure boards identical to what you'd see standing on a platform, and go in and change lines/destinations/times with inspect element. Hope they don't hide it - such a cool tool.

Enjoy it while you can…I’m pretty sure they’re already aware they made a boo-boo.

Pretty interesting looking at the Loads tab and seeing that late night Fridays, it's the New Haven line that's consistently pretty full, whereas on Saturday mornings it's the outer New Haven and upper Hudson/Harlem It's partially the result of longer trains and more of them now, but overall LIRR loads are a lot lower than MNR, which has a lot of trains 50% or more full. Only three LIRR's have more than 250 pax...on MNR I count 12.

Jeff Smith wrote: ↑Fri Mar 10, 2023 10:36 am Inbounds odd numbers, outbound even?

Seems to be the same as before: odd numbers westbound and even numbers eastbound, the directions on the Hudson and Harlem being westbound toward Poughkeepsie and Wassaic, and on the New Haven eastbound toward New Haven, just as in NYC and NH days. Back then, for operational purposes New Haven trains had a y after the train number when between GCT and Woodlawn (e.g., the 20th Century from GCT was Train 25; the Merchants Limited to GCT was Train 25y); I don't know whether they still do it that way today.

ExCon90 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:59 pm Seems to be the same as before: odd numbers westbound and even numbers eastbound, the directions on the Hudson and Harlem being westbound toward Poughkeepsie and Wassaic, and on the New Haven eastbound toward New Haven, just as in NYC and NH days. Back then, for operational purposes New Haven trains had a y after the train number when between GCT and Woodlawn (e.g., the 20th Century from GCT was Train 25; the Merchants Limited to GCT was Train 25y); I don't know whether they still do it that way today.

No. Train numbers are unique across all three lines. No need for letters to distinguish between two trains.

Do not forget Amtrak as well. Are they also unique to the whole system ? The add in the freight trains as well. Both routes as well. Then add in Amtrak Albany trains and New Haven trains

The point of the "y" was to deal with the fact that NYC trains had odd numbers leaving GCT while NH trains going in the same direction between there and Woodlawn had even numbers (and vice versa), rather than have NH trains change numbers from odd to even or even to odd at Woodlawn. But I guess it's enough, since it's one railroad now, to know that train numbers in specific series are opposite (i.e., odd vs. even) to the rest.

Yeah the N/S trains are numbered differently than the E/W vis-vis odd/even. Also express and semi express as well as New Canaan have a different second digit. Branch trains begin with higher numbers (8 or 9) including the Upper Harlem, which is not a branch “per se”. Fascinating stuff.

MNR does not currently assign train numbers that fall into Amtrak’s numbering scheme, but in a pinch, it could happen. In operations, Amtrak trains identify themselves on the radio as “Amtrak xxx.” In MNR’s various IT systems, Amtrak train numbers carry an “A” prefix.

Freight trains don’t have numbers, per se; they have alphanumeric symbols.

Most commuter railroads with which I’m familiar have a very specific numbering scheme for their trains. Generally, the number identifies the line/branch on which the train operates, and even which outlying terminal the train runs to/from. On MNR, weekday numbering is as follows:

100-299 - not used
300-399 - Lower Harlem, generally that short-turn somewhere south of NWP, although when the 500-series was exhausted, some NWP trains got 300-series numbers
400-499 - Lower Hudson, generally that short-turn somewhere south of Harmon
500-599 - Lower Harlem, originating/terminating in NWP
600-699 - Upper Harlem, as far north as Southeast
700-799 - Lower Hudson, originating/terminating in Harmon
800-899 - Upper Hudson
900-999 - Upper Harlem, originating/terminating north of Southeast
1000-1199 - New Haven Line deadheads
1200-1299 - Inner New Haven short turns
1300-1399 - Inner NH, originating/terminating at Stamford
1400-1499 - Outer NH short turns (and Bridgeport Yard trains)
1500-1599 - Outer New Haven, originating/terminating at New Haven
1600-1699 - not currently used
1700-1799 - New Canaan Branch
1800-1899 - Danbury Branch
1900-1999 - Waterbury Branch
2000-2999 - Hudson and Harlem deadheads

3xxx and 4xxx numbers are either pre-holiday getaways, combo trains to support those getaway trains, or special trains that Aren’t anticipated to operate forever.

Generally, on weekends, prefix Hudsons with “8” (8xxx), Harlems with a “9” (9xxx), and on the New Haven replace the leading “1” with a “6”.

There are exceptions and variations to this, but this is the general rule.

Jim

Watched this most of the day and it was pretty cool to see the rush hours. NYAR freights also show up once they enter LIRR territory. Saw the RS40/41 going to and from One World. NYAR trains will indicate destinations.

Erie-Lackawanna wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:51 pm SNIP

Hold on, I got a spreadsheet with Amtrak numbers here...

Keystones are 600-680. No conflict currently but would conflict if MNR gets into Penn Station.
Acela's are 2100-2299 and don't really conflict much.
Everything else doesn't conflict as it's outside MNR's area.

Still, the "A" prefix is worth while.