The IND + IRT: Crisp New Rockaway Track, Round Trip on 7

These are the results of my trip on June 4th, 2013
My round trip on the 7, with both express and local runs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2zJMrgdtJI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Clips from the newly rebuilt and reopened Rockaway branch. Personally, I love listening to the new track as the trains roll over them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7SNMAePRzQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Passenger window view from Howard Beach to Broad Channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXC7sxpLdUM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Trains at Broad Channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UC0ksQImA0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Railfan view from Mott Ave to Rockaway Blvd

And finally other tidbits from that day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE1emKAG_uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGsBpeSfKCo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnXpcxWTfoQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcGerBdWi8w" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkLeCjUbBaI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-zHMvGmRYc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks.

Bookmarked for later.

Looks like you had a good day. I assume nobody hassled you about photography on the system, unlike some other experiences we've heard about in recent years?

Head-end View wrote:Looks like you had a good day. I assume nobody hassled you about photography on the system, unlike some other experiences we've heard about in recent years?

Nope, I've been generally blessed on the Subway. I can't say the same about NJT. Some of those guys are MAD paranoid.

Thanks for the 7 line video. Now I can get my 7 line fix in between NYC excursions. Very crisp and clear compared to similar videos I have seen. I would love to see one of the F line from Coney to Smiths 9 St station...

Nice job ! You did everything right - kept the camera in one position, minimum of glass reflections, etc. giving the viewer the impression that their nose was pressed up to the door glass ! In fact, I went way back to 1965 as a kiddo at the Worlds Fair taking the 7 back and forth on the Fair's shuttle in the powder blue cars. Nice memory and thanks for helping me remember it ! (Are the blue lights inside the subway indications that a phone is at that location ?)

3rdrail wrote:Nice job ! You did everything right - kept the camera in one position, minimum of glass reflections, etc. giving the viewer the impression that their nose was pressed up to the door glass ! In fact, I went way back to 1965 as a kiddo at the Worlds Fair taking the 7 back and forth on the Fair's shuttle in the powder blue cars. Nice memory and thanks for helping me remember it!

Those cars were the "Blue Arrow" R33/R36s built for the #7 World's Fair service in two-tone turquoise, later repainted deep red (later Redbird) in the late 1980s. Many survive today as work motors or in storage and one (9306) is in the Transit Museum fleet.

Nice videos.

Watching the first video, from Howard Beach - One thing that puzzles me.

The section from HB starts out as 4 tracks. There are crossovers right after the station.
Then a little while later an inbound train passes on the track next to the one you are filming from. I think it was signed S.
Then the tracks go from 4 to 2, the track the train is on plus the one next to it converge into one outbound track, and the other 2 converge to an inbound track.
I don't see any crossovers between where the inbound train passed, and where it goes to 2 tracks.
So that suggests they are using the outbound track as bidirectional up until it splits into 2?

I like the traction motor sound of those R46's by the way. Reminds me of the London Underground.

Jon

jonnhrr wrote:Nice videos.

Watching the first video, from Howard Beach - One thing that puzzles me.

The section from HB starts out as 4 tracks. There are crossovers right after the station.
Then a little while later an inbound train passes on the track next to the one you are filming from. I think it was signed S.
Then the tracks go from 4 to 2, the track the train is on plus the one next to it converge into one outbound track, and the other 2 converge to an inbound track.
I don't see any crossovers between where the inbound train passed, and where it goes to 2 tracks.
So that suggests they are using the outbound track as bidirectional up until it splits into 2?

Jon

No no, here's how it worked (when they still relayed the Rock Shuttle train at HB). Let's say the 4 track section has tracks labled A (the outbound local track on which my train is running), B (the relay track where the Shuttle is sitting), C (inbound express), and D (inbound local). And let's say the two track section has tracks 1 (the outbound track) and 2 (the inbound track). The out of service Shuttle train comes into the HB interlocking from Broad Channel on track 2, and switches onto track C. You will notice that there is a double-crossover switch connecting tracks B and C, right after track B comes off of track A outside the station. Also notice that track C runs up into the station area, whereas track B is truncated back into track A right outside the station area. The Shuttle runs past the double crossover on track C and into about the station area, then reverses and uses that crossover to switch to track B from track C. There, it will wait until an A train (my train) has passed. Then it gets the all clear signal and follows after the A train back to Broad Channel, where it goes back into service.

This is how the Rockaway Shuttle trains relayed for a few weeks after the Rockaway Branch reopened, due to the fact that the relay tracks right outside of Broad Channel station were still out of service. Operations have returned to normal though since then, and Shuttle trains no longer relay at Howard Beach interlocking.

Thanks for the explanation, Fan Railer. I watched the video again, and I see where track B no longer runs through the station but connects to A just before the double X-over.
Also that the shuttle train was laying over on B, not moving.
It all makes sense now.

I assume that the shuttle now relays at Broad Channel, using the crossovers just North of the station?

I'll definitely have to ride out there next time I get to NYC.

Jon

The shuttles were runing to HB and relaying back to Broad Channel as of friday. I'll take a look tonight and see if they are still turning at HB.

BobLI wrote:The shuttles were runing to HB and relaying back to Broad Channel as of friday. I'll take a look tonight and see if they are still turning at HB.

Yea, I rechecked after I made that last post, and it seems they're taking longer than we expected to restore communications between the BC relay and the control tower.

New to NYC Subway forum. Excellent videos. Two questions: 1) What is the significance of blue lights about window height on underground trackage and 2) what is the pinpad (?) accessed by the motorman through the window at some of the surface stations?

Blue lights in tunnels are emergency power shutoff boxes.

The punch boxes (which are underground as well as above) are for requesting a train's route at an interlocking.

Kamen Rider wrote:Blue lights in tunnels are emergency power shutoff boxes.

Blue light =

1) System Telephone Box (usually equipped with handset, dial, and working telephone line!)
2) 3rd Rail Alarm Box ("power shutoff")
3) Fire Extinguisher (generally present, presumed functional)

...on *one* of the tracks at that location