Burton.osbunorth@Xerox.ARPA (12/28/85)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: Larry Lippman <larry@kitty.uucp.arpa> Subject: Re: Signaling on the NYC Subway To: railroad@rochester.arpa Return-Path: <mmdf@BRL.ARPA> Received: from ur-cayuga.rochester.arpa (ROCHESTER.ARPA) by Xerox.ARPA ; 26 DEC 85 02:47:28 PST Received: from ur-seneca.rochester.arpa (ur-seneca) by ur-cayuga.rochester.arpa id AA22511 (4.12u); Thu, 26 Dec 85 05:45:41 est Received: from ur-cayuga.rochester.arpa (ur-cayuga) by ur-seneca.rochester.arpa id AA08066 (4.12v); Thu, 26 Dec 85 05:45:24 est Errors-To: owner-lee-defer@rochester.arpa Received: from BRL-TGR.ARPA by ur-cayuga.rochester.arpa id AA22484 (4.12u); Thu, 26 Dec 85 05:44:16 est Received: from usenet by TGR.BRL.ARPA id a012696; 26 Dec 85 5:40 EST Newsgroups: net.railroad Message-Id: <663@kitty.UUCP> >> Could someone explain the signals used on New York's subway system? There is >> quite a variety of them, with different numbers of red, yellow and green >> lamps in various arrangements. > ... > This is only part of the story. > This is one of my favorite subjects in the world. Mine, too! One of my favorite books (I am into historical technology) is a reprint of a book entitled: "Interborough Rapid Transit" originally published in 1904, and reprinted by The Arno Press, LC number 71-90436. This book provides a number of fascinating photographs and details on the first New York City subway system; there is about 10 pages on the signalling system. > I can go on at any length or depth on this that anyone wants to hear. I > spent a large part of my childhood and adolescence in NY roaming the > subways, communicating with the then-NYCTA, collecting prints, circuit > diagrams, interlocking plans, etc.... I'd love to find out more details, and would like to get some further documentation for my "collection" if you have any sources. ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York ---------------- I suggest contacting the Electric Railroaders' Association, in Manhattan, in New York City . They have, or did have, an active publications department, with all kinds of good stuff. Another possibility is the public relations department of the new York City Transit Authority. Try Don Harold, if he still works there. (Say I sent you, but it's been some years now.) The TA used to give out these great 8 x 10 glossies of old subway cars. Another possibility is the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, which has vast specialized collections. When I was a teenager, say 20 years ago [gasp !!!], I spent a lot of time in the New York History sections. They even have special folders on printed material on the subway system, including the predecessor Els. Other possibilities, which I have not explored personally include the New York Historical Society, the Regional Planning Association, the Port Authority and other government agencies. Another great source is old issues of the New York Times. Just look up the topics in the summaries, and then read the issues. Kind of depressing in a way. "Plus ca change, plus ca rest la memo chose. " (With apologies for no cedille below the c's. Phil Burton Xerox Corporation 415 496 6514 "Just a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn who happens to live in Palo Alto, CA."
percus@acf4.UUCP (Allon G. Percus) (01/03/86)
> It seems that NYC subway signaling is hot topic. If memory serves > correct, there was only 1 subway station in NYC that the passangers had > to actually cross the tracks to reach the station. Where is the station ? > And was there special signalling there ? I believe you are referring to one of the stations out on the Canarsie line in Brooklyn (it is now called the "L" train), where there was, until the '70's, a level crossing. There was no special track signalling that I know of, just a gate man to operate the crossing. The level crossing was later replaced by a more conventional bridge. I think I read about this in Stan Fischler's "Uptown, Downtown" --- if not that, it must have been Brian Cudahy's "Under the Sidewalks of New York" (which, if I may say so, is the most definitive book on the NYC subway system which I've ever read). . ------- |-----| A. G. Percus |II II| (ARPA) percus@acf4 |II II| (NYU) percus.acf4 |II II| (UUCP) ...{allegra!ihnp4!seismo}!cmcl2!acf4!percus |II II| -------
percus@acf4.UUCP (Allon G. Percus) (01/03/86)
> I don't know, but the oldest subway station in the US, Park Street Station > on Boston's green line, still has surface level tracks on the upper level > that you have to cross if you want to get a doughnut (unless you want to > go downstairs and cross via the red line platform). I keep expecting a > bad accident and subsequent lawsuit here, but it hasn't happened yet. I doubt it -- in practice, the Park Street station (green line, that is) is no more than an indoor tram station, so it shouldn't have many more accidents than an ordinary outdoor tram station. . ------- |-----| A. G. Percus |II II| (ARPA) percus@acf4 |II II| (NYU) percus.acf4 |II II| (UUCP) ...{allegra!ihnp4!seismo}!cmcl2!acf4!percus |II II| -------