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| Re: Shuttle of New York City (1404349) | |||
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Re: Shuttle of New York City |
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Posted by JOE @ NYCMTS - NYCTMG on Thu Aug 4 00:05:48 2016, in response to Re: Shuttle of New York City, posted by Elkeeper on Wed Aug 3 22:30:16 2016. The reason was most likely to "enforce" thru design, prevent the IRT from running, operating, heavier STEEL IRT subway cars in revenue service to be run down the 9th Avenue El south of W.155th Street Express station. Likely also being as IRT Subway cars could "electrically" operate with their paddle shoes on the Manhattan EL's "EL" style uncovered higher 3rd rails. However, here were some 3rd rail clearances in some places on the 4 Manhattan El's that precluded clearance for longer subway paddle shoes (or for installing subway position covered 3rd rails !) . But it was mainly a weight issue.The 3rd Ave and 2nd Ave. EL's could have steel subway cars TOWED EMPTY (non revenue) over their "EL" tracks. In fact, IRT Steinways were towed over the Q-Boro Bridge and to the IRT Mainlines via the 2nd Ave El for some maintenance and repairs up to June 1940, when the portion of the 2nd Ave El north from E.60th St to the E.129th St Junction with the 3rd Ave El and E.128th St. yards-shops located there, was closed and removed. And its well known that the IRT road-tested passenger-loaded brand new Composites on the 2nd Avenue EL in a year BEFORE the first IRT subway opened in October 1904. And also tested the first H&M Tubes BLACK MU STEEL Subway cars in 1906 (IIRC) on the 2nd Ave El after the IRT (was contracted to do at the IRT 3rd AVE EL E. 99th Street major shops) installed the control and running equipment. Here is my photo circa 1930 of an IRT Hedley Hi-V likely being shopped at the E. 99th Street shops of the 3rd Ave El -- seen looking northwest on the curved yard lead tracks coming off the 3rd Ave EL mainline. The paddle 3rd rail shoes and beams are REMOVED from the trucks !! The unique multi-angled-wall tower behind it is at the north edge of the curved yard and shop lead tracks and the E.99th St. powerhouse would be just behind it. Yes, some IRT Steel subway cars for whatever reasons were shopped at the E.99th Street major shops in early IRT years. Who knows why !  The IRT use of dual 3rd rail on some EL lines having joint steel subway and wood EL car trains, ALSO prevented EL trains from entering IRT trackage leading to subway tunnels. This was needed at the IRT Jerome EL where the dual 3rd rail ended just near the south end of the E. 161st Street Station on the CENTER TRACK only. However, the two local tracks from the 158th St Tunnel Portals up to anhd thru the station, and from there to the north interlocking point where the 9th Ave El 2 tracks connection from 162nd Street was, had only covered subway 3rd rail. IRT EL Cars were at times stored on the dual 3rd rail" equipped center express track of the E.161st Street local station in very early years. The ending of EL style uncovered 3rd rail prevented an "EL" train from in error heading SOUTH on the center track past the E. 161st St Station and down to the subway tunnel portals --- no power pickup available for its EL "Sled" 3rd rail shoes ! The same was the case on the subway approach tracks to and from the E. 149th Street 2 track tunnel portal on the IRT Westchester Avenue (West Farms) EL where it's subway route tracks interlocked with the 2 center-most "EL" tracks of the IRT 3rd Ave EL's 1917 opened Bergen Cutoff Junction (connected also there to its 1903 built original E.150th Street connection 2 blocks away to the 3rd Ave."EL".) The lack of EL style uncovered 3rd rail (and thus lack of power source) on the towards-portal descending subway tracks at the interlocking track locations, prevented IRT Wooden (and 1 foot higher)2nd or 3rd Ave. EL trains from in error heading under power towards and into the tunnel portions. And it DID happen once (I wrote here about this incident in the 1920's some time ago). The EL Motorman lost all power and applied the brakes in emergency, missing the tunnel portal by a about one train (6 car) length. Otherwise, the EL car clerestory roofs would have been torn off in the carnage ! regards - Joe F |
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