|
|
| Re: Photos: BMT ''C'' Types (881002) | |||
 |
|||
| Home > SubChat | |||
|
[ Read Responses | Post a New Response | Return to the Index ] |
|
||
|
Re: Photos: BMT ''C'' Types |
|
|
Posted by randyo on Fri Jan 1 15:36:07 2010, in response to Re: Photos: BMT ''C'' Types, posted by f179dj on Fri Jan 1 15:06:14 2010. Does the brake handle have a bend in it and a spring loaded plunger? As for the controller handle, the BU master controller was vertical instead of horizontal and moving the controller to the right moved the train forward and to the left was reverse. Initially, the BUs did not have a true deadman's feature, but the controller was spring loaded and releasing the handle merely removed power from the traction motors by returning the controller to the off position. In the 1920s, an air valve was retrofitted to the shaft on the controller and the first point which had been a switching position now became a coasting position ad allowing the controller to spring back to the fully upright position placed the brakes in emergency. The resulting modification had the side effect of eliminating the switching position and until their retirement, the BUs and the Qs which had the same controllers only had series and multiple positions. All BMT prewar equipment except for the multis had the brake on the left and the controller on the right and I never saws any BMT M/M operating with hands crossed. W all operated with the hands in the proper position since thats what we were used to. I never even saw an IRT M/M on the 3 Av el operating Qs with hans crossed even though standard Manhattan el cars had the brake on the right and controller on the left. the BMT was not the only rapid transit system to have the controller and brake valves reversed. All of the pre war Boston rapid transit cars as well as San Francisco's Key system cars had the controller on the right and brake on the left. The keys yo found in the crew room would be a set of old BMT keys. If the 1 1/2 in long BRT key is hollow at the end it is probably a cab door key for the el cars. The brass key is in all likelihood a switch lock key which some BMT M/M might have to unlock hand switches in some yards where a hand switchman might not be on full time duty. The last key which you say there are 3 of would be the standard BMT door key used to lock the end (bulkhead) doors on all the BMT cars as well as the cab doors and door controls on the subway cars. 3 of those keys were needed due to the unique wiring system on the steels which I explained in another thread about the door controls on the BMT steels. Is there also another "key" which is basically a straight metal shaft resembling an old fashioned sardine can opener? If there is, that would be the plunger used to open a single set of center doors on the steels from the outside like keying open the single side (emergency) door panel on current NYCT equipment. |
|
|
|