Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?

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Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by gbs on Sat Aug 4 21:31:26 2012 edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d This afternoon when I came down the escalator at 5 Av upper (E,M), the leaving signal was red over red (no train had left recently), and I noticed that the tower has a new door and the interlocking machine has been removed (but the air conditioner above the door was running, even though the room was empty). There are also new holding lights suspended on fishing-rod-like poles installed in the wall; the holding lights were off. As the arriving E train climbed the hill towards the station, the leaving signal automatically changed to green over green, without any punching from the t/o. I thought this made sense, since the E is the only service there during the weekend. But then as the train entered the station, the holding lights went on, and we stayed in the station for over two minutes before they went off and we left. If that location is now fully automatic, who controls the holding lights, and why would they turn on when the signal was already green? If we were being held for time, wouldn't a person have to make that decision and manually turn on and then off the lights? When I first saw those new holding lights in use a few months ago, it was during the week, and I assumed that they went on automatically until the t/o punched for the route, but that couldn't be the case today. So who controls those holding lights at 5 Av?
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by Bill from Maspeth* on Sat Aug 4 22:40:02 2012, in response to Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by gbs on Sat Aug 4 21:31:26 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Queensboro Master Tower.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by gbs* on Sat Aug 4 22:49:17 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Sat Aug 4 22:40:02 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d So is that interlocking not fully automatic (like 47-50 St), and Queensboro can set the signal without the punch? Does the punch send the message to Queensboro who then sets the switch, or does the punch set the switch?
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by VictorM* on Sun Aug 5 00:21:27 2012, in response to Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by gbs on Sat Aug 4 21:31:26 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Unless they changed the G.O. the Coney Island bound F runs via 53 St this weekend. Maybe there was some confusion between the tower and the train as to whether it was an E or an F, explaining the hold.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by G1Ravage* on Sun Aug 5 05:32:41 2012, in response to Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by gbs on Sat Aug 4 21:31:26 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh fluck. There goes another of my favorite towers. :-(
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by G1Ravage* on Sun Aug 5 05:40:33 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by gbs on Sat Aug 4 22:49:17 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Correct...sort of. Rockefeller Center Tower is fully automatic and unmanned. What you punch is what you get, and for trains merging, it's first come, first serve. Fifth Avenue Tower is no more. Fifth Avenue interlocking control is now with Queensboro Master Tower. It's monitored, but left in full automatic mode, and not touched. Under normal circumstances, train must punch to get a line-up. But on weekends, with no Sixth Avenue Line service, it's likely they simply fleet the line-up in so that no (E) trains punch wrong by accident. As for why the home ball was at danger with no train there, I believe that's a quirk in some new-tech interlockings. There are signals near interlockings on the (7) line where, with no trains present, it's red, but will clear off once a train passes a trigger point. The holding lights are controlled remotely by the dispatcher at Queensboro Master Tower. However, they should come on automatically when there's a train in the station, and the leaving signal is red. Oh wait, I forgot. Fifth Avenue Tower is closed, but it's possible the Tower Operator is working out of the new Fifth Avenue Relay Room for the time being. I'm not sure. I really to pay a visit over there.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by monorail* on Sun Aug 5 06:15:12 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by G1Ravage on Sun Aug 5 05:40:33 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d As for why the home ball was at danger with no train there, I believe that's a quirk in some 'new-tech interlockings.' could be a track circuit...
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by Broadway Lion* on Sun Aug 5 07:47:13 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by G1Ravage on Sun Aug 5 05:32:41 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Watch your language! ☺ Come on over to my place... MY tower still works! ROAR
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by FormerVanWyckBlvdUser* on Sun Aug 5 11:32:13 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Sat Aug 4 22:40:02 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d So where is Queensboro Master Tower?
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by renee gil* on Sun Aug 5 12:24:15 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by FormerVanWyckBlvdUser on Sun Aug 5 11:32:13 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Queensboro Plaza (N/Q/7). The tower controls the crossover east of the station, the 11th Street Cut to Ditmars Blvd on the Astoria Line, the 63rd Street line from Lexington Ave to the interlocking south of 36th Street, the G line south of Court Square, and the Queens Blvd line from somewhere south of 23rd Street-Ely Ave to Roosevelt Ave.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by Chris R16/R2730* on Sun Aug 5 13:02:03 2012, in response to Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by gbs on Sat Aug 4 21:31:26 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Isn't the F using 53rd St this weekend in one direction?
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by Chris R16/R2730* on Sun Aug 5 13:06:50 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 5 13:02:03 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d They are, but Manhattan-bound.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by G1Ravage* on Sun Aug 5 14:49:23 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by renee gil on Sun Aug 5 12:24:15 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d 111th Street Tower controls the IRT/BMT connection, as well as the signals on Track G2 within the station, and also shares Traffic control with Queensboro Master Tower for G2.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by Chris R16/R2730* on Sun Aug 5 15:03:27 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by renee gil on Sun Aug 5 12:24:15 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d That may be the most concentrated numbers of regularly used switches in one control tower.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by Chris R16/R2730* on Sun Aug 5 15:04:32 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by G1Ravage on Sun Aug 5 14:49:23 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d So 111th controls the merging with the express track west of 33rd/Rawson as well? Thought QBM did.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by renee gil* on Sun Aug 5 15:05:00 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by G1Ravage on Sun Aug 5 14:49:23 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Oh, ok.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by Jsun21* on Sun Aug 5 16:33:54 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 5 15:04:32 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d This link has the run down on NYCTA towers. http://www.stationreporter.net/towers.htm
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by R36 #9346* on Sun Aug 5 18:55:28 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 5 13:06:50 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d The OP is talking about the Manhattan-bound platform.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by Jeff Rosen* on Sun Aug 5 19:28:54 2012, in response to Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by gbs on Sat Aug 4 21:31:26 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d G-d.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by Bill from Maspeth* on Sun Aug 5 19:45:41 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 5 15:03:27 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Many, or most, are on automatic. It's not like a tower operator has to line up every single train.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by SelkirkTMO* on Sun Aug 5 20:09:37 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by Jeff Rosen on Sun Aug 5 19:28:54 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d False ... it's that other guy. :)
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by G1Ravage* on Mon Aug 6 04:40:18 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 5 15:03:27 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d They do see and control the most territory of any tower in the system, but they don't monitor most of it, as the tower never quite came to fruition. Actually, Stillwell Tower B and Murphy Tower kinda come close, depending on how you want to measure it up.
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Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?
Posted by G1Ravage* on Mon Aug 6 04:43:18 2012, in response to Re: Who controls the holding lights at 5 Av (E,M)?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 5 15:04:32 2012.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Queensboro Master Tower controls absolutely nothing on the Flushing Line. 111th Street Tower handles everything from Queensboro Plaza northward to Flushing - Main Street. Rawson interlocking is usually on automatic. What I punch is what I usually get, unless the punch box is acting up, and I have to punch again at the home signal by 33 Street....
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