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R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by gbs on Tue Sep 16 22:21:11 2014

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Walking over the Williamsburg Bridge gives you a great close-up view of the roof-tops of the trains passing next to you and, at the mid-span cross-over, below you. Here's what I noticed today:

1) The four corner roof-top vents on the R32's are all covered up and closed, with some make-shift metal sheets. Why? Don't the a/c's have to vent out their warm air? The vents must have been there for a purpose.

2) The same (but rusty) vents are open on the R42's.

3) The roof-top fans on the R160's were all not running today (low-70's temperature), but I'm sure the a/c's were running in the cars, since they're always on. So the roof-top fans don't blow the air inside the cars. So what do the roof-top fans do, and where are the fans that blow in the cars?

Every rail fan should walk (or bike) over the Willy B at least once. It's a great experience, and you don't have to go all the way to the other side if you don't want to; just go up half way to the cross-over, or to the opposite anchorage, and then turn back. It's well worth it, and always nicely populated, so you never feel alone or vulnerable. Take the F to Delancey St, or the J, M, or Z to Essex St, and get a peek at the former trolley terminal while you're there.

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(1313518)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by Edwards! on Tue Sep 16 23:49:56 2014, in response to R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by gbs on Tue Sep 16 22:21:11 2014.

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Great advice. I've made that walk plenty of times.

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(1313561)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by Hart Bus on Wed Sep 17 10:44:50 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by Edwards! on Tue Sep 16 23:49:56 2014.

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Great view, good exercise and another reason not to build that proposed tram system nearby.

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(1313565)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by pragmatist on Wed Sep 17 11:09:15 2014, in response to R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by gbs on Tue Sep 16 22:21:11 2014.

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I do not know the R-32 answer, I drive over the WB and mostly see the cars looking at there "lower half" The roof top fans visible on rail cars and buses are usually the condenser fans, not the fans that blow air over the evaporator coils and into the passenger area. Their job is to cool down the refrigerant that is coming back from the evap coils carrying heat that was picked up from the area meant to be cooled. That's basically what the refrigeration cycle is, pick up heat from one place, move it to somewhere else. There are another set of fans that circulate the air for the passenger area. Usually those fans can run even if the system is not running for cooling, to keep the air circulating. Yesterday was borderline for cooling part of the day.

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(1313577)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Sep 17 12:35:05 2014, in response to R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by gbs on Tue Sep 16 22:21:11 2014.

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The vents were there before there was air conditioning on those cars. When the A/C was added the vents were closed. Only the evaporators are in the roof lining of these older cars, the compressors, and therefore the hot air discharge was UNDER the cars. That is why you have those extra wide grab poles, as that is where the compressor pipes pass through the car. On new cars the entire A/C unit is in the roof, the compressors being at the ends of the cars where the ceilings are lower. These do have hot air discharge above the cars.

ROAR

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(1313584)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by pragmatist on Wed Sep 17 13:02:50 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Sep 17 12:35:05 2014.

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The idea being that the whole unit can come out for maintenance with a drop in replacement. When the components are in different locations (ceiling and underfloor) that can not happen. But the method the BL describes enabled a whole generation of cars to be retrofitted with A/C that were not originally built with it. It was also how earlier gen cars built with A/C were set up, before the advent of the package units. What the OP said was that the 4 corner vents were covered, wouldn't those be the ones left open, with the ones that run the length of the roof on each side being covered? That's why I didn't say anything regarding the 32s.

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(1313679)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by gbs on Wed Sep 17 23:24:50 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Sep 17 12:35:05 2014.

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Your explanation makes sense, but the R32's do not have any extra-wide grab poles, only the retrofitted IRT cars had those. So the compressor pipes must pass from under the floor to above the ceiling by a different route.

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(1313680)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by gbs on Wed Sep 17 23:31:32 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by pragmatist on Wed Sep 17 13:02:50 2014.

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The vents that run the length of the roof on each side of the R32's are also closed.

On the R42's, R46's, R62's, and R68's, which were not retrofitted and which were designed with a/c from the start, are all the a/c components in the ceiling, even though they cannot be removed from above the roof (like on the R142's, R143's, and R160's) and none of the a/c parts are under the floor?

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(1313687)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by Edwards! on Wed Sep 17 23:59:10 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by gbs on Wed Sep 17 23:31:32 2014.

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The GOH R32 had a new roof placed on them, removing the fan intake grills.


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(1313725)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by pragmatist on Thu Sep 18 07:57:03 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by Edwards! on Wed Sep 17 23:59:10 2014.

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Which would eliminate the need to cover them like they did on so many other cars. Makes sense, thanks.

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(1313758)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by r33/r36 mainline on Thu Sep 18 12:49:52 2014, in response to R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by gbs on Tue Sep 16 22:21:11 2014.

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Its not a great experience if you have a fear of heights. If the WillyB is anything like Manhattan Bridge, the structure shakes whenever a 18 wheeler or Train goes over it, not fun.

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(1313790)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by Edwards! on Thu Sep 18 15:06:16 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Thu Sep 18 12:49:52 2014.

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Its fun. You enjoy it.

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(1313797)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Thu Sep 18 15:23:58 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Thu Sep 18 12:49:52 2014.

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It's supposed to shake. Flexibility. The VZ shakes on Marthon Day with pounding feet of runners.

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(1313829)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by pragmatist on Thu Sep 18 16:57:15 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Thu Sep 18 15:23:58 2014.

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Movement of bridges (they all do) is especially noticeable on suspension bridges. If you got stuck in traffic on the (suspended span portion) vz you'd definitely notice But if you are on an el platform, and a train pulls in on the opposite side, you will usually feel movement. If structures don't flex, they crack. Many tall buildings have noticeable sway. It's (almost) all good.

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(1313837)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by Edwards! on Thu Sep 18 17:32:39 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by Hart Bus on Wed Sep 17 10:44:50 2014.

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Yup.
I hate that stupid proposal.

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(1313840)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by Bill From Maspeth on Thu Sep 18 17:41:32 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by pragmatist on Thu Sep 18 16:57:15 2014.

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Exactly. I'll wait in the car for the light on Grand Ave. over the LIE and it shakes all the time.

Me worry?

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(1313842)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by pragmatist on Thu Sep 18 17:45:39 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by Bill From Maspeth on Thu Sep 18 17:41:32 2014.

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If you can make it to Iavarone Brothers you are safe!


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(1313847)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by Bill From Maspeth on Thu Sep 18 18:01:29 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by pragmatist on Thu Sep 18 17:45:39 2014.

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You know it!

But I like the one in Lake Success better, more variety. Always stop off when Mrs. BfM has a doctor appt. on Marcus Ave.

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(1313880)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by transitbuff on Thu Sep 18 20:43:20 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by Edwards! on Thu Sep 18 17:32:39 2014.

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Can anyone please send the link for the Tram Poposal?

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(1313897)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by 3-9 on Fri Sep 19 01:11:53 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by transitbuff on Thu Sep 18 20:43:20 2014.

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Here's the link to Dave's post.

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(1313899)

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Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?

Posted by 3-9 on Fri Sep 19 01:18:45 2014, in response to Re: R32 roof vents covered up -- why?, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Thu Sep 18 12:49:52 2014.

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I have a fear of heights, but there's a pretty fair amount of obstructions to prevent you from going over the edge, particularly where the river is concerned. The structure will vibrate some - that's to be expected - but it doesn't sway like certain els.

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