The LION has been up to the train room. This photo may have some techinical faults, but I thought that it looked prety good anyway.
Besides this building not having an elevator and the train room being three flights up, I have built up enough lower leg strength to make the clkimb, however my instability due to neuropathy demands that the floor be perfectly clean lest I stumble and fall over. Br. Nicholas was kind enough to come up to the train room and spend a day helping me to clean up. Br. Stephen helped us carry trash and surpluis stuff down to the dumpster, the power house, and to the electronics shop.
Broadway--242nd Street may not look like much, but it is the main terminal on the layout. This being a subway layout, a train departs here every four minutes. Broadway is below the elevated structure, the orange buses are lining up to take passengers on to points in Westchester County. The Green buses are New York City Transit buses serving neighborhoods beyond the reach of the train.
Yes, this is the interlocking plant for the entire railroad, and to the left is the relay room that keeps the trains running. To operate the railroad at full rush hour capacity, I only have to manage the 242nd Street station. Levers 1 and 2 control the double crossover entering the station. Lever 3 controls the home signal at Dyckman Street, allowing a train to proceed into 242nd Street. Levers 35 and 36 control the home signals allowing a train to depart either from track 1 or track 2 to run on the railroad.
A train may depart every four minutes, but it takes a full 20 minutes for the train to make a round trip from Broadway-242 Street to South Ferry and then back to Broadway.
I can run ten trains at a time on the layout, they all run automatically, controplled by the relays above. There is no throttle or reversing switch on this layout. Indeed subway trains do not move in reverse. Even DCC couod not work here since I do not have ten operators foir my trains. All of the automation is analog with no computer chips anywhere on the railroad.
The LION likes relays that go CLICK and eschew little black chips the function of which our furry felid cannot fathom.
Now that I am retired from nursing and from computer management I expect that I will have mlre time to get up to the train room.
Next Project... Puttin an elevator in the library building.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
It's good to see you back, Lion!
Wayne
One of these days you will have to explain your life story to us and what led you to where you are today and are you going to do a go fund me page to help pay for the elivator?
Now that you are retired Elias more time for posts with pictures of your great layout. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California Turned 84 in July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
Everytime you show pictures of your subway system and explain how it works, I'm amazed.
You've built a great system.
York1 John
Definitely sounds impressive from your description and is something I would love to see. (Notice I didn't say Surely sounds impressive) I remember you stating for the record that you don't like to be called Shirley. One can appreciate a complex analog old school system such as yours for sure.
Always good to see you Lion
TF
rrebell One of these days you will have to explain your life story to us and what led you to where you are today and are you going to do a go fund me page to help pay for the elivator?
Eh... I do not think that the monastery would go fo a go fund me page...
If I can convince them to do it, the money is no problem.
Besides what I was looking at was a man lift rather than a full elevator... THAT would be expensive. (Think a 'home-elevator')
My very best wishes for continued good health, and many, many years of enjoying your wonderful subway system
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
I love seeing pictures of your layout. Also, your love for the layout and the enjoyment you get really comes through in your posts.
Great to have you back. I wish you a lot of future fun with your subways.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
They say the neon light are bright, on Broadway.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Lion, it is sure good to see you have managed to claw your way back up into the interlocking plant and I am sure the largest subway system West of the Mississippi will be purring along again in no time. You and it have always been a favourite of mine to follow on this forum.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
It's a time of mixed feelings, isn't it? Wondering what might be coming next, but meanwhile planning to make things happen. It's exciting, if nothing else. I hope your health keeps on keepin' on.
Lion is Back!!!
Have your little people again remembered how to properly address the main lion dispatcher?
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Lion, I've been saving this picture I took of some of your relatives who now live at Disneyworld. They seemed pretty content:
Of course they are contented, what with all of those tasty little kids trying to climb into the enclosure.
BTW: What did one cat say to the other cat?
Nice to see you back!
Terry
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
Mr Lion, I retired this year too. Busier that ever it seems, but all good stuff. And it's showing in he train room.
I try to imagine 10 relay-run, interlock protected fast trains all in motion, and the clicking of those relays. Has to be the coolest! I hope you figure out an easier and safe way upstairs three floors to the... subway!
I'll look forward to your keeping us posted. Dan
Welcome back, Lion. You've been missed.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Never has one man done so much with so little! Your work should be an inspiration to all who say the hobby is too expensive. With your relay knowledge the "Lion" should be an "Electric Eel".
Ray
Hi Brother Elias!
I am glad to hear that you have finally made it back up to the train room. As others have suggested, your subway layout is absolutely amazing, as is your talent for working with simple, inexpensive materials!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good to hear from you again, we have been missing you humor.
[ROAR] [ROAR] [ROAR]
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Good morning Lion
I thought you would get a kick out of this one.
Our friend Tracy's son Tommy who just loves his dog is making her a Lion for Holloween this year.
His dog's name is Cora.
Looking forward to seeing more of that beautiful layout of yours sometime
Good to see you back. Those are the best pix of your layout I have ever seen.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
I wish he'd tell the MTA how to run trains from 242nd to South Ferry in 20 minutes!
Overmod I wish he'd tell the MTA how to run trains from 242nd to South Ferry in 20 minutes!
Me? Tell the MTA? I've been telling them for years!
Great to see you back . I have always enjoyed your posts . It is amazing what you have done with subway operations .I am looking forward to seeing what else you do!
Ron High
I agree with LION about the sound of relays -- visiting "old school" layouts with trackwork complex enough to warrant a sequence of relays, it is magical to hear them "clack clack clack clack clack clack clack" in succession. Probably old telephone operator's rooms were like that too.
Dave Nelson
Hi Lion, Your first photo made me think I was wearing the wrong glasses. Good to hear you're up at the subway. Wishing you luck with the elevator project.
Regards, Peter
Even the Krell who used to live on Altair IV used relays in their 8,000 cubic mile underground machine. JJ Adams could hear the relays opening and closing as they walked in the machine.