Last Weekend (10/30-10/31) and again this weekend (11/6-11/7), the Long Island Railroad is severely cutting back on service. The reason? The Jamaica Interlocking system is being switched over from manual (tower levermen) to computer control. This work is being done on 2 consecutive weekends in order to keep from spreading the project out over months and to keep from disrupting weekday rush hour service. Part of the job consists of making over 1,000 tests and checks to make sure the computers can do everything that the towermen could do with the old 100 year old mechanical interlocking machines.
LIRR Riders are furious because their service is being disrupted. These are most likely the same people who complained 2 months ago when this very same interlocking was struck by a devastating fire that disrupted service for a week. "Why is the LIRR using old technology!!!" " Why have they never changed it??!!", etc. Now the system is being replaced and they are squawking again. They want the technology changed yet they want their trains to be undisturbed.
As I stated before in a previous post, if it weren't for the fire (started by a storm, not by mechanical/electrical failure) these people would have never known about the old technology. You are getting your wish people. It is getting replaced (just as planned a long time ago). Your trains are being disrupted for 48 hrs on a weekend. Get over it.
One little correction, pajrr. Manual interlockings are not being changed out but mechanical interlcokings...electro pneumatic in fact. Manual would indicate Strongarm plants which have been absent from the LIRR for years. Electric and Electro Pneumatic (compressed air) have been the norm for over 50 years. A small technical point, but important historical defnition and description.
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Thanks for the correction. In my book, if a person makes the action go then it is a manual system as opposed to a computerized system. That is the point that I was trying to make.
Actually I am wrong, too. Mechanical would also indicate strongarm in that it was lever to lever to lever etc between swithch and the operating lever itself. But the ironies and juxtopositions of the LIRR will survive as there will continue to be hand thrown swtiches coming out of LIC to and from the Lower Montauk along with the manual gates at the crossing there. And manual switches in and out of yards all across the system. Put these antiquities up against the new opertion center at Jamaica and you've actually got a fun railroad to learn and understand from a fan point of view. Modern computerized interlockings, switches and signals; old fashioned PRR position light signals; a few electropneumatic interlockings, some electeric, and some CTC. Train orders and signals instead of track warrents; but those are transmitted by fax, internet, and radio. IT is really a nifty little railroad with lots of action. So what if its not 100 car freight trains! But how many hundred cars an hour can pass any one station at the hight of peak traffic hours? Unless you lived it, maybe you can't appreciate it. I urge every railfan to ride from NYP to Greenport or Montauk then maybe to Brooklyn just once. Then you'll know what I mean.
Actually, a day at Jamaica works quite nicely, too. Especially if you stay through afternoon rush hour.
15 minutes at Jamaic is like a whole day most anyplace else! But you got to ride through Mineola to Hicksville our out to Babylon non stop at speed to get the feeling of speed and urgency of reaching your destination. Then enjoy the buclolic and sylvan settings of a ride to Montauk from Babylon or to Greenport from Ronkonkoma (and the electified single track to Ronkonkoma can be almost Interurban like while to Brooklyn or up to Port Washington is like a rapid transit system). Any one of the other branches to Hempstead, West Hempstead, Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Oyster Bay, each has a unique flavor of its own, too. I don't think you can really be bored anyplace on the LIRR!
The LIRR has lots of old stuff that they try to conceal but eventually surfaces especially in this last serious fire. For more insight, I recommend the interesting book "The Gravy Train: An Inside Look at the Long Island Rail Road" by Dan Ruppert for some information on the real-life internal workings of this railroad. The author definitely has an axe to grind but the book is a worthwhile read for those interested in the LIRR.
I agree that the LIRR is from a railroad technical point of view and from a railfan point of view one of the best railroads anywhere. And certainly a fan should watch the action at Jamaica from say 5:30pm to 6pm.
But then all the suburban services around New York are intersting and have wonders for the railfan . Certainly the ride up the Hudson to Poughkeepsie is a star journey. The New Canaan Branch off the New Haven line was operated much like an interurban, with wood railroad-roof trolley cars running off 600 volts until converted to match the main line electrification around 1915, and it sitll retains its interurban character. So does the Gladstone line of New Jeresey transit, although I understand the old wood poles have finally been replace by steel and concrete.
Nostalgia means a Cannonball that started at Penn Station and handed off a DD-1 to get a K4 at Jamaica. With a genuine dining car, not just snacks and drinks. (It may have been a PUllman buffet-parlor-diner, but genuine meals were served.)
Dave, since you have explained NYC area railroading for railfans so well let me go out on a limb of being deleted in stating that in my semi retired state I arrange and escort trips encompassing all. I do it as Ride With Me Henry. I must drive from BInghamton, NY we usually start from Port Jervis, NY, or Hackettstown-Dover, NJ and have travelled all available commuter lines of NJT and NJT Light Rail, LIRR, and MNRR plus quite a few of the NYC subway system and into Philadelphia and return. But I am not limited to starting from those points. All I ask is for my expenses to be covered and little bit more. I've been doing this with friends now for almost 15 years and have never had a bad day of railfanning, just long days of fun. I'd be glad to be of service to any fans from outside the NYC area as well as those within the area; just contact me either here or at ridewithmehenry@gmail.com No web site, just mailbox; not business, just fun.
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