by MadManMoon
Howdy, all...
I'm back on LI and got to ride LIRR for 2 round trips from LI to Penn (first time in a while), and since I've been lurking here for quite some time, I realize that some questions that have been bothering me for years could probably be answered quite easily by the experts around here!
1. Simple and perhaps obvious, but why do the lights in M-1/M-3s go out periodically? I'm assuming this is from gapping between third rails, but does that mean that the entire car's power goes out? Thus, I assume, the cars in the consist that have NOT gapped carry the load and pull the dead car through the gap.
2. I've noticed a persistent "clicking" sound coming from the undercarriage of several M-1s/M-3s over the years. It's infrequent, usually only 1 car per train. Any ideas what this is?
3. There are several sets of switches just west of Bellerose between the 4 main line tracks (what is this interlocking called?). Why so many? Some look like they're lower-speed than others, but some look identical. Are all of them used?
4. Looks like they're replacing the concrete ties on one of the inside tracks (2 or 3, I guess) just east of Woodside. Was that planned, or are the concrete ties failing sooner than expected?
5. I watched a DM30 and 4 double-deckers scream through Mineola at high speed westbound (missed the glory days when I could watch 2 GP38-2s with 11 or 12 old coaches...sounded and looked so much cooler!). What's MAS through Mineola when not stopping? I couldn't make a guess at how fast this train was going...judging by the blast of air, pretty darned fast!
Okay, I think that's it. Sorry for pestering, and hopefully the answers to these aren't sitting somewhere else on this board and I've missed them.
Thanks!
Drew
I'm back on LI and got to ride LIRR for 2 round trips from LI to Penn (first time in a while), and since I've been lurking here for quite some time, I realize that some questions that have been bothering me for years could probably be answered quite easily by the experts around here!
1. Simple and perhaps obvious, but why do the lights in M-1/M-3s go out periodically? I'm assuming this is from gapping between third rails, but does that mean that the entire car's power goes out? Thus, I assume, the cars in the consist that have NOT gapped carry the load and pull the dead car through the gap.
2. I've noticed a persistent "clicking" sound coming from the undercarriage of several M-1s/M-3s over the years. It's infrequent, usually only 1 car per train. Any ideas what this is?
3. There are several sets of switches just west of Bellerose between the 4 main line tracks (what is this interlocking called?). Why so many? Some look like they're lower-speed than others, but some look identical. Are all of them used?
4. Looks like they're replacing the concrete ties on one of the inside tracks (2 or 3, I guess) just east of Woodside. Was that planned, or are the concrete ties failing sooner than expected?
5. I watched a DM30 and 4 double-deckers scream through Mineola at high speed westbound (missed the glory days when I could watch 2 GP38-2s with 11 or 12 old coaches...sounded and looked so much cooler!). What's MAS through Mineola when not stopping? I couldn't make a guess at how fast this train was going...judging by the blast of air, pretty darned fast!
Okay, I think that's it. Sorry for pestering, and hopefully the answers to these aren't sitting somewhere else on this board and I've missed them.
Thanks!
Drew
Former Long Islander
Current LIRR Railfan
Current LIRR Railfan