The NY Subway Is Upgrading It's Signals

[Jcarlton]

The NY Subway is working on upgrading it's 1930's vintage signal system, slowly.

https://theartsmechanical.wordpress.com/2015/07/31/the-nyc-subways-new-signal-system/

[cteno4]

Wow, knew bits were old, but relays from the 30s! Amazing there are guys there rebuilding old relays in their shops!

 

Jeff

[Melandir]

Thanks Jcarlton

 

it was very interesting to watch

[kvp]

Interesting! The old interlocking system is classic railroad technology that was a bit outdated even in the 1930ies. (it was designed and first installed in the late 19th century)

 

It's nice that they have kept it running until now, very much like the old Budapest underground line 1 is kept running for its 3rd century in operation. (it still uses the old Siemens-Halske small block ATC system from 1896 with inductive train sensing and lineside equipment controlled traction power cutoff braking /see the mail rail for a similar system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Post_Office_Railway /, although this distributed control system had to be upgraded a few times since the beginning, but the priciple of operation remains the same and the current line is fully compatible with the original cars)

 

Similar old systems are still in use, like the original Siemens-Halske mechanical interlocking for the turnouts used with an Integra Domino 55 signal control system at the Budapest Nyugati terminal. The interlocking was installed in 1877 and the current signalling system is from 1955. The main turnouts are chain driven from the central tower while the coach yard ones are the key locked, hand thrown type. Compared to this, the old New York system with its electric turnout motors is space age technology. The trackwork was maintained and the signalling system repaired a few months ago, so it's good for a few more decades.

 

As a side note, the balises on the video are just failsafes, the newly installed New York CBTC system uses the continous SelTrac system. A few more years and many of the New York subway lines will have a similar central control system like the Vancouver Skytrain has since 1986.