Staten Island Railway Front of Train View Ride On The Tottenville Express

[@dgigante]

Seeing these R44s go that fast is really blowing my mind. Sorta reminds me of the R42s running on the Sea Beach express in the early 80s, with the short underpasses and the uneven tracks. Those Bklyn express runs were really fast back then.

[@jeremiahtaylor1817]

Try taking the E through Queens or the N down 4th avenue, you’ll feel the same sense of speed

[@Elogical9]

Back in the day older models were structured to run as fast as 70/80 MPH, this was seen with the JFK Express

[@benjaminsmith2287]

It holds the record for speed when testing on the LIRR tracks. I think it went 82 mph or something like that.

[@kitsunefaye1661]

@@benjaminsmith228787.75 mph was her top speed.

[@kenyattasimpson8468]

They should bring back the sea beach express full time but have a new line run over like the W train

[@mitch4527]

The SIR clearly has more similarity to a suburban railway line like the LIRR rather than the subway.

[@silverskyscraper1179]

Nope, nothing like the Long Island RR. More like the PATH in a bunch of ways. It’s a cute little Railway with its 4 and soon to be 5 car trains.

[@anotherview9604]

Really great video. The train hit some good speed on the express run to Great Kills. All types of running - elevated, street level, subterranean. Lived in St. George for a few years, never had to use the train and always drove around the island. Didn't realize how much distance there was between the stations. Looks like the trains could get up to at least 50 between local stops and maybe 60 on express runs.

[@RRaquello]

The stations are mostly one mile apart except between Clifton & Grasmere, which is about 2 miles. When I was a kid, Grant City was still a grade crossing. That was up to about 1968 or 69. That was the last one. New Dorp was still a grade crossing up to about 1963 but I was too young to remember that.

[@janebartley5701]

Beautiful video, excellent job wish all rail videos were as good. Unbelievably updated and maintained rail road, the powers that be have every right to be proud. When they say express they mean express, realize that the footage was speeded up but still. Judging from the time of year and shadows it looks to be about 3: to 4 PM and it is amazing that many people were waiting on the skipped stops to be traveling to the end of the line Way back in the early 50's my buddy and I took the line to the end and returned (why because it was there?) and there were actually cows and small truck farms there. boy has that changed. Great job keep it up

[@petewenk]

Love the old B&O color position signals.

[@raymondmartin8002]

So, in 55 years they have partially rebuilt the stations. Those overpass' with the stations were built in the early 1930's.

[@morganlimes]

This, and they've only completely rebuilt One station which is Arthur Kill, the only modern looking station on the railway

[@RRaquello]

​@@morganlimes At Grasmere they also tore down the old brick station house and replaced it with a newer, modern one. I'm not sure it's an improvement. Arthur Kill is a replacement for two old stations, Nassau & Atlantic. Grant City & New Dorp, at least, were built long after the 1930's. Both were grade crossings up to the 1960's. I remember Grant City being a grade crossing when I was about 7 or 8 years old, which would be 1967-68.m The old New Dorp station, which was replaced when the grade crossing was eliminated, was moved to Richmondtown where it can be visited nowadays. I've seen them working on it so I guess it's being restored.

[@edwardp3502]

Some were built in the 1960s when grade crossings were eliminated, though they were built in the same red brick style of the 1930s stations.

[@TheLordAI]

This is how the old R10s used to sound going down to Rockaway Park

[@SuperMarco647]

how does this work since its using the same track as the local no express track, is there a large time gap between the last train and this one that allows it to bypass so many stations and not smash into a local in front of it?

[@edwardp3502]

Express leaves terminal first with local departing right behind it. Trains run every 15 mins during am/pm rush, which gives trains enough leeway not to catch up to train in front of it.

[@brianreed31]

Also Don't forget schedules are synched with the Staten island ferry

[@2bernie]

how did you put the camera there??

[@Jeff-uj8xi]

I rode the Staten Island Rapid Transit back in the glory days with the old cars that you could open the windows in hot weather. Conductors collected the fares. They didn't go this fast, but the sounds were awesome. Where was your camera mounted? I like the station names on the time bar. Too bad others don't do that on their videos.

[@RRaquello]

Back in the day the conductors used to "skim" the fares and keep their share of the pocket change. My mother pointed this out to me one day when I was still a very small child. She said "watch this" and pointed out the conductor selling tickets that had already been ripped off the pad, meaning they had been used already by previous passengers and "retrieved" by the conductors after the ride was finished and many passengers would just leave their tickets on the seats. This was back in the late 60s. Typical NYC petty graft. The fare in those days, if I recall correctly, was 20 cents.

[@sopaman1234]

Wow!! those old R46s sound like they are on their last leg.. After close to 50 years of service they are done..

[@morganlimes]

Soon will be replaced by the r211s. By the way these are the SIR R44s not R46s but they do sound the same though

[@j.t.5178]

These are R44s and when I rode this train back in 2018 it was really rough. They have not aged well at all.

[@sopaman1234]

@@morganlimes Same design as the R46

[@ProjectArjun]

These were the R44’s that broke a speed record back in the 70’s right?

[@ProjectArjun]

These subway cars used to run on the A line

[@ohiovalleyrailfan]

What's the top speed on the main line? 60mph?

[@ryansharp9550]

it looks like the SIRT R44s werent affected by the systemwide acceleration decrease resulting from the 1991 and 1995 incidents

[@morganlimes]

I think all of the trains citywide got nerfed after those accidents, but not 100% on the SIR

[@williamerazo3921]

Different signal system

[@Arctic911]

it’s pretty cool to see a lot of the grass areas in Staten Island since the other boroughs don’t have much around the subway systems

[@Arctic911]

except for the Q

[@morganlimes]

It sort of looks like driving through the suburbs

[@silverskyscraper1179]

Apparently you haven’t been around the whole New York City Transit system. S.I.RailWay has more of a feel of the PATH system or one of those small commuter rail shuttle trains with the 2 to 4 car units.

[@tdtransit1345]

Can you do the (3) Manhattan bound please?

[@donaldblock640]

On the plus side it is a pleasure to ride and not see tons of graffiti and little or no trash on the tracks, on the neg side a pretty boring ride.

[@edwardp3502]

Staten Island keeps things pretty neat compared to the other 4 boroughs.

[@erie910]

Nice nod to the B&O heritage with the color position signals. Well done!

[@NYCSKYSCRAPERS-hp6pm]

Thank you for this love this ride in Staten Island!

[@morganlimes]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@frankgrimesification]

The only thing good to come out of Staten Island were the Impractical Jokers.

[@SuperMarco647]

can't forget the wu tang clan

[@guesswhoson000]

tell u what staten island keeps there shit clean the r211 is going to look nice there

[@haroldryan1265]

I remember the old cars with wicker seats and movable backs

[@pgchase4578043026]

Why are there two Stop signs before entering the platform at Arthur Kill? Thanks.

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

God damn, that looks like a rough ride. Definitely bring some loud headphones.

[@morganlimes]

It is a rough ride Lol The train sways side to side and bounces up and down the whole time even on completely straight sections. You're right about bringing headphones too because it's pretty loud even from the interior of the train

[@sopaman1234]

The horns are a lot different sounding then the standard horns on other MTA cars.. More like the LIRR or Metro North commuter railroad trains..

[@ProjectArjun]

I think they retrofitted them on these subway cars

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

@@ProjectArjunThe SIR cars are not technically subway cars. They are modified to FRA standards due to the road being a common carrier line , not heavy rail transit.

[@ProjectArjun]

@@jaymorgenthal9479 you're right; I used to ride these cars on the A line when they used to run in the NYC Subway

[@joebonansinga1284]

Man, this brings back some memories. Thank you for recording and sharing.

[@josephmitchell5302]

It’ll blow the horn’s all the time when they go by your station should they be doing that🎉

[@nickrod9526]

Seems like SIR got rid of their older style signals. The last time I rode this train was back in high school going to Tottenville from 2000-2004....lol

[@jimpern]

What a strange train! Skips the first 11 stations and then runs Local the rest of the way. Do they have other trains that do just the opposite - run Local to Great Kills and then go Express to Tottenville?

[@doowopdarealist2026]

No

[@RRaquello]

These express trains only run in rush hour. The express train will leave, say, at 5:30 and skip all stops to Great Kills. From this video it takes about 15 minutes to reach Great Kills. A local will leave at about 5:35 and stop at all stops and terminate at Great Kills. It will take about 28-30 minutes to reach Great Kills. At Great Kills, there's a switchover and the local train switches to the north bound track and returns to St. George.

[@RRaquello]

One thing from my kid days was the SIRT trains used to be only 3 cars. This was up to at least the 1980's. Then all the stations had to be extended to fit five cars. Great Kills, for example, used to end where the foot bridge crosses over the tracks at the south end. The Bay Terrace platform used to end where the electric switch boxes are, also at the south end. That station used to have a weird configuration where the stairs went down at the end of the platform and there was a path between the two tracks so you'd be walking along side the train as both you and the train left the station. Now that's all part of the raised platform. Also, up to the late 70s, when I was attending Tottenville High School, the Princes Bay station was still made of wood.

[@billjoang]

Princes Bay also had stairs on the Tottenville bound side at Waterbury Ave. Also a waiting room on St. George bound side that was boarded up as long as I remembered it Pleasant plains also had the wood platforms.

[@carlavision6143]

Really enjoyed your video! Thank you for taking me along with you on your ride! New York is more beautiful than Oklahoma.

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

Hmmm…I never knew there was a Tottenville Express.

[@morganlimes]

Honestly I didn't even know either until I visited the railway for the first time earlier in the year 😂

[@mariofilippi3539]

I never knew SI had a train. Enjoyed the video.

[@James_Loveless]

Since 1860

[@thepharcyde5239]

Southern Comfort' #FDNY Engine 151/Ladder 76. Out of Tottenville, Staten Island.

[@bansh84]

What are those stop signs at Tottenville for?

[@morganlimes]

That's because the train has to make a mandatory stop before entering the station like when stopping at a stop sign while driving. I think this has to do with the fact that a train derailed in tottenville after it hit a bumper block because it didn't stop on time

[@jeremyjean5421]

I have a question but when do the Staten Island trains run express? Only during the week?

[@morganlimes]

Hi, they only run them weekdays during the morning and afternoon rush hours. There's also A st. George express service but that one only runs in the mornings

[@Mission.Control]

Does the Tottenville Express still operate? I can't seem to find much info on it

[@edwardp3502]

Yes, during PM rush hours. St. George express during AM rush.

[@frankintx699]

Really cool how the train rocks right and left while watching the track.👍

[@morganlimes]

Yea these R44s bounce and rock side to side wayyy too much lol. Also it's very noisy from the inside but It's still fun to ride

[@sopaman1234]

@@morganlimes The MTA is soon going to retire all their old Staten Island railway cars.. After nearly 50 years of revenue service i think it's time for them to go..

[@morganlimes]

@@sopaman1234 Yup the ride quality is way worse than the r32s lol. They will get replaced by 2025 with r211s

[@eileencoffey6657]

Road this line a million times, these cars are done, have been for a decade. They are being replaced this year with R211's I remember when they replaced the MUE cars of the B$O, these cars have run longer than those did. 1926-1973, 1973-2024.

[@williamrubinstein3442]

Probably most people in the other boroughs don't lnow that there is a subway ( kind of) train in Staten Island.

[@morganlimes]

Yeah I know a relative that didn't even know there was a train there 🤣 but most people sort of do know it's there but just never ever use it since it covers such a vague area of staten island and the buses are much better for getting to your destination. Also there was zero people at Jefferson Avenue

[@RRaquello]

@@morganlimes I always tell people who are thinking of moving to Staten Island not to live anywhere where the train isn't conveniently available. Bus service stinks on Staten Island. The trains are pretty reliable.

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

Didn’t realize the R44’s have Wabco AA2’s

[@MillerPC]

Sounds like these wheels have flats on them.

[@ecuaflakos]

Why are the staten island train stations long if only 4 car R44 will be on operation

[@victorsforza6213]

Appreciate your train videos bro . Subbed.. all aboard.. 🚂🚆🚂🚆

[@soundshaper]

I take it by the lack of signals that this system is fully CBTC?

[@Mk99987]

Cab signals, not CBTC.

[@eliasbj]

Saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷. Son geniales todos tus videos.

[@morganlimes]

Gracias amigo y que tengas buen dia

[@SuperMarco647]

beautiful mta locomotives at the end

[@James_Loveless]

They have 4 of those Locomotives those were #778 & #779 #776 & #777 are usually outside the Clifton Maintenance Shop or sometimes at the St. George the Staten Island Ferry Terminal

[@heathcole3761]

love your videos so much! btw, why does it sound like a lift hill on a roller coaster? is there something wrong with one of the train wheels?

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

LOL, I was thinking it sounds like a flat spot.

[@morganlimes]

Yes it has flat spots, and majority of fleet has this problem because their overhaul shops are small and the fleet doesnt get maintenance too often

[@heathcole3761]

@@morganlimes Thanks for the info! Interesting! :)

[@sopaman1234]

This railway train feels like it's going close to 70 MPH

[@morganlimes]

I forgot to record the speed on this run 😭

[@sopaman1234]

@@morganlimes it's ok if you had to guess on the speed what would be?

[@morganlimes]

It feels like 60 - 65 because of all the bouncing and swaying but in reality I think it's 55 at the maximum it reached because I do think these trains also have their speed limited

[@sopaman1234]

@@morganlimes I might be wrong but the R179 are much faster in speed then the R44 or R46

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@sopaman1234 Doubt it. Not a peak. They are all limited to 55 I think. The R44 set the speed record (when it was fairly new).

[@pbatommy]

This guy is reckless running past platforms like that! What does he think he is on, the LIRR or Metro North? Last I checked, rapid transit operations forbids passing a platform at more than 15 mph! He's lucky a TSS didn't board his train, or he'd be out of service and given 30 days in the street.

[@frankgrimesification]

Lighten up, Francis!

[@pbatommy]

@@frankgrimesification you're not a transit professional. I've been in the motorman's seat so shut up!

[@iitrapezoid_8243]

Perhaps SIR's policy is different

[@RRaquello]

@@iitrapezoid_8243 Yeah, this is pretty much standard. You do get a nice sensation of their speed when you're on the platform an one goes by, especially at stations with a center platform like Grasmere or Bay Terrace.

[@MedusalObligation]

Odd how the platform jumps to the left side of the consist at the beginning of the journey. And running with some serious flat spots.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

That's why the train is noisy. Flat spots on the trucks. The R44 is really not a noisy or rough train if maintained properly.

[@larryweedon6399]

Don't forget the B&O style CpLs!!!!! Still around

[@donarmstrong5872]

The swinging back and forth looks like a track gauge trouble.

[@TheLIRRFrenchie...]

When's the timeline for these to be replaced?? Soooo many flat spots on these wheels just pounding these tracks. Plus I'm looking at certain track sections thinking "it's so straight, what gives 🤔"... Then I remembered, it's the cars themselves 🤣!!

[@morganlimes]

Since only one r211 set has made it to NYC and still isn't done testing after over a year I predict that these won't be getting replaced until 2024 the earliest. And yes these cars are in very rough shape lol

[@TheBeagle58]

Excellent video, i really enouyed this!Kudus!

[@glenbearh9109]

great view makes me wonder where the camera is placed? Were you able to place it outside?

[@morganlimes]

I quickly placed it at the tip of the floor thats outside of the train at the terminal before the train operator got into the cab that way i dont get questioned haha

[@glenbearh9109]

@@morganlimes Well it worked out well

[@edwardp3502]

@@morganlimes How’d you retrieve the camera? Drive to Tottenville or wait for train to return to St. George?

[@morganlimes]

@@edwardp3502 I was onboard the train that day and when it got to tottenville I just waited for the operator and conductor to leave. She actually noticed it and was laughing about it with the conductor about what a camera is doing there Lol. They then left down the ramp exiting the station and then I simply retrieved it.

[@edwardp3502]

@@morganlimes The one option i didn’t even consider 😂

[@timcoyle50]

What are those solar things every so often?? Love front views like that one!

[@cats0182]

What's the maximum speed on this line. Seems faster than any subway line I'm aware of.

[@morganlimes]

it used to be 60mph 10 years ago but since the the r44s are detoriating more and more they have since reduced to 50 but on this day it felt about 45 - 50. But yeah it still bugs me that I completely forgot to screen record the train speed from my phone application and then add it to the video :(

[@omarkimbaca1386]

I love the motion sway.

[@Dragblacker]

I'm confused: the platform is at the right-hand side of the train when you're walking to the front, but when it departs, the platform is on the left. Did you take the other train?

[@morganlimes]

The whole intro thing was actually just a last-minute idea I had when I returned back to St. george. That's why it was kinda sloppy, which also explains why the platform switched sides

[@jessenunez1460]

Awesome video🛤️🛤️

[@mood4eva98]

Wheeewww I just know the R211S’ are about eat this route up!

[@kitsunefaye1661]

Oh, she will. If you’ve seen and ridden her eldest sister, Baby R211A (she’s currently an Andromeda), you’re gonna love it when Baby R211S runs along this line.

[@krazyhasissues]

shoutout to the cameraman for holding onto the front of the train for the entire ride

[@edwardp3502]

His hair was a complete mess by the time they reached Grasmere 😂

[@jimmyramirez3515]

𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖒𝖔𝖘𝖒 🍀

[@Vegabloom-m14325User]

Are the R44s supposed to be replaced ?????????????????

[@armorpro573]

Yep

[@synthaze]

keep doing these types of content

[@Han-wh5ie]

Interessante rit !

[@riship6581]

When does this train run?

[@edwardp3502]

24/7, like the subway.

[@jokerinthebronx]

This is 1.0x speed?

[@armorpro573]

Yep

[@ilya-sukhanov]

Nice ride!

[@ThumperKJFK]

👍👍

[@cats0182]

This is a railroad. The 211's will crap out very quickly under these running conditions unless they were specially built and equipped. You have salt air, all outdoor use in all weather conditiond, long runnig distances at full speed. The SIR needed a version of a railroad car, not a subway car.

[@morganlimes]

I've seen comments on some videos saying that the R211 staten island version has some differences in comparison to the subway version specifically built for the conditions that you have listed, but not too sure about that. The R211A's have already crapped out and 90% of the fleet is out if service right now. I'd imagine it's going to be worse when they start running on the SIR if no special design changes were made and it's just a copy of the R211A lol

[@cats0182]

@@morganlimesThe SIR 211's I've seen look like a subway car. Hope they are beefed up. Still, MTA should have used the LIRR model or the MetroNorth model for the new cars.

[@SomeRamdomAhole]

⁠@@cats0182The SIR R44s are subway cars and those models are too long and wide……..brain, use it.

[@RRaquello]

​@@cats0182 If they're like the R44's, the car itself will be pretty much identical to the subway cars, but the carriage underneath will be a railroad carriage, like the LIRR. The SIRT is classified as a railroad not a subway so the cars are modified for the heavier duty they face.

[@silverskyscraper1179]

🤔 Let’s see long running conditions, Salt air, outdoor use…. Hmmm The large New York City Transit has all of that and the trains are used wayyyyy more on NYCT than SIRW. Long Island RR is very different than the little S.I. Railway. PATH and S.I. Railway is more alike.

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

The R 211 cars will be here soon.

[@edwardp3502]

Sometime in 2050 the way things are going 😂

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

@@edwardp3502 No congestion pricing. no new cars. no new 2nd ave subway extension

[@edwardp3502]

@@jaymorgenthal9479 Cars have been bought and paid for already. MTA can tap into the hundreds of millions of dollars it takes in from Verrazzano Bridge and other tolls to keep them running.

[@OmariSpencer-ep1ov]

Does the SIR use r46 cars?

[@Elogical9]

Bro is stoopid

[@Elogical9]

It uses R44s

[@armorpro573]

Nope if you did a Google search

[@Elogical9]

Bro really paid for fare 🤓☝️

[@morganlimes]

I didn't actually pay that day just made it seem like it ☠️ ☠️

[@Elogical9]

​@@morganlimesomg quick reply 🙀

[@Elogical9]

​@@morganlimescrazyyy

[@dieseldave3879]

🚂👍

[@michaelsortino1830]

Those trains are junk. Send them to Boston.

[@alexthemtaandr211weatherfa2]

Did you know that the Boston metro is the most unsafe metro currently and the federal government is about to temporarily take it over to fix its safety issues

[@ProjectArjun]

@@alexthemtaandr211weatherfa2 especially the orange line

[@robotx9285]

I'm pretty sure they're literally too big for any of Boston' railway lines, and they be totally useless on the Commuter Rail network unless they electrify the lines.

[@musicforaarre]

Well done ! Aarre Peltomaa

[@jwhite0398]

There’s a good amount of spacing between each station, unlike in Manhattan, where stations are literally a block away from each other; You can practically wave at someone at the next stop, and they’ll most likely wave back.

[@RRaquello]

1 mile apart for most stations, 2 miles between Clifton & Grasmere.