⁴ᴷ⁶⁰ Temporary "Blind Stop" Speed Control on the Franklin Avenue Shuttle

During the Summer of 2024, the Franklin Shuttle was truncated to Park Place while bridge replacement work was undertaken just north of the station. This appeared to require the implementation of a speed-control system to prevent trains from being able to foul the work area. The MTA and its engineering partners seemed to have devised an exceptionally brilliant and elegant engineering solution: "Blind Stops" with indicators, which were installed on a temporary basis during the work to allow it to be performed safely. Enjoy this technical look at the details of speed-control signaling, which is a true demonstration of the prowess and ability of the MTA's project delivery teams!
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Taken in Summer 2024.

[@Mingtendo]

I wish we had more engineering-type content like this!

[@TransitFans]

One of the things I like before you start the video is that nice drum beat

[@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042]

Good to see new york is using this idea. No other system I know of (besides New York) actually has signals on "intermediate" trip arms. It is more common where I come from to have 3 or 4 trip arms between signal blocks protecting something important. When the train goes past the signal, a timer starts counting down, and the trip arms progressively lower once their time runs out, intentionally set up so that a train operating at the intended speed won't get to them before they lower. Only trains going too fast will. Just as this system in the video appears to work. It's amazing how simple of a system it is really, but it works. I've always wondered why New York has the indicator signals so that drivers know if the trip has lowered, is it a big hassle if a train trips?

[@MarketMonkey2]

Yes it is a big issue if a train trips a triparm, as it shows the transit agency that the operator was acting recklessly and not paying close attention to the signals. Since NYC has such a big vast Transit system their signals are no joke we have atleast 5000+ trains running per hour which can get crazy during rush hour. When a train trips the triparm the emergency brakes activate and they have to go onto the tracks to fix the thing the triparm pulled and recharge the train which causes delays and all sorts of stuff.

[@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042]

@@MarketMonkey2 I meant a bigger issue than other transit systems that use trip arms. In Sydney for example, if a train trips the emergency brakes will apply, but once the train has stopped the driver can reset the system from within the cab and continue. It is against the rules to do this without signaller permission, but if you only trip an intermediate trip arm because it just didn’t clear in time, the signaller will probably clear you to continue immediately and the train will end up only a minute late. That’s not to say that drivers drive to get tripped by the trip arms, they don’t - instead they just visually check if the arm is down, there is no signal indication to tell you. From what I can tell by your comment, it is a bigger deal in New York because they need to leave the cab to reset the trip arm, and because there is a separate arm on each car, they might need to check the whole train right?

[@MarketMonkey2]

@@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042 So i am not experienced with said Trip Arm operation and all of that, but as far as i know and understand yes every train car has a triparm device and if one trip arm gets activated, all the emergency brakes activate throughout the train. I think the way it works is like a kinda lever in a way, if the lever is flipped the train goes breaks in emergency. I know for a fact that there is a circuit breaker to reset the breaks and to recharge the trains. The New tech trains nowadays in our system is a much easier operation for resetting the breaks like when the cord is pulled. And they have a much simpler way to reset the emergency brakes too.

[@DennisLora2001]

Excellent video DJ 👌 1:06

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

Sounds like one of those R-68s needs a wheel truing!

[@user-sj3df2xy3b]

If I recall….there are wheel truing machines in Concourse Yard and Coney Island Yard for years

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@user-sj3df2xy3b Also one in the 207th street facility....

[@NYRTIG]

Good stuff.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Interesting video.👌🥰👍

[@user-sj3df2xy3b]

There have been “blind trips” on the #6 line in The Bronx for over a century

[@YouCantSeeMeENT]

I wonder if the S can be extended to downtown Brooklyn or near the Barclays center

[@BenTheMiner]

Portable timers? Notice how the third rail is covered too.

[@anonymous3738]

This line could be relocated underground with full-length platforms and eliminate the shuttle by replacing it with a through-service. However, instead of connecting it to the Crosstown Line like many people are wishing for, it could instead connect to the Sixth Ave Line via an entirely new line to Second Ave’s unused center tracks. This way, the V could be reintroduced but run to Coney Island this time and the M can revert to brown and terminate at Broad St or Chambers St. This would eliminate trains running on lines with platforms longer than them. Also, the Crosstown Line doesn’t have much ridership so more trains that are full-length would be rather wasteful compared to just lengthening all the current trains.

[@fiercingdragon]

Bing bong

[@kenqwe04]

Interesting. How are the devices activated?

[@DJHammersTrains]

They are triggered by the train entering the signal block, and are controlled by timer relays, such as the Alstom Microchron or the Hitachi PN-150EVT.

[@kenqwe04]

@@DJHammersTrains OK so the existing track blocks continue to be used but the normal rerlay equipment is temporarily replaced by these timer relays and the blind stop arm devices are placed on the track where needed. I assume there must have been existing stop arm devices that will be put back when the work is over. Could be wrong about that.

[@metropod]

… I mean… effectively… the indicator lights ARE a signal… which means these stops aren’t actually blind.

[@DJHammersTrains]

Valid point. The technical name for them would be a “Blind Trip Indicator” (BTI).

[@metropod]

@@DJHammersTrains being an RTO employee, my definition of “signal” is a little more broader than a layman’s.