BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

From 1010 WINS.........

".....remember they had the PATH station at Hoboken closed for like a month, to carry out important track and signal upgrades.....well, obviously, the job wasn't done right, and now they are 'fixin' the fix'........"

Obviously, the interlocking/switches/signals are NOT funcyioning properly (need we be surprised?), and all of the previous work has to be re-done.

And to think how finely "the Tubes" were designed, built, and operated, well over a century ago.....the illustrious Mr. William Gibbs McAdoo must now be spinning in his grave like a top......what a sad, sad farce, yet another glaring example of overall ineptness........

"NYO"

["HUDSON RAPID TUBES"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

NONE of this would surprise me in the least.

!010 WINS even stated that ".....the replacement switches were not designed properly....."

Dang!

Doesn't ANYONE know how to THINK, anymore, WITHOUT the need for electronic "assistance"?

And, to think, the "tubes" were designed by men with slide rules and calipers, and blueprints in PAPER!!!!!!

The complex, intertwining network of sinewy, cast-iron tubes functioned SMOOTHLY from Day One!

What a sad, sad commentary on today's shoddy, inept "workmanship"!

And, to add insult to injury:

1010 WINS earlier.......

"......PATH is advising patrons to take shuttle buses to Newport and Exchane Place, to catch trains. But, given the poor performances of the shuttle buses the last time, you are probably better off walking......"

Dang shame.......

"NYO"

["THE PUBLIC BE PLEASED"] (NOT today in 2025!)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Thankfully, with so many taking a three-day weekend for Labor Day, not as many people would be riding "the tubes" on Friday, anyway.

Still, it's all so damn pathetic that it ain't even funny.........

"NYO"

["COMEDY OF ERRORS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Though this circa-1910 postcard takes "artistic license" by depicting "at grade" underground crossings, you do indeed marvel at the complexity of the "tubes" themselves, intertwining on different levels.

And ALL THIS was DESIGNED and CONSTRUCTED with NO HI-TECH equipment WHATSOEVER!!!

The deck roof cars seen here would depict the original Class "A" rolling stock of 1908 (the DL&W's Hoboken Terminal can also be seen); now this was TRUE engineering!!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/76490893642531419/

[W.B. Fishbowl]

We had mentioned how our current subway cars need NASA techs to maintain them. This clearly seems to be the case with PATH's "Pea-Tee-See" signalling system. Way a contrast to McAdoo's as used for decades starting with his "baby," the "Aitch & Em."

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Agreed!

I STILL recall these ancient McAdoo-era "half moon" signals at Hoboken, that were bracketed from the ceiling; I know they were STILL being used that fateful morning of 9/11, the last time I ever boarded "the tubes" at Hoboken............

"NYO"

["H&M RR"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Taken just prior to the opening of regular "soivice" to Hudson Terminal in 1909, we see a special train of "Class "A" cars at Exchange Place (NY-bound track).

Note the signals; not much different from the ones I recall still being used at Hoboken..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?145912

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["PRESSED STEEL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Look closely at these early 1960s photos taken at Journal Square; note the small signals near the third rail.

These are similar to those I remember at Hoboken, except there they were ceiling mounted (using brackets)...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?>21745

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?151571

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["P.A.T.H."]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Years ago, back in the RFW days on the "tubes", going to work in the AM, I had a small notebook with me, and, while standing at the RFW of my WTC-bound train, I would kit down the signal designations and locations (took a while!)

I also did the same on the return PM trip to Hoboken from the WTC; on days off, I also "documented" the signals on the 33rd Street line.

I must have that notebook somewhere, heaven knows where....maybe one day I'll actually find it again.......

"NYO"

["358 REP"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Here is a better view of those small "low slung" H&M signals at JSQ--you can clearly see the close proximity to the "toid" rail in this photo; note the NHBL's starter's booth up above.....this was about the time that the first NHBL Fishbowls were beginning to arrive, replacing the square window Old Looks, WHITES, and MACKS.

By the date of this photo, the remaining "Blsck" cars had already been in work service for two years.............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?152042

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["PORT AUTHORITY TRANS-HUDSON"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?151571

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["HUDSON RAPID TUBES"]

(many, many childhood memories here!)

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

You noticed those "low slung" markers as well?

Just did some quick research; according to one website, only six older model "PA"-class cars remain in MOW service:

694

726

754

761

765

768

Note that these are all higher-numbered cars; the oldest, lower-numbered cars (like-the PA-1s, etc) are now long gone.......

"NYO"

["ST. LOUIS CAR COMPANY"]




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