Modular NYC Subway Layout - IRT Broadway Line meets Old San Juan

@West Side Joe posted:

Original subway stations were pretty short, and they were soon extended for longer trains. But in some cases the extensions had to be built on curves, and the cars were too far from the platform in those locations, so extenders were installed.

The extenders are retracted until the train comes to a stop in the station, then they extend to fill in the gap between the platform and the car doors.  Once the doors close, the train waits for the extenders to retract, then it can leave the station.

Thanks very much Joe', for the explanation.  I had no idea.  Funny, my Dad was a motorman in the 40s... on the IRT and other lines too.  I can just imagine what is reaction to the modern technology of the past few years.....  You have a very interesting educational thread'.. 👍✔

Finally all four moving units are built, tested and ready to be screwed down in place.

@West Side Joe posted:

Finally all four moving units are built, tested and ready to be screwed down in place.

wow! This is awesome

Great engineering!!!

When this is done you need to be a feature article in a leading O Gauge publication or two.

Stunning work Joe

John

@Henryjint posted:

Great engineering!!!

I finally got to use that Mechanical Engineering degree! 🤣

@West Side Joe posted:

I finally got to use that Mechanical Engineering degree! 🤣

That made me laugh!

I agree with everything Corey, Henry and Craftech have already posted.  Excellent work.

Video:

https://youtube.com/shorts/YhB9XrrSx_g?feature=share

After my first Covid experience (three days under the covers), AND  a nasty cold three weeks later (with antibiotics, expectorants, steroids and nebulizer treatments), installation of the moving part of extenders is complete. Now follows installation of the platform overlay.

@West Side Joe  great mechanical engineering job.

The "kids" today use modeling software to design and do a virtual build so that they will be reasonably certain the extenders will operate as expected.  What modeling software did you use?  What control software are you using?

Second - if I did this - I would forget the platforms were extended and have the cars leave the station. What would/will happen if you also forget to retract the platforms?

I have really enjoyed following your sojourn in subway modeling. Thanks for documenting and sharing. Jeff

I confess I did not use any modeling software for design or for control. I searched for model grilles that were the approximate scale size, and sketched an approximate idea before putting it together with Plastruct girders and sheets that I had on hand.

I also explored various turnout control machines (and the possibility of manual control) before settling on the Peco Smartswitches, which offer a very fine degree of programmable control with a separate control unit, that then can be set and left alone. I didn't realize how big of a field there is in modeling applications for servo control, including model airplanes and cars.  The components of the Peco Smartswitches are actually made by a Taiwanese company that sells a range of servo control components to hobbyists. These servos can also be used for animations like working gates, moving equipment, etc.

And just like the real extenders, if they are not retracted as the train leaves, there will indeed be damage! 😁

Very cool  Love them 

"Original subway stations were pretty short, and they were soon extended for longer trains. But in some cases the extensions had to be built on curves, and the cars were too far from the platform in those locations, so extenders were installed."

This really isnt true   The stations were curved from day 1.  Until they stopped using it South Ferry had the platform extenders on a total of 5 car train   They made announcements at the previous station to move to the first five cars as the back would not be open   The platform extenders were there a long time and were the responsibility of the signal maintainers to make them work properly

I stand corrected. I was under the impression that some stations (14th Street on the East Side?) were lengthened into curves and thus needed the extenders. That's the back story for my layout. 😁

I also understood that some curved stations (City Hall, South Ferry) originally didn't need extenders because the first subway cars only had end doors which were close to the platforms, but that extenders were needed when they started using cars with center doors (not at City Hall, which closed early). In any case, extenders are cool! 😃

@West Side Joe posted:

I stand corrected. I was under the impression that some stations (14th Street on the East Side?) were lengthened into curves and thus needed the extenders. That's the back story for my layout. 😁

I also understood that some curved stations (City Hall, South Ferry) originally didn't need extenders because the first subway cars only had end doors which were close to the platforms, but that extenders were needed when they started using cars with center doors (not at City Hall, which closed early). In any case, extenders are cool! 😃

Now that is true  Gap fillers were needed after 1940 whne the cars had doors the length of the cars   The end doors of the old cars would be closer to the platform and I think people were smarter then and didnt step between the platform and car  LOL

Laying out platform supports.

@West Side Joe posted:

And just like the real extenders, if they are not retracted as the train leaves, there will indeed be damage! 😁

Could you hook up a track circuit that would trigger the retract sequence if you move the train without manually throwing the switch to the retract position?

---PCJ

Certainly possible. It would be more protypical as well, because if you have ever seen these things in action, they actually don't start retracting until after the train starts moving and bumps them slightly.  But I'll leave it to an electronic whiz kid to take the concept to the next level. 🙂

"... they actually don't start retracting until after the train starts moving and bumps them slightly. "

Really?  Bumping a stationary item? That doesn't sound safe. I have seen yellow signs with black lettering, at the platform ends, that state "SLOW UNTIL GAP FILLER SIGNAL CLEARS"  The signal has a red lamp, and a lighted white section with the abbreviation for gap-filler, "GF". When the red lamp is extinguished, the train can move at normal speed. I believe that the initial slow forward motion of the train is detected by a track circuit, (similar to the practice of "keying by" a stop signal) which then retracts the gap filler. When the gap filler is fully retracted, the signal clears.

On another note, I believe that there are gap-filler platforms at the west end of the shuttle between Grand Central and Times Square.  Unlike the other ones at South Ferry and 14th Street, which are the intersecting grid types, the ones at Times Square are more like the ones you have built. They are solid and slide under the fixed platform.

I didn't know there are special signals at those stations indicating when it is safe to proceed. As a bystander on the platform, though, it seems to me that the extenders do actually gently bump against the train as it begins to move. It could (most likely is) just an optical illusion.

Now I think I will need to incorporate such a "gap filler" sign and signal on my layout module! 😁 I doubt that such a garish sign was used in the 1960's, though; I think I'll make up a 1960's style sign, blue with white lettering. It's too good not to include.)

The west end of the Times Square shuttle station was completely rebuilt and the trains now stop before the curve where the extenders were located.

A lttle bit of a detour: on my first module I used the Woodland Scenics "cast iron" light poles but I wanted them to look more like the "shepherd's crook" NYC street lights, so here I'm experimenting with modifying one with 3/32" and 1/16" tubing.

@West Side Joe posted:

I wanted them to look more like the "shepherd's crook" NYC street lights

Do you mean "Bishop's Crook" street poles?

https://www.nycstreetdesign.in...g/bishops-crook-pole

Walther's used to sell those, but only in HO

https://www.walthers.com/bishop-s-crook-street-light

John

Yup. 😁 Unfortunately I can't cut the horizontal support as the electric wires for the LED run through it, so it will be a "suggestion" of such a light at best.  The lamp is too far out from the mast compared to the original. But I'm looking forward to having them light up on my module.

Getting a little closer to a final rendition.

@West Side Joe posted:

I didn't know there are special signals at those stations indicating when it is safe to proceed. As a bystander on the platform, though, it seems to me that the extenders do actually gently bump against the train as it begins to move. It could (most likely is) just an optical illusion.

Now I think I will need to incorporate such a "gap filler" sign and signal on my layout module! 😁 I doubt that such a garish sign was used in the 1960's, though; I think I'll make up a 1960's style sign, blue with white lettering. It's too good not to include.)

The west end of the Times Square shuttle station was completely rebuilt and the trains now stop before the curve where the extenders were located.

@West Side Joe posted:

Certainly possible. It would be more protypical as well, because if you have ever seen these things in action, they actually don't start retracting until after the train starts moving and bumps them slightly.  But I'll leave it to an electronic whiz kid to take the concept to the next level. 🙂

There was a time I took the train from South Ferry a few times a week. it looked like the train bumped the extenders every time and that's what made them retract. Or that's how it looked, the extenders did get bumped every time. I don't think a circuit could work for this. The servos are to slow as compared to the train moving.

Final Bishop's Crook streetlight rendition using Woodland Scenics light poles.

Final light installation. This detour took a long time, but it was enjoyable nonetheless, and I'm pleased with how they look.

Before I resume progress on "Old San Juan", I'm going to build one more module to serve as a storage yard for two subway sets, because I broke down and bought the MTH R1 set 🤩 (my wife caught me trying to sneak it into the garage 🤣), and it would be nice to have both the R1 and the R27 sets out of the box and ready to run without having to unpack them.  So I rearranged a bunch of stuff in the attic to make some space.

This bus driver has some maneuvering to do to get around that hat dog cart!

As the saying goes, "A hot dog stand could clean up here." At least until an officer comes by and tells him to move.

New module built to hold two trains in readiness. Now back to work on "Old San Juan".

Platform painting in progress.

Starting install of safety stanchions and chains to ensure passengers don't fall off the sides of the gap fillers.

First set of stanchions and safety chains installed.

@West Side Joe posted:

First set of stanchions and safety chains installed.

Holy shades of 14th Street/Union Square, Batman!!! Looks great Joe.

@West Side Joe posted:

Starting install of safety stanchions and chains to ensure passengers don't fall off the sides of the gap fillers.

Very cool

Testing idea for platform columns. The part between the white collars will be above the platform, and the rest will extend below the platform to the track baseboard.

@West Side Joe posted:

Testing idea for platform columns. The part between the white collars will be above the platform, and the rest will extend below the platform to the track baseboard.

Very nice, Joe. Always liked the look of the old round columns better than the “I-beam” style that is so prevalent these days. Before I retired, there were a few still on the 28th St. stop on the Lex (I went to school and then worked there for 38 years!!!). I did a quick internet search and found a picture of the long abandoned 18th St. station which showed the footings for the columns and you have a really good match. Great job.

Alan Nelson ("AlanRail" on the OGR Forums) 3-d printed the footings for me. I'm very happy with how they turned out.

@Apples55 posted:

I did a quick internet search and found a picture of the long abandoned 18th St. station which showed the footings for the columns.

If you could post the pic or a link to it I'd appreciate it.  I'm trying to invoke the look of the early IRT stations and I'm always looking for pics of them. Thanks.

Joe;

@AlanRail certainly did a nice job on those footings!!!

The pics indicate that they may be subject to copyright, so here are two links to some pics from the early days of the Subway.

https://ephemeralnewyork.wordp...reet-subway-station/

https://forgotten-ny.com/2012/...-postcards-part-2-2/

And if you REALLY want to model a spectacular station

https://www.6sqft.com/nyc-city...tation-tour-history/