*BONUS ENTRIES* - Metro North C1 Test Run, 1992: in order to test the recently purchased C1 railcars on the Long Island Railroad's sister agency, two recently sold LIRR FL9s were on the ends of two brand new C1 coaches, as they were spotted testing on the Hudson Line in 1992, thus marking the only instance any bilevel equipment has ran into Grand Central, thanks to the C1's profile being the same of an FL9. Although the C1 (and later C3s that the LIRR wpuld puechase as a result) would never be purchased by Metro North, there were several unofficial discussions of MN being interested in purchasing bilevels over the years, but no official orders for bilevels exist as of yet. - CDOT P42s on Amtrak EQ Moves: Of the many equipment and work train moves that Amtrak hosts on the Northeast Corridor between New Haven and Boston, Amtrak frequently runs a test train that consists of an ACS-64, a single Amfleet, and a P42 on the opposite end. Occasionally, a CDOT P42 would be used on this train instead of a regular Amtrak P42 in case if other engines weren't available for the time being, as there's plenty of footage of this type of move with CDOT and Amtrak P42s on this EQ Move. - Metro North is the last railroad to use steam heated engines: While it was still in service, Metro North GP9 #750 was one of the last engines in the U.S. with an operating steam generator. Although, MN used the steam to clear the third rail of ice and snow, not to heat coaches, and the engine has since been retired and replaced by newer, HEP equipped diesels ever since the mid 2000s. - Grand Central Overhead Wires: In addition to the 3rd rail, many early electric engines utilized an early form of overhead wires that were built unto the roof of the station and the Park Avenue tunnels, as the system would switch back to 3rd rail once back above ground. Although these wires were last used well before the creation of Metro North, it's believed that the overhead wires still exist in a small tube above the tracks.
Took a couple days, but I finished it :) Great Work! From what I've heard the first ConnDot M8's had their 3rd rail shoes uninstalled due to clearance issues East of New Haven.
I would consider the FL9s as heritage units that were paint in both NH and NYC liveries because the NH units don’t have their original number for most of them and the NYC never rostered FL9s until PC.
I've watched this video over the course of two days, and I found it very informative! Most of the information there was new to me, from the RDCs that nearly made it onto Shore Line East to the "Amtrak" M3s (why were M3s wrapped in Phase II, of all liveries?), from the interurban history of the New Canaan Branch to the very existence of the shop switcher at Croton Harmon. I even learned about one of the most unusual railroad consists I've heard of yet: an NYC Subway R-47 locomotive hauling an Amtrak train into Grand Central Terminal! It's not every day you even see an R-47, so Ron Yee caught an extraordinary photo when that critter towed Amtrak 710 into Grand Central! Thanks for all the information!
1:02:26 I have seen these for myself the NYC boxcar is one of many hidden grand central gems. you just have to explore to find the others ( old hand painted signs and other cool things )
54:51 EP5 New Haven railroad equivalent in the United Kingdom is a Class 92 loco in terms of Technology. Age wise similar to classes 73 80-85 locos the latter batch had a nickname roarer.
At 29:05 you said it was the first time New Jersey transit equipment was used west of Sunny-side. I think you mean east of Sunnyside or that it was Connecticut equipment. Not sure which is true.
16:16 Incorrect. 6125, 6127, 6129, and 6131 are Ex-WoH Comet 2s. 1:06:13 MBTA Screamer F40PH? Of course, unfortunately no mention of the M1As that were rebuilt prior to 1997 and took on the Rebuilt Look but without the upper headlight.
Thanks for the correction. That could be an MBTA F40 in the concept art. Upon further consideration, I decided not to include the rebuilt M1A with the missing headlight, as the difference was too small of an entry when compared to everything else on the lower layers. But thank you for mentioning it here, as it's a bit of a bonus entry.
I don't know what the issue with the M7 third rail shoes is. The New Haven regularly sent its EP3 motors into both PSNY and GCT on third rail (yes, they did this before the wires reached PSNY), since they had some sort of flipping mechanism. So it definitely CAN be done.
That has to do with the type of 3rd rail shoes installed on certain engines and railcars. Technically, M8s do have an over and underhand running 3rd rail Shor for intended access for Penn Station Access, but M7s do not have this type of 3rd rail shoe.
39:00 New Canaan Branch opened in 1868, not 66. Also, it was not electrified until 1898, and therefore did not fit the definition of interurban for the first 30 years.
Semi unrelated question:Which of the 3 New Haven Branches(New Canaan,Danbury and Waterbury) is your favorite & why? Mine is Danbury because it's a good length branch wise and has trains to GCT(Waterbury only goes up to Stamford ad New Canaan is 8 miles from Main line junction to Namesake Terminal)
Good question: I guess I would say the Danbury branch because of the museum and connection to Pittsfield, with Waterbury as a close second since I covered it in Fixing Your Branch Line.
M1's, M2's forever! M8's are Port-o-sans on wheels, fewer seats that are uncomfortable no where near what the seating was in M1's and 2's. The NYC livery for FL-9's look awful on the newer engines. More trains to Dover Plains! RPA should be renamed Pie-in the-Sky.
Great stuff buddy. STRONG recommendation: Blood Ties: Final Scene shot at GCT. Metropolitans with Penn Central logos: ua-cam.com/video/RZvJ5MoPjGs/v-deo.htmlsi=Cqcc2a4i5rjrkT2- "The Yards": NYC Subway contractors tied with the mob. Shot at Sunnyside.
Very good points! I just saw the clip you attached for Blood Ties and not only does the M2 have Penn Central lettering (again, technically inaccurate but right railroad), but the interior also has an advertisement with an M8 on the poster! Also seen towards the end is the stairway to the 45th stree underpass as part of Grand Central North, which was constructed in 1998.
*BONUS ENTRIES*
- Metro North C1 Test Run, 1992: in order to test the recently purchased C1 railcars on the Long Island Railroad's sister agency, two recently sold LIRR FL9s were on the ends of two brand new C1 coaches, as they were spotted testing on the Hudson Line in 1992, thus marking the only instance any bilevel equipment has ran into Grand Central, thanks to the C1's profile being the same of an FL9. Although the C1 (and later C3s that the LIRR wpuld puechase as a result) would never be purchased by Metro North, there were several unofficial discussions of MN being interested in purchasing bilevels over the years, but no official orders for bilevels exist as of yet.
- CDOT P42s on Amtrak EQ Moves: Of the many equipment and work train moves that Amtrak hosts on the Northeast Corridor between New Haven and Boston, Amtrak frequently runs a test train that consists of an ACS-64, a single Amfleet, and a P42 on the opposite end. Occasionally, a CDOT P42 would be used on this train instead of a regular Amtrak P42 in case if other engines weren't available for the time being, as there's plenty of footage of this type of move with CDOT and Amtrak P42s on this EQ Move.
- Metro North is the last railroad to use steam heated engines: While it was still in service, Metro North GP9 #750 was one of the last engines in the U.S. with an operating steam generator. Although, MN used the steam to clear the third rail of ice and snow, not to heat coaches, and the engine has since been retired and replaced by newer, HEP equipped diesels ever since the mid 2000s.
- Grand Central Overhead Wires: In addition to the 3rd rail, many early electric engines utilized an early form of overhead wires that were built unto the roof of the station and the Park Avenue tunnels, as the system would switch back to 3rd rail once back above ground. Although these wires were last used well before the creation of Metro North, it's believed that the overhead wires still exist in a small tube above the tracks.
A NYC Subway diesel towing an Amtrak GE Genesis? I have truly seen everything now. Amazing video, looking forward to more in the future!
Took a couple days, but I finished it :) Great Work!
From what I've heard the first ConnDot M8's had their 3rd rail shoes uninstalled due to clearance issues East of New Haven.
I would consider the FL9s as heritage units that were paint in both NH and NYC liveries because the NH units don’t have their original number for most of them and the NYC never rostered FL9s until PC.
(When PC existed the NYC no longer existed)
@@mistertoy1 Yeah that’s what I said, before the merger. (The PRR absorbed NYC)
Now we need an NJ Transit iceburg video next!
You should do a PRR or NYC iceberg
Wow this was really interesting, especially to see how much I already knew. It's clear you put a ton of work into this, awesome job!
They can't electrify the outer New London track because it's owned by the New England Central Railroad
Wait they can’t?
25:43 Is New England Central a part of Canadian National? .. like Central Vermont?
I love this video.
Metro North and CT rail almost always get over shadowed there too Siblings.
I've watched this video over the course of two days, and I found it very informative! Most of the information there was new to me, from the RDCs that nearly made it onto Shore Line East to the "Amtrak" M3s (why were M3s wrapped in Phase II, of all liveries?), from the interurban history of the New Canaan Branch to the very existence of the shop switcher at Croton Harmon.
I even learned about one of the most unusual railroad consists I've heard of yet: an NYC Subway R-47 locomotive hauling an Amtrak train into Grand Central Terminal! It's not every day you even see an R-47, so Ron Yee caught an extraordinary photo when that critter towed Amtrak 710 into Grand Central!
Thanks for all the information!
59:41 - In about February 1996, I rode AMTRAK Montrealer on this route to St.Albans Vermont.
great video 👍
1:02:26 I have seen these for myself the NYC boxcar is one of many hidden grand central gems. you just have to explore to find the others ( old hand painted signs and other cool things )
1:11:22 - The Prudential Center is built beside the site of a Central of NJ station.
54:51 EP5 New Haven railroad equivalent in the United Kingdom is a Class 92 loco in terms of Technology. Age wise similar to classes 73 80-85 locos the latter batch had a nickname roarer.
Awesome video! The New Haven line is actually limited to 80mph between mamaroneck and larchmont, and 70-75mph elsewhere
But the only train that appears together with the NH which is a LIRR the three characters is called Kokone Fuwa
Did anybody mention that there were M-2 cars with small penn central lettering under the engineers side window
At 29:05 you said it was the first time New Jersey transit equipment was used west of Sunny-side.
I think you mean east of Sunnyside or that it was Connecticut equipment.
Not sure which is true.
That is correct: I meant to say east of Sunnyside. Thank you for the correction.
46:33 they don’t have third rail contacts due to clearance issues in New London.
16:16 Incorrect. 6125, 6127, 6129, and 6131 are Ex-WoH Comet 2s.
1:06:13 MBTA Screamer F40PH?
Of course, unfortunately no mention of the M1As that were rebuilt prior to 1997 and took on the Rebuilt Look but without the upper headlight.
Thanks for the correction.
That could be an MBTA F40 in the concept art.
Upon further consideration, I decided not to include the rebuilt M1A with the missing headlight, as the difference was too small of an entry when compared to everything else on the lower layers. But thank you for mentioning it here, as it's a bit of a bonus entry.
That's me, I guess. Built for spotting the small things, but missing the big things.
28:07 not trying to be a nitpick but you referred to the blind cars as BTC-2s both the cab and blind cars are classified as BTC/CTC-3s.
I don't know what the issue with the M7 third rail shoes is. The New Haven regularly sent its EP3 motors into both PSNY and GCT on third rail (yes, they did this before the wires reached PSNY), since they had some sort of flipping mechanism. So it definitely CAN be done.
That has to do with the type of 3rd rail shoes installed on certain engines and railcars. Technically, M8s do have an over and underhand running 3rd rail Shor for intended access for Penn Station Access, but M7s do not have this type of 3rd rail shoe.
39:00 New Canaan Branch opened in 1868, not 66. Also, it was not electrified until 1898, and therefore did not fit the definition of interurban for the first 30 years.
Thank you for the corrections.
1:12:21 lol I bet it came from a alternative universe were Amtrak for some reason electrified some lines into 3rd rail and brought a large m3 fleet
When is the next commuter railroad iceberg?
Not sure as of yet, but hopefully in a month or two, since most of the scripts and photos needed for the other icebergs are already done.
National Train Day is intended to celebrate the Golden Spike at Promontory, not Amtrak. Hence taking place on May 10, not May 1.
Ahhh, I see. Thanks for the correction. I assumed it was for Amtrak since they became prevalent towards the 40th anniversary of Amtrak.
Semi unrelated question:Which of the 3 New Haven Branches(New Canaan,Danbury and Waterbury) is your favorite & why? Mine is Danbury because it's a good length branch wise and has trains to GCT(Waterbury only goes up to Stamford ad New Canaan is 8 miles from Main line junction to Namesake Terminal)
Good question: I guess I would say the Danbury branch because of the museum and connection to Pittsfield, with Waterbury as a close second since I covered it in Fixing Your Branch Line.
1:12:03 WDTX 1402 be like:
29:04 west of Sunnyside? Surely you mean east?
Thank you for the correction.
M1's, M2's forever! M8's are Port-o-sans on wheels, fewer seats that are uncomfortable no where near what the seating was in M1's and 2's.
The NYC livery for FL-9's look awful on the newer engines. More trains to Dover Plains! RPA should be renamed Pie-in the-Sky.
Great stuff buddy. STRONG recommendation:
Blood Ties: Final Scene shot at GCT. Metropolitans with Penn Central logos:
ua-cam.com/video/RZvJ5MoPjGs/v-deo.htmlsi=Cqcc2a4i5rjrkT2-
"The Yards": NYC Subway contractors tied with the mob. Shot at Sunnyside.
Very good points! I just saw the clip you attached for Blood Ties and not only does the M2 have Penn Central lettering (again, technically inaccurate but right railroad), but the interior also has an advertisement with an M8 on the poster! Also seen towards the end is the stairway to the 45th stree underpass as part of Grand Central North, which was constructed in 1998.
Hello
oh dear god
1:02:55 420 nice