From: jmd@bear.com (Josh Diamond)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Report on exhibition of prototype NYC Subway trains
Date: 24 Dec 92 19:31:35 GMT
Organization: Bear, Stearns & Co. - FAST


Greetings folks!

Last weekend the NYCTA had both of the New Technology trains (R-110a
and R-110b) on display on the downtown express track on the BMT
Broadway Line at Herald Square, and I managed to spend a few hours
there examining the trains.  I also spent some time talking to
employees of the TA and the manufacturers of the trains.

Note that I am referring to these beasts as trains as opposed to cars.
This is due to the fact that both are permanently coupled trainsets --
the R-110a having a minimum length of 5 cars, and the R110b having a
minimum length of 3 cars.

With amazing common sense, the R-110a is destined to live on the A
Division, otherwise known as the IRT (numbered lines) and the R-110b
is headed for the B Division, otherwise known as the BMT and IND
(lettered lines).

Both trains are scheduled for test in revenue service in April.

Some new features are common to both trains: 
 
1) Computerized traction and braking control -- a single lever
controls both acceleration and braking.

2) AC Traction Motors controlled using choppers.

3) Battery powered operation.  Power from the third rail is used to
charge batteries, from which power is drawn, converted to AC, and
passed to the AC traction motors.  This will allow trains to proceed
to the next station (or back to the previous station) in case of a
loss of third rail power.

4) Air bag suspension.  Compressors are used to inflate air bladders
which are used instead of springs.  A computer continuously monitors
the train, adjusting the inflation of the bags and keeping the train
level.
   
5) Passenger alarm system.  A pressure sensitive tape switch is
mounted throughout the interior of each car.  When pressed, the
operator is notified, and a light on the outside of the car comes on,
alerting police as to in which car the emergency exists.  (this has
already been installed in some cars on the J line).

6) Door motors are now electronically controlled and use worm drive as
opposed to the older lever style actuators.  It is now impossible to
force a door open once it is closed.

7) Electronic route/destination signs and synthesized voice station
anouncements controlled from the cab  (already on some newer R-60 
cars).

8) Automatic climate control.  All Heating and Air-Conditioning is
controlled automatically using a thermostat in each car.  The cars 
switch automatically between heating and cooling as necessary.

9) Exterior appearance.  Both trains are in the now-standard stainless
steel and glass.

About the R-110a:

  Manufacturer:			Kawasaki
  Status:			Now in use in Kansas City?
  Loading guage:		8.5 feet (IRT)
  Car length:			54 feet
  Coupling:			N2A
  Minimum configuration:	5 cars
		power	cab		4 traction motors
		power	battery		2 traction motors
		trailer	battery
		power	battery		2 traction motors
		power	cab		4 traction motors
  Destination/route signs:	LED line indicator signs (1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
				LCD destination signs
				LED interior next stop signs
  Control stand: 
	The cab is completely computerized, with a control stand
	consisting of a single lever for traction and braking
	control, a reversing key, a small numeric and symbol keypad,
	and a LCD flat panel graphic/alphanumeric display (as in a
	laptop computer).  The display is used in conjunction with
	the keypad to control doors, reset alarms of various sorts
	(including the silent passenger alert system), display train
	speed and braking information, etc.
  External:
	Not much different from the current R-62 cars now in use on
	the IRT, except for slightly squarer ends in black lexan (or
	possibly glass?), and the considerably wider passenger entry
	doors (about one foot wider than the R-62 doors).
  Internal:
	Seating has been improved, giving up the scoop seats in
	favor of comfortable benches (those who are more than skin
	and bones will rejoice) in bright colors.  Pattern is now
	parallel across from front/back facing -- rather like the
	R-60 cars, but with one side shifted from the other, so that
	the front/back facing seats are opposite benches which are
	parallel to the side of the car.  Unfortunately, some
	seating space has been sacrificed in order to allow for the
	wider doors.  Interior surfaces are smooth fake-granite
	fiberglass (or plastic?) -- which is apparently quite
	resistant to graffiti, and also quite cheap to replace when
	necessary.  There is the typical shortage of handholds --
	especially for shorter individuals who cannot comfortably
	reach the horizontal bars above the bench seats.  Also, the
	wider doors leave a huge gulf with no handholds whatsoever.
	The floor is still that horrible smooth linolium which looks
	dirty even when it's just been cleaned, and which gets
	terribly slippery when wet.
  Comments:
	Unfortunately, on the morning of the exhibition they
	couldn't manage to get the R-110a to operate -- some problem
	with arcing when trying to start up the traction motors.  So
	they hooked up two diesel-electrics (one to either end)
	and hauled it dead to Herald Square.  This was apparently
	quite a tricky operation, as the dead train had little
	braking control, and there was no MU connection between the
	diesels.  The operators communicated using a kludged up
	hardwired headset rig wired straight through the train (the
	car-end doors were left open).

	Other than that, this is an impressive train, with a lot of
	very new technology.  Especially the new suspension and
	traction control systems.  The next stop signs are a very
	nice touch, as are the wider doors.

About the R-110b:

  Manufacturer:			Bombardier
  Status:			Prototype
  Loading guage:		10 feet (BMT/IND)
  Car length:			70 feet
  Coupling:			BABCO
  Minimum configuration:	3 cars
		power	cab		4 traction motors
		trailer	battery
		power	cab		4 traction motors
  Destination/route signs:	Roll-sign line indicators (most letters)
				LCD destination signs
				Interior strip route guides with
				  led indication of stops ahead.
  Control stand:
	This is a pretty standard subway train control stand, to
	which some computerized features have been added.  The
	layout of the controls is desk-style, with a myriad of
	switches, lamps, and a single lever to control traction and
	braking.  A CRT with function keys on either side has been
	added, and is used to monitor speed, train status, etc.
  External:
	Similar to R-60 cars now in use on the BMT and IND, the ends
	are a little squarer, and are lexan (or glass?).  Car ends
	which do not have cabs are open (again lexan or glass).
  Internal:
	Seating is basically the same as in the R-60's, but the
	materials have been improved -- a matte plastic is used,
	allowing scratches and stubborn grafitti to be buffed out
	using a light abrasive.  The seats are still slightly
	scooped, but not as much as before.  Internal surfaces are
	fiberglass and plastic in the wonderful TA tan (ugh!), with
	some accent provided by a plastic mosaic applique (begging
	to be peeled off by vandals).  The floor is linolium with a
	pattern of slightly raised and textured squares, which
	should be quite good when wet.  We still have the handhold
	shortage for shorter passengers.  Added, however is a
	passenger intercom -- which can be used to call for aid in
	an emergency.  Also, the clear non-cab ends of the cars
	make them feel much more open and airy.
  Comments:
	The R-110b, unlike the R-110a, managed to both arrive at,
	and depart from, the exhibition under its own power. It was
	_quiet_ -- incredibly so.  This probably has to do with the
	smoother traction control and the better suspension systems.
	The drivers are going to be using the horn quite often,
	because a train could very easily surprise someone standing
	close to the edge of a platform.

	I liked the open feeling of this train, and the excellant
	signage, but was disappointed with the drab colors used on the
	interior surfaces.  

Has anyone else out there had a chance to see these trainsets?  I
think (and hope) that I have covered everything -- if you have any
questions, I'd be happy to answer them if I can...

				Enjoy...

					Spidey!!!

--
You don't hunt ducks with a turnip! 

 /\ \  / /\  Josh Diamond                                          jmd@bear.com
//\\ .. //\\ AKA Spidey!!!                        ...!ctr.columbia.edu!ursa!jmd
//\((  ))/\\
/  < `' >  \                                              Do whatever it takes.