Subway/Metro question

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

This must be one of the most submarine related questions ever.

Dumb question is related to this picture (among others):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/NYC_Subway_R142_on_the_4_R160A_on_the_M.jpg


What is purpose of that door in front of the train? Is it for emergency exit or for transfer between trainsets?

For some reason Google didn't provide answer to me.

[Platapus]

What is purpose of that door in front of the train? Is it for emergency exit or for transfer between trainsets?




Yes. Both.

[Jimbuna]

Same in the UK and possibly most rail carriage systems I suspect.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/11/24/article-1230457-07574175000005DC-119_468x313.jpg

[ajrimmer42]

yup. Some of our Overground stuff has them too, mainly 158s.

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/39/84/1398488_431d2d1f.jpg

and the odd Diesel loco, like on this beasty Class 40.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2229/2246815687_a0486712f1.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

The cars are all identical, so it doesn't matter in what order they are coupled together. The door at each end allows egress into the next car.

[Jimbuna]

yup. Some of our Overground stuff has them too, mainly 158s.

and the odd Diesel loco, like on this beasty Class 40.



Crikey, those pictures bring back a few memories :DL

[Penguin]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/U-Bahn_Berlin_verschiedene_Fahrzeugtypen_Friedrichsf elde.JPG/799px-U-Bahn_Berlin_verschiedene_Fahrzeugtypen_Friedrichsf elde.JPG

Berlin also has thosse door-in-the-front trains.

This is how our subway trains look like:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/NF8U_3303.jpg/800px-NF8U_3303.jpg

This is the newest model, particulary made for Düsseldorf. In former years they sometimes connected two trains for higher capacity in the subway system.
The reason we have this solution, is that as a wannabe-fancy state capital we need special manufactured trains which are more expensive than buying existing ones. :doh:
Another reason is that those trains are tram/subway hybrids, and our streets are crowded and narrow like crap, so longer trains would make no sense.

[Sailor Steve]

Salt Lake City doesn't have any subways, but we do have what we call a light rail system. Same idea, just above ground. Our cars have no front or rear doors, just access from the sides. Here is our latest model:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/800px-Green_line_Trax_at_Gallivan_Plaza.jpg

Because cities in Utah are few and far between we also have an intercity heavy train called FrontRunner.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/800px-UTA_FrontRunner_-_nearing_Intermodal_Hub_-_February_2011.jpg

[Oberon]

It is true, it's used for access between carriages, although it's a no-no to do that on the tube unless you're staff. On the overground units though the corridors are linked up and you can walk through just fine.

I can go back a bit further though and show you this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/2775265189_bbb13146df.jpg

The back end of an A4 Pacific. Now, you can see a little door in that tender, and that was put there specifically so that on a long express train to the North from Kings Cross to Edinburgh, the crew could change half way without having to stop the train. The Scots crew would just pick up the train from wherever and sit in the carriage behind the engine, and then at the allotted place they would just go through the door, through the tender and take over from the London driver and fireman. As seen in the classic BTF production - The Elizabethan Express:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=s5kLJdCEgU4#t=542s

[Sailor Steve]

it's a no-no to do that on the tube unless you're staff.
But it's so cool in spy movies! :rock:

[ajrimmer42]

As seen in the classic BTF production - The Elizabethan Express:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=s5kLJdCEgU4#t=542s

Bloody brilliant :up:

And just to join in on the tram kinda theme, these are what I have to contend with in Sheffield every day. Not that I ever get the tram. Only time I ever do is when I'm going to the cinema, for some reason :06: other than that they're more expensive than busses and don't go anywhere I want to go :haha:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/3224888291_6937c71f99.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

they're more expensive than busses and don't go anywhere I want to go :haha:
That's too bad. Here it's all the same system and the same price.

[soopaman2]

The cars are all identical, so it doesn't matter in what order they are coupled together. The door at each end allows egress into the next car.


That.

Allows for quick connections, without having to fumble for a specific driver car.

Here (NYC) they don't bug you for going between cars while in movement. Try to get into the engineers door though, MTA-PD can teach the NYPD a few things about police brutality.:D

[Jimbuna]

You should see the trains at Beamish which is less than ten miles from where I live :DL

http://www.beamish.org.uk/railway-station/

[Oberon]

You have the three legged pony at Beamish :D

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Puffing_Billy_1862.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xafgZlcMpNE

I love the Victorian and early Edwardian steam locomotives, they had an elegance about them that even the A4 Pacifics struggled to match.

http://www.stephensonloco.org.uk/irondukerocket.jpg

http://www.toycollector.com/hwdphotos/originals/10714/1203/Stirling_Single.jpg

http://train-photos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/8227.jpg

[Jimbuna]

The only time I went to Beamish I was still in short trousers :DL

[MH]

Jerusalem new city train.
Operational only for few month after ten years of construction delays and chaos in the city:damn:

http://israelity.com/wp-content//2011/02/jerus-train.jpg

[Biggles]

Swedish subwaytrains don't have that particular design feature:
http://www.stockholmsguiden.se/images/c20-alvs.jpg

Though, (and this just struck me as I was watching that picture), maybe the glass within the black frame is easily broken from the inside for emergencies?

[Jimbuna]

Salt Lake City doesn't have any subways, but we do have what we call a light rail system. Same idea, just above ground. Our cars have no front or rear doors, just access from the sides.

Because cities in Utah are few and far between we also have an intercity heavy train called FrontRunner.



Travelled on the Houston version in 2008....$1 per ride and I can still remember exactly where this picture was taken :sunny:

http://www.kristopheredwin.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/08_05-09-04_04-57p_dsc01368_fhdr-800x600.jpg

[Penguin]

Operational only for few month after ten years of construction delays and chaos in the city:damn:


I didn't know that Jerusalem and Düsseldorf had a joint venture corporation in idiotic construction and failed planning... :haha: They are building our new subway line here only since 5 years, 2 more to go (they say)
Last month we proudly got the title of Germany's city with the slowest traffic :x


Though, (and this just struck me as I was watching that picture), maybe the glass within the black frame is easily broken from the inside for emergencies?

:hmmm: possible, looks like there are no doorhandles, so you can only open it by force. Maybe they have another type of glass built inside the frame.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Stockholm's "ghost train" C5 "Silverpilen" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverpilen) with front door:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/C5-Silverpilen.jpg

In Helsinki Metro and finnish railways in general this kind of doors are not used.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Here is picture of Eil series commuter car.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/VR_Eil.jpg

In end of the car around gangway door there is a band which (in theory) when car connected with another car with similar device forms forms tunnel which weather proofs gangway. It also prevents falling out. Similar is also in BR Class 158/159 units.

In picture of R142 and R160A in my first post I don't see similar structure. Do you in NYC just use handrails or am I missing something?

EDIT: Eil and Eilf series are locomotive hauled commuter cars mostly operated during rush-hour in Helsinki local traffic. Eil is basic model with 113 seats and Eilf is conductor cab car with 93 seats.