Car Inspector Peter 'Makes Trainzzz Go' as always

There is motion in the shop. Three M7 married pairs were moved out of shop to be returned to MTA Metro North to be returned to service. One had a problem and everyone scurried about...I was chased away. A contractor asked me what I thought was wrong........'stuck brakes probably due to a defective magnet valve on one unit because all other brakes were released.' Turns out this one valve was replaced by an unmarked unit that failed and the air passageways were loaded with debris. I spoke to the 'methods engineer' because I recognised certain things in error.....the surface this valve faces is not clean enough and rubber 'O-rings' which provide a seal might be failing. I know my braking control systems.

Subway and heavy passenger cars use 'magnet valves' to control the brakes. Simply, they take a little air pressure from the control system to provide a much larger volume of air to operate the BRAKE CYLINDERS to squeeze the brakes on the wheels just like a little hydraulic pressure from your cars brake pedal squeezes the brakes to stop your car.

Anyway, three service tracks were cleared for three new trainzzz with a fourth stuck because a contractor did not finish work on it. Monday means we all have new work and the 'cycle' starts again.........hard work with overtime. I have a good supervisor who recognises some (but not all) of what a REAL COMPOSITE CAR INSPECTOR can do but that is OK because he is looking out for me as I take care of my mother.

Trainzzz do move...do move freight and passengers...MTA trainsets keep New York City ALIVE by taking people to work and home safely...and 'I Make Trainzzz Go.' Car Inspector Peter

REALROAD shop

This is a view from the center of LIRR Arch Street Mantainance Facility looking west along track two west. On the right is a steel platform which is level with carbody doors. There are tracks upon it to move a mobile work platform level with the top of the cars parked on both track two and three which is used for inspections of HVAC units and the three antennae: VHF radio, UHF transponder and GPS locator. Work pits are shallow because tracks sit three feet higher than the floor....height below car is good allowing the average person to stand tall except below trucks. In the pit are steel tracks to allow the motion of a air operated lift platform capable of raising 4000 pounds anywhere below the married pair which is ideal to remove any unit or assembly undercar.

Most of my time is UNDERCAR...that is, below the floor level. I'm the crews mechanical test technician/Car Inspector/Troubles Guy and undercar is where the REALROAD work is. A trainset requires an air compressor to provide air pressure, working brakes, hoses and fitting that do not leak air and so much more. IF a trainset cannot move or gets stuck...it is a problem on mainline tracks. IF a trainset cannot STOP, passenger lives are placed in jeopardy. When I get bored with repititive work I remind myself that a CAR INPECTOR does mechanical work to 'make trainzzz go' and more importantly to 'make trainzzz stop.'

Arch Street is the star of MTA facilities and my home. RRCI Peter