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