Trains entering and leaving 42nd Street/Grand Central...... (pollution, train)

[scatman]

.....I've noticed that there's not much of that schreechy noise anymore when the 4, 5 and 6 turn into and out of Grand Central! The turns are quieter!

Beforehand, one could close their eyes, hear that noise and would know, without announcement, that "This is Grand Central, 42 Street!" But it looks like MTA trying to do their best to curtail noise pollution......by taking away a century-old tradition in the process! (LOL!)

[LTA1992]

Trains seem quieter because the timer signals outside of the station heavily restrict train speed. The lower the train, the less friction to create the screeching.

[Doobage]

That eldritch screeching from the train always creeped me out a little.

[Kefir King]

I think the near ZERO speed might account for it.

Sort of the old doctor joke:
Patient: Doctor, it hurts when I do this.
Doctor: So don't DO it.

[scatman]

Y'all think it's the reduction in speed?

One thing the reduction in speed does is prevent standing riders from swinging all over the place! That could have been thought about years ago. I have a feeling that something was put in those trains or tracks! If someone from Transit can confirm any of this.......

[Kefir King]

I have a feeling that something was put in those trains or tracks!

Blood?

[LTA1992]

More like Welded Rail instead of Jointed Rails. That creates a much smoother ride.

[Arxis28]

Originally Posted by scatman

Y'all think it's the reduction in speed?

One thing the reduction in speed does is prevent standing riders from swinging all over the place! That could have been thought about years ago. I have a feeling that something was put in those trains or tracks! If someone from Transit can confirm any of this.......

I agree. The trains were going quite slow when the screeching use to occur. They must have somehow fixed the rails

[Kefir King]

I have heard that the greatest decrease in subway noise occurred when the MTA switched from the old 6 sided wheels on subways, to the smoother octagon shaped wheels we have now.

[nybbler]

Originally Posted by Kefir King

I have heard that the greatest decrease in subway noise occurred when the MTA switched from the old 6 sided wheels on subways, to the smoother octagon shaped wheels we have now.

Before the first subway opened, they tried triangular wheels, that didn't work so hot, so they went with squares on the IRT and pentagons on the BMT before standardizing on the hexagon.