Re: PC: Re: PC 1971/1972 Modernization Project in NY area

[Pamela Frick <hefrick@xxxxxxxxxx>]

NYC4600 -AT- aol.com wrote:
> 
> Greetings to all,
> 
> I was wondering if anyone remembers the Modernization Project Penn Central did
> with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1971 and 1972 on
> the then electrified portions of the PC Hudson Line (ex-NYC), the PC Harlem
> Line (ex-NYC) and the PC New Haven Line (ex-NH).  I know already that the
> project included the installation of high level platforms at all the stations
> in the electrified zone, the closing of "The Bronx-138th Street" station, the
> High Bridge and Mount St. Vincent stations on the Hudson Line in the Bronx,
> and the Morrisania and 183rd Street stations on the Harlem Line in the Bronx,
> as well as the purchase of new electric door M-1 type "Metropolitan" MU's for
> the Harlem and Hudson Lines, as well as the M-2 type "Cosmopolitan" MU's for
> the New Haven Line.
> 
> I was wondering if anyone remembers this project, and how much of a difference
> there was when the project was done.  Does anyone know why the high level
> platforms north of Mount Vernon West to North White Plains on the Harlem Line
> were built with tar by Penn Central, as opposed to concrete which was used for
> the other high levels?  Were any of the other high level platforms built by
> Penn Central built with tar rather than concrete?
> 
> Lastly, I know this was discussed already some time ago, but I'm not sure if
> this particular question was ever answered.  Were all the 100 Penn Central
> 1000 series electric MU cars (built by St. Louis Car Co. in 1950 for the NYC
> as the 4500 series) retired upon the arrival of the M-1 "Metropolitan" MU
> cars?  Did any of these cars ever get MTA paint?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> John W.
All of the stations on all three Metro region lines looked quite
different after the high level construction  I witnessed alot of
it first hand from about 1971 to 1973 on the New Haven and
Harlem lines.  On the New Haven they used prestressed concrete
beams.  These were later replaced with concrete beams and tar
platforms.  A couple of stations on the New Haven line were closed
as well since they were on curves   A couple of brand new stations
were constructed as well.
Henry Frick  Ft Worth TX