One of the First Technical Reports Concerning the Brooklyn - Queens Connector

DNAInfo released some additional information about the proposed streetcar line on the Brooklyn -Queens waterfront.   Once you visit the site, you can click and see an earlier or (latest?) report on proposed operations planned.  An interesting section deals with propulsion and it seems that no large system can be completely wireless or separated from a power source.  If the streetcar/LRV has batteries, these batteries need to be re-charged and this may require some overhead segments or charging stations.  Systems around the world that recently opened may have some wireless segments due to technical reasons,  for example, going over a bridge with low clearance or for beauty reasons, passing along a historic street.   See technical section of the linked article.  Very interesting.

  If the new system needs some sections of overhead, place it over the right of way that goes under the Gowanus Expressway where no one would object and you do not need support poles.  I want to remind everyone that I like wires and it is the symbol of clean electric transportation.  The more the better, IMHO.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/310386829/Brooklyn-Queens-Connector-Rapid-Assessment


https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160425/red-hook/city-releases-more-details-of-brooklyn-queens-streetcar-plan-report-says


I hope these links work and you can bring up the article


Tramway Null(0)

By Nikhita Venugopal | April 25, 2016 11:27am | Updated on April 25, 2016 1:12pm

@nkvenugopal

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A rendering of the proposed streetcar that would run between Brooklyn and Queens.

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Courtesy Office of the Mayor

NEW YORK CITY — Two months after Mayor Bill de Blasio first endorsed a plan to build a streetcarconnecting waterfront neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, the city has released its early assessment of the $2.5 billion system, Politico New York first reported.

The 16-mile streetcar route, which will travel from Astoria to Sunset Park, was announced in February during the mayor's State of the City speech. The BQX would connect neighborhoods such as Long Island City, DUMBO and Red Hook, though the city has yet to share an exact route. 

The city's 37-page "rapid assessment" released to Politico on Friday evaluates an earlier study from the Friends of the BQX, a nonprofit that proposed the streetcar's development along the East River corridor. That earlier report has not yet been released to the public. 

Some Bad News for Trolleybus Fans from New Zealand and Philadelphia

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/79167527/wellingtons-trolley-buses-saved-by-43m-deal-to-fit-them-with-electric-motors


http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20160420_SEPTA_to_add_25_electric_buses_next_year.html


Folks, some bad news for trolleybus lovers. New Zealand will "retrofit" it's trolleybuses with new components that may make those individual units completely wire free.  And in Philadelphia, the two former trolleybus routes in South Philly, names Tasker-Morris and Snyder Avenue will not get their wire renewed, instead 25 "electric" buses will be bought, 100% wire free and pollution free.  These buses may need recharging at some charging station or stop.

So, trolleybus fans, look up and see the wires, you may not see them much longer as new technology gets developed... and the same applies to trams and streetcars.

Just in my humble opinion..

Tramway Null(0)

From the Facebook "Trolleybus" Page: Cat with trolleybus Doll.

This great picture was taken by the host of the "Trolleybus" Facebook page.  She designed and knitted the trolley Doll? of a trollino trolleybus  herself.  The host is very devoted to the trolleybus concept including this cute kitty.

And Now the Bad News from Moscow

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/12/end-road-moscow-trolleybuses-campaign


Moscow to phase out trolleybuses by 2020 with elimination of some downtown routes very soon.

More to follow later.  Very bad news because this will discourage new systems from starting.

Picture from The Guardian of a Moscow trolley bus years ago.

Good News from Seattle: 23rd Avenue Trolleybus Extension

See video below.  Sorry I could not link up directly.  Basically, an extension is planned with wires in Seattle.



http://www.king5.com/news/local/seattle/sdot-plans-to-electrify-23rd-ave/121737887

http://www.king5.com/news/local/seattle/sdot-plans-to-electrify-23rd-ave/121737887




Narrative to follow in future:

  Seattle will expand part of it's trolleybus network including the extension of the overhead.  This is good news  for wire lovers.  If batteries become perfected, there will be no need for trolleybus or tram wires.  Is this good?  Yes for the environment if more vehicles are electric operated but for traditional trolley lovers (tram or trolleybus), is a battery bus without overhead a trolleybus?  I do not think so.  In my opinion.

  This new clip shows us that at the present,  Seattle is still willing to invest in overhead wires.  Other cities are extending the trolleybus networks without overhead wires, relying on battery or some other power source for route extensions.  Battery buses are probably better on smaller sized buses that do not need to go up hills and do not operate in an air-conditioned required environment.  For climbing hills on hot days, the trolleybus is superb.  I heard that Peking may had some bad air pollution days recently and Peking may have opted for trolleybus route extension and replacement of diesel bus lines.  In the United States, only a few cities operate trolleybuses.  I heard a few years ago that Spokane, Washington and Montreal were talking about establishing new trolleybus systems but I have not heard anything recently.  If battery packs and capacitors are perfected,  or near perfection, I can see why these cities do not want to invest in an "old technology".  For me, I like the sparks and the sound of the trolley poles going under a switch.

IMHO  Tramway-Null

East 161 Street & 3rd Avenue Bronx 1954

Yesterday, in Subchat, Dave posted an post titled "New York, 1954" and this great photo taken in the Bronx in 1954 is shown.  The 3rd Avenue El  with wooden equipment and abandoned trolley tracks on the surface. On writer wrote that he would like to see  Bernard Linder trackmap of the area.  My archive at home is not indexed and I knew that I would never find it.. but I pulled a binder at random and it seems that the "Bulletin" in 1996 had a series on Bronx Trolleys.

  In this great photo of the Bronx, you can see tracks under the Third Avenue el.  The street sign says "East 161th Street".  A writer asked about that turnoff in the foreground.  Was it part of the St. Anns
Avenue Line?   I am less familiar with Bronx trolleys compared to Brooklyn trolleys.  Bronx lost it's trolleys in 1948 and 1952 near the Westchester boarder.


The trackmap below comes from  Linder, B.  " New York Division Bulletin", Electric Railway Association, Vol. 39, No. 9, September, 1996, pp.2-3.

  Please take a look at the 1934-1948 map.  On the left side near the bottom find "B___B".

You will see the 161 Street 3rd Avenue intersection with St. Anns Avenue.  The turnout seems in the wrong position but if you turn the map upside down, you can see by 1948 the St. Anns branch was a turnout.  It did not exist in the 1909 map.  The photo was taken facing south?  Notice how elegant New Yorkers dressed in 1954.

I hope this helps.

Tramway Null