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Red Line bungalow progress: Hauling out the damaged switch gear
By adamg on Fri, 06/14/2019 - 11:01am
From his seat on a commuter-rail train, Jed Hresko got a good view of the work this morning to repair the signal bungalows and tracks at JFK/UMass that were damaged in the Red Line derailment on Tuesday.
Officials said yesterday it could be Sunday at the earliest before we know when regular service to and from Braintree will resume.
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Comments
mmmmm
lookit all that exposed rebar on the crumbling supports for that overpass. I feel good about our infrastructure here, how's bout you guys?
Whose job is that so I can
Whose job is that so I can complain?
Do "signal bungalows" have to be within inches of the tracks?
I find it odd from the photos that a shack with all sorts of crucial electronic equipment would be placed at a point where it could be wiped out by a one car, low speed derailment. Can these be moved out of harms way?
They do not. This setup is called "cutting corners"
Welcome to Baker's T. But to be fair, this didn't start with Baker. Every Governor has tried to find cuts as advocates (lobbyists) extort $$$ for their pet projects. No politician wants to say no to a transit effort, so they carry ahead with expensive expansion projects while cutting corners elsewhere.
Sure
Sure they can be moved. Are you going to write the T a check for recabling half of Columbia Junction? Because this is what would have to happen.
In most railroads, this is pretty common to have this equipment right on the tracks.
But not right next to the tracks. This was a cheap move
JFK UMass has room to put these bungalows elsewhere. This was a cheap move designed to save a few bucks. Now its hitting the T hard.
fine
whatever, I am sure you'd be the first to complain that they were spending money to move it that they didnt need too since the bungalo was in working order at its location in the first place?
Right? I mean its how T bitching works.. doesnt mater if its right or wrong, just complain about it anyways.
The bungalow is in between tracks along a curve
Soviet style safety
It's Called 'Appropriations'
And yes, that's how vital infrastructure is maintained and improved.
Better inches from the tracks
Than someplace that "cars are going to hit you".
And
If the bungalow was anywhere else, armchair experts would claim it's in the wrong spot should it ever be hit by a work truck, crushed by a tree, etc.
You have to understand
If you are a switch bungalow, cars will hit you!
No Room Elsewhere
You need to keep in mind that the original Red Line was only the Dorchester branch. When the Braintree branch was built they created that elaborate "fly-over" where the two branches merge to go into Boston, and its mate coming the other way. At the time there was still a single track freight line to be accommodated which now carries the South Shore commuter rail.
The current abutting properties were as they are today as well as roadways, so the only place to put the signal equipment was to custom build it where you see it today.
The sad thing is that that entire set of switches and signals just went through a modernization rebuild a couple of years ago after a multi-year rebuild project. It will now have to be redone.
This is not a days or weeks repair either... this will be months at least.
Question
Could these "bungalows" be replaced by shipping containers?
They look to be the right size and shape for such. Then they could be set up outside of the area, transported to the location, put in place, and plugged in.
This would minimize the work required beside the tracks, and result in some resilient infrastructure, too.
Rode the Dred Line today
The T workers were courteous and very helpful but it still took close to two hours to get to my doctors appointment. I remember when the sign at Ashmont said eighteen minutes to Park Street.
The Little Train That Could!
As an Irish citizen who resides here and rides 'the little train that could" every day, and for many years, Americans have the 'patience of Job" 20-minute delays, really, they are being extremely modest! This "joke" that they call the "T" is absolutely outrageous! Let me know when someone starts a full-blown walkout! I truly believe this is what is needed for whoever runs this "shit-show" to get a wake-up call. It took me 3 hours to get to work the other day, two of those was sitting on a bus that should have taken 20 minutes! There is no leadership, no guidance, it's literally do whatever down there. Then they have the nerve to raise fees! Instead of off-setting the stress that people deal with every day! Talk about rubbing salt into wounds! Yes, every day, even before the derailment.
If this was in another part of the World there would have been mass protests by now! It's totally unacceptable.
Believe it or not, I consider myself to be pretty patient. At this point, the MBTA is literally taking the piss! As the lady on another post says, yes, it is a crisis! God help anyone who has no flexibility at work. You couldn't make this up!
If the MBTA is broke, start your "T" reality tv show, perfect money making opportunity!