Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2014 December 30

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December 30

Metro-North express lines

I've been trying to find a source: I know that much of the Metro-North Hudson Line has four tracks, the outside two for north- and south-bound train boarding; the middle two for express Metro-North and Amtrak trains. What I can't seem to find anywhere is whether those express lines are specifically used - one for northbound trains and one for southbound, and if so, is the east or west middle track used for northbound trains, and which is used for southbound trains. I could easily go to a station and watch, but that's be OR, right?--ɱ (talk · vbm) 15:55, 30 December 2014 (UTC)

For anyone baffled by this Q, it's apparently about the New York City passenger rail system: [1]. StuRat (talk) 16:23, 30 December 2014 (UTC)

Good thing you caught yourself, I was about to say, "They're not subways. They're above-ground commuter trains." I take the New Haven Line to get into the City, in fact. As for a source, sorry mate, can't help you there. Search the MTA's web site a bit or contact them. Maybe they'll make history by being useful for once. As a user of the line I can tell you that west-middle is used for southbound, and the east-middle for northbound, except when they're doing something weird with the trains. Sadly I'm not a WP:EXPERT on this topic, so that means little. :p Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 8 Tevet 5775 16:29, 30 December 2014 (UTC)

There are indeed express and local trains, and I have taken the express northbound once to Poughkeepsie from Manhattan and the local southbound once, but I wouldn't know any source better than their own scheduling website. μηδείς (talk) 02:52, 31 December 2014 (UTC)

I guess an overhead video from the platform bridge of four trains: two locals stopping on either side at Greenwich, an express bound for New Haven on one centre track, and the mighty Acela on the other. Poughkeepsie is on the Harlem or Hudson Line though. Idk if they share track with any Amtrak trains, except for maybe the Empire or the Maple Leaf, or w/e the train to Montreal is called. Do you really need this info for the article, OP? I mean it doesn't need to be 100% even if a future historian would love that kind of thing. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 9 Tevet 5775 03:57, 31 December 2014 (UTC)

The GA reviewer wanted it but also said it's not necessary to pass. I was curious myself because I'm not even sure which way it is, not to mention that I don't have an RS. I worked out with another- I think I'll take photographs of the platform signs and surrounds at Yonkers and Croton (where the Amtraks stop); the two should match for the east line for trains going one way and the west for trains going the other. Then I can use Template:Cite AV media to use those photographs as a reference.--ɱ (talk · vbm) 04:15, 31 December 2014 (UTC)

Sounds good. Best of luck and try to avoid getting shot/mugged while in Yonkers! Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 9 Tevet 5775 04:52, 31 December 2014 (UTC)

Thanks, but I've a few friends who live there; there are some good areas, and with caution, safety's no concern.--ɱ (talk · vbm) 05:01, 31 December 2014 (UTC)

I was on the Hudson line both times, and I don't think it was four lines, but mostly two or three with the locals on the side while the expresses passed. Of course this is from memory back in the late 1990's when I went for a job interview. In any case, I can confirm there were local and express. The same is true of the Amtrak line through New Haven, at least that there are many local stops that the Boston train bypasses, and which you have to transfer to access. μηδείς (talk) 05:20, 31 December 2014 (UTC)

La Verne Noyes scholarship

We know the eligibility for the La Verne Noyes scholarship. Many of the colleges that offer the funds are listed, but we suspect not all. Have not been able to determine the source of the funds to inquire further. In other words, from where does the University of Colorado or the University of Iowa or... receive the Laverne Noyes scholarship funds that they allocate to eligible students? My daughter is eligible and is attending a school that says they accept any scholarships, just bring in the paperwork. Our questions are, How do we acquire the application forms? Is ITT really eligible? What is the amount (different schools appear to have different amounts), etc. It is not a well known scholarship. Others may be interested. Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:8:8780:40:951B:58E:202C:FF9F (talk) 18:06, 30 December 2014 (UTC)

You can see info on where the funds come from and the application terms for the University of Illinois at Chicago [2]. For University of Texas at Austin here [3]. It sounds like these scholarships are normally handled at the university level first rather than the foundation or whatever behind the scholarship (if there is one). So I imagine you can probably find similar forms for the universities you're interested in from their websites. If not, try contacting their scholarship department or similar. P.S. Also found someone's list of universities that offer it here [4]. This claims the number is 48 [5]. In case it still isn't clear, the money mostly or completely comes from the trust who partially or completely owned Aermotor Windmill Company ([6] suggests they don't own it any more, I presume they realised owning only one significant asset was a bit risky considering their purpose). I say mostly or completely because it sounds like La Verne Noyes donated money before he died and I don't know if this was part of the trust, or seperate. In any case, all this from a simple internet search for 'La Verne Noyes' and a bit of reading, and not being eligible or particularly likely to ever have children or other relatives eligible, I don't really give a flying flip about the scholarship myself. Nil Einne (talk) 18:40, 30 December 2014 (UTC)