Subject:
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Re: Metroliner question
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Thu, 21 Feb 2002 16:09:28 GMT
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Viewed:
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893 times
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In lugnet.trains, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> In lugnet.trains, Lindsay Frederick Braun writes:
> > In lugnet.trains, Adam Murtha writes:
> > > Since I'm train illiterate, I have a question about the Metroliner. What is
> > > the purpose of this piece (http://peeron.com/inv/parts/2881) the cantenary?
> > > And I've been browsing amtrak.com to find some pictures of the real
> > > Metroliner, but the best I've found thus far is this:
> > > http://www.amtrak.com/trains/metroliner.html
> > > I'm sure there are better pictures around, can a real train head help a
> > > rookie out? :)
> >
> > It doesn't take a real train-head to answer that. It's the
> > conductor for electric power--raised to contact with the overhead
> > lines. We don't use a third rail in *every* situation. ;)
> >
> > (Added factlet: Boston still has power lines up for *buses*, though
> > they're being phased out now.)
>
> Tranna has these too, as does SF. Electric buses are cool, especially the
> articulated ones. They can sneak up on pedestrians, you have to be on your
> toes!!!
> Of course buses use trolley poles and single wire (per pickup), rather than
> pantographs and catenary carrier/power wire pairs... but they have two
> trolley poles, drawing from two different wires, feeding both sides of the
> circuit, since it's a bit harder to return current through rubber tires than
> through steel wheels.
>
> I never figured out if they have a reverse loop problem or not, though.
>
> And it's spelled catenary, after the geometric term for the curve, rather
> than caNtenary... (that incorrectly spelled part name sure does propagate,
> doesn't it?)
When I was oh so muchh younger than I am now, the city busses in Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada, used the double pole thing for electric feed. THose were
phased out years ago. I don't know how they overcame the loop thing but hey
did, since the bus stop I was at was at the end of a line, the overhead
wires did a loop thing (just like the LEGO train track instructions tell us
*not* to do :) )
Toronto, Ontario still uses Street Cars (the Red Rocket!), with single pole
electric feed, but as Larry pointed out--steel wheels are great for letting
electricity flow thru ;)
Actually, this discussion is making me look closer at the public
transportation industry-- I may have to make a Red Rocket for the next Train
Show!
Stay safe
Dave
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Metroliner question
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| (...) I forgot about those! I rode those when I was a callow youth as well. (lived in Hamilton 1966-1968) (...) Tranna was one of the last NA cities to still run PCC's in "regular service". SF has them on the F (Market) line but that's sort of (...) (23 years ago, 21-Feb-02, to lugnet.trains)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Metroliner question
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| (...) Tranna has these too, as does SF. Electric buses are cool, especially the articulated ones. They can sneak up on pedestrians, you have to be on your toes!!! Of course buses use trolley poles and single wire (per pickup), rather than (...) (23 years ago, 21-Feb-02, to lugnet.trains)
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