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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!harvard!bbnccv!bbncc5!jr
From: jr@bbncc5.UUCP (John Robinson)
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Re: Forwarding: Re: Signaling on the NY
Message-ID: <944@bbncc5.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-Jan-86 14:20:47 EST
Article-I.D.: bbncc5.944
Posted: Wed Jan  8 14:20:47 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jan-86 05:36:13 EST
References: <1083@brl-tgr.ARPA> <16900007@uiucuxc>
Reply-To: jr@bbncc5.UUCP (John Robinson)
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 13


As I am sure many will tell you, the blue line in Boston (which goes
to the airport and beyond) uses both live rails and pantographs.  The
trains pause briefly in the Maverick station to raise the track shoes
and pantograph (outbound) and reverse this process inbound.  One thing
I have never figured out is tht the lights blink off in the outbound
operation, but stay on coming in.  So there must be a single power
source for the line (or some amount of capacitor aboard the train).

Boston's other lines are either trolleys or third-rails, plus a few
routes with trackless trolleys.

/jr