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From: cb@mitre-bedford.ARPA (Christopher Byrnes)
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Re: combination of third rail and overhead power
Message-ID: <1371@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 9-Jan-86 08:42:42 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.1371
Posted: Thu Jan  9 08:42:42 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jan-86 05:41:55 EST
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 18


  I believe that the MBTA's Blue Line uses both third rail (in the
tunnel under Boston Harbor) and overhead wire for power.  As I recall,
the reason for this is due to a combination of factors.  The Boston
Harbor tunnel was originally built for streetcars, so its small size
prevents putting a full overhead in the tunnel.  The above ground
section of the Blue Line in East Boston and Revere runs close to the
shoreline, so winter iceing problems forces the need to switch from
third rail to overhead.  It sounds complicated, but it seems to have
worked for the last 30 years.
					Christopher Byrnes
					The MITRE Corporation
					Burlington Road
					M. S. A425
					Bedford, Mass. 01730

					cb@Mitre-Bedford.ARPA
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