Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

bakgwailo t1_j93q37g wrote

Reply to comment by Trpdoc in Man dies after touching 3rd rail at MBTA's Downtown Crossing station by riski_click

I mean you never noticed all the big signs warning about death and the third rail over the third rail?

12

Trpdoc t1_j93uqif wrote

Yes I saw it. I just have no idea what it is and apparently nobody else here does either

0

Se7en_speed t1_j943vee wrote

So an actual answer. There are two rails that the train rides on, these are a few feet apart and you can see them if you look down at the tracks. These are just metal and would be safe to touch (if there isn't a train coming). On heavy rail subway lines (not the green line) the train gets power from an energized third rail that is slightly to the outside of these two riding rails. It's also slightly elevated off the ground so that it doesn't short circuit to the ground. That is how you can tell which one is the third rail.

12

bakgwailo t1_j94huq4 wrote

I mean pretty much everyone responding to you knows what a third rail is and is explaining it to you.

7

Trpdoc t1_j94mve4 wrote

The god responses came later

−5