wjm@whuxj.UUCP (MITCHELL) (05/25/84)
While I'm interested in trains in general, I'm particularly interested in electric traction - both main line and urban. Although I've ridden on most of the systems in the US (except some of the new ones that have opened up within the past 2 or 3 years), I'm most familiar with NYC and Boston. Newark, as you mentioned, has a trolley line that for most of its route runs along a separate grade-level or open-cut right-of-way, and then goes into an underground subway for a short distance in downtown. At present, NJTransit has no plans to replace the PCC cars, although they are doing a major rehab project on the track and stations. LRV is a generic term for streetcar for those who feel streetcar and/or trolley car are antiquated outmolded terms. Technically, most LRV's are not trolley cars since they use pantographs rather than trolley poles for power pickup. Regards, Bill Mitchell Bell Communications Research, Inc. (whuxj!wjm)
essachs@ihuxl.UUCP (Ed Sachs) (05/25/84)
====================================================== If "trolley car" implies an overhead wire with a trolley pole pickup, why did they call the old NYC streetcars (LRVs?) which used an underground conduit for power distribution "trolley cars?" -- Ed Sachs AT&T Bell Laboratories Naperville, IL ihuxl!essachs
burton@fortune.UUCP (05/30/84)
#R:ihuxl:-114600:fortune:8900007:000:484
fortune!burton May 29 12:46:00 1984
Prior to being electrified, some of the early Manhattan streetcar lins
used cables, as we still have in SF. It was a natural to keep the
power line underground. I'm not sure of the reasons for it, but part
of the Washington, D.C. system (D.C. Transit, now WMATA) used conduit.
Philip Burton 101 Twin Dolphin Drive-MS 133
Fortune Systems Redwood City, CA 94065 (415) 595-8444 x 526
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{ihnp4 [ucbvax | decvax!decwrl]!amd70 harpo hpda }!fortune!burtonessachs@ihuxl.UUCP (Ed Sachs) (05/30/84)
========================================================= Although New York did at one time have cable car lines, the use of cable slots for conduits was not entirely satisfactory as the cable car tracks were not heavy enough to support the weight of electric streetcars, and hence major reconstruction was necessary. Also, many NY conduit streetcar lines were on streets which never saw a cable car. The actual reason for the underground conduit power distribution was a desire to avoid "unsightly" overhead trolley wires. New York City not only mandated that "trolley wires" be placed underground (in Manhattan), but also utility (phone and electrical) wires. The conduit system was used for the same reason in Washington, DC, and (I believe) London. -- Ed Sachs AT&T Bell Laboratories Naperville, IL ihuxl!essachs