Strange working practice in the States

[Anon Mouse]

found this on a contacts phtostream on Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/cklx/3473556125/

where is the station, platform and why is each pantograph up? I like it!

[DSY011]

A bit like Rhodesia Railways Anon Mouse, Not every station has a platform, thats why the coaches have steps down to ground level. Also you cant have a platform on a bit of railway that is also part of the road.

[pre65]

Fancy standing in the middle of the road to board a train !

I bet health and safety would have a thing or two to say about that over here.

[swisstrains]

Originally Posted by Anon Mouse

................ why is each pantograph up?...............

It looks like the train is made up of several (6?) separate railcars. To enable the railcars to be easily separated there are no high voltage cables between each one so they have to have their own separate pantographs (one in use and one spare). Each railcar is electrically self-contained with only the control wiring passing between them.

[Anon Mouse]

ah, makes sense.........doh!

[wyvern]

Originally Posted by pre65

I bet health and safety would have a thing or two to say about that over here.

You also, presumably, dont get people complaining about the horn being sounded, let alone the bell.

[Deathbyteacup]

Originally Posted by pre65

Fancy standing in the middle of the road to board a train !

I bet health and safety would have a thing or two to say about that over here.

What, you mean like, a tram stop? They were clearly waiting on a pavement, and only in the quiet and lightly used if at all road to get on board. Assessing the risk, it probably would not be a problem.

Have a think.

[pre65]

Originally Posted by Deathbyteacup

What, you mean like, a tram stop? They were clearly waiting on a pavement, and only in the quiet and lightly used if at all road to get on board. Assessing the risk, it probably would not be a problem.

Have a think.

Ah, but I've never ever seen a tram, let alone ride on one !

I vaguely remember trolley buses though.

[Tony]

Hi Philip,
A week in Blackpool is obviously called for!
The train must be the noisiest electric train that I have ever heard. It is strange that the Americans can live, and get on and off trains, without the "elf & safety" nannies anywhere in sight, not even a yellow line.