bakgwailo t1_j93nt46 wrote on February 19, 2023 at 12:14 AM

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

It's fairly obvious to anyone who uses a subway.

Trpdoc t1_j93o3i2 wrote on February 19, 2023 at 12:16 AM

Used a subway for 5 years had no clue

bakgwailo t1_j93q37g wrote on February 19, 2023 at 12:32 AM

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

Trpdoc t1_j93uqif wrote on February 19, 2023 at 1:09 AM

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

Se7en_speed t1_j943vee wrote on February 19, 2023 at 2:22 AM

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.

bakgwailo t1_j94huq4 wrote on February 19, 2023 at 4:19 AM

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

Trpdoc t1_j94mve4 wrote on February 19, 2023 at 5:06 AM

The god responses came later

TheSukis t1_j94q1da wrote on February 19, 2023 at 5:39 AM

They’re not sending their brightest

General_Liu1937 t1_j9z9ujt wrote on February 25, 2023 at 5:43 PM

Fun fact: Blue Line uses catenary power when above ground after passing Airport. It is dual modular because it is said there was problems with the third rail use being so close to the ocean (Revere Beach and Wonderland).