Which is the 3rd rail at the subway?

A third rail is a metal railway track that is placed on either side of a train track to provide electrical power to trains traveling along the tracks. They are often used on subways and local train services. Before third rails, electricity was carried in overhead wires.

Where is the 3rd rail on NYC subway?

The third rail can be on either side of the main running rails, and can be identified by a gray cover guard.

What is meant by a 3rd rail?

Definition of third rail

1 : a metal rail through which electric current is led to the motors of an electric vehicle (such as a subway car) 2 : a controversial issue usually avoided by politicians.

What happens if you touch the 3rd rail?

But if you somehow end up on the tracks, the key is to avoid the third rail, which pumps out 600 volts of electricity. One touch can electrocute you--and potentially kill. The third rail--the tallest of the three rails along the track--is located the farthest away from the platform for customer safety, Ziegler said.

Can you pee on the third rail?

n0tWorthy writes "The Mythbusters tested the myth that you could be electrocuted by peeing on the 3rd rail. The myth was 'busted' as the stream would be broken up due to distance and there wouldn't be a continuous path for the electrical current to follow.

What if you get pushed on the subway | Survival Guide to NYC Episode 3 | New York Post

Can you survive lying under a train?

So the answer is yes – it is possible to survive lying under the oncoming train, but it is very unlikely that you could survive that without a major injury. It is a good idea to stay away from railroad tracks. Just by hanging around such places you are putting yourself in danger.

What is 4th rail?

fourth rail (plural fourth rails) (rail transport) An extra rail in addition to the third rail (live rail) which is used for current return purposes, mainly by London Underground, because of problems caused by using the running rails for current return underground. quotations ▼

Which is better third rail or overhead?

offering high efficiency - a 750V dc system offers a power supply transmission efficiency average of 92-94%. As a solid composite rail running along the track, a third rail is more rugged than an overhead contact wire and has a longer life expectancy.

What do you do if you fall on subway tracks?

The best thing you can do is run on the platform towards the tunnel where the train enters so you can get the operator's attention sooner. Waving your arms over the tracks will tell the operator to stop immediately.

What does dont touch the third rail mean?

A third rail is an issue that politicians and officials don't want to touch because it's too controversial. The idiom refers to the actual third rail used in electric rail systems. The third rail carries a high voltage, so touching it is extremely dangerous. Third rail is originally American.

Is the third rail danger?

The third rail is probably one of the most difficult dangers to see. It looks just like an ordinary rail, but it carries 750 volts – easily enough to kill you. The DC current that flows through is three times as powerful as your home electricity.

Can you get electrocuted on subway tracks?

If the platform appears flush with the approaching train, you could take shelter in the space between the two sets of train tracks. This is a dangerous choice, though, because you'd have to traverse the third rail, which carries 660 volts of electricity, more than enough to kill a person.

Are the 2 and 3 train the same?

On July 10, 1983, the 2 and 3 trains swapped terminal in Brooklyn, with 2 trains terminating at Flatbush Avenue and 3 trains terminating at New Lots Avenue.

Do rats touch the third rail?

If a rat, bored with jumping, were unwise enough to reach up and touch the live part of the 600-volt third rail while keeping its other paws on the ground, it would be toast. But rats don't do that.

Can you touch train tracks?

Part of the danger lies in the fact that when people touch the rail, they "stick" to it and the emergency services cannot help until the power is switched off. And the problem is not solved by having overhead power lines instead. In wet weather the electricity can arc through the air and hit people four feet away.

Which rail is electrified on the London Underground?

The Underground is one of the few railways electrified on the four-rail system. In addition to the two running rails there are two rails that supply power to the trains, one outside the running rails electrified at +420 V DC, the other in the middle at -210 V, producing an overall traction supply voltage of 630 V.

Where is the third rail on a train track?

The third rail is usually located outside the two running rails, but on some systems it is mounted between them. The electricity is transmitted to the train by means of a sliding shoe, which is held in contact with the rail.

Why are there 4 rails on the London Underground?

The four rail system was first used in the early 20th century. The isolated traction current return allowed a train's position to be detected using DC track circuits, and reduced any earth leakage currents that could affect service pipes, telephone cables, or cast iron tunnel liners.

Which is the fastest train in the world?

1: Shanghai Maglev - 460 kph/286 mph (China)

The world's fastest public train is also unique -- it's the only link in the world currently carrying passengers using magnetic levitation (Maglev) rather than conventional steel wheels on steel rails.

Can a train derail from a penny?

As someone who works on the railroad, you've probably heard about the myth that a single penny or quarter could derail a train. The good news for you is that putting a penny on the tracks isn't likely to cause the train any trouble at all.

What happens if you put rocks on train tracks?

The non-trivial movement caused by heat expansion and contraction along the length of the rail would cause it to break or buckle if any of it were fixed in place.

What happens if you jump while on a train?

You are in the same frame of inertia. When you jump in the train, you do not encounter air resistance, and you usually encounter little to no force and there is no change in your speed. That's why you fall in the same place when you jump. Because the speed of the train is the same as your speed.

What part of subway tracks are electric?

Overhead wires or an electrified rail known as the third rail supplies power to the trains. The third rail lies outside or between the subway tracks, and a wheel, brush or sliding shoe carries the power from the rail to the train's electric motor.