[GreenKeys] Happy Holidays 2014

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Horsfall" <dave at horsfall.org>
To: "Greenkeys" <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2014 11:48 PM
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Happy Holidays 2014


> Never mind the Teletype in the background; what I want to 
> know is, just
> what is that steam train doing on what looks like a 3rd 
> rail?
>
     I always had Lionel models, wish I still had them. The 
third rail bothered me a little. American Flyer models ran 
on two-rail tracks but always looked cheaper somehow. Of 
course, there are real three-rail railroads where 
once-upon-a-time steam locomotives ran as well as electric. 
Both the New York Central and the late, lamented New Haven 
used this system running 600V DC. The Pennsy ran catenaries 
and high voltage AC on their system so no third rail. The 
third rail on the NYCS and New Haven ran next to one of the 
regular rails, I think the locomotives had pickups on both 
sides but am not sure.
     Perhaps the TTY is used to dispatch the trains.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com