[GreenKeys] Happy Holidays 2014

[Ralph Mowery]

The 3 rd rail was to power the toy train.  Under the middle of the engine 
was a small roller that picked up one side of the power..  I guess that 
Lionel took an easy way out when they made the train sets.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Knoppow" <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>
To: "Dave Horsfall" <dave at horsfall.org>; "Greenkeys" 
<greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2014 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Happy Holidays 2014


>
> ----- 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.
>
> 


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