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Re: huh? "12,800 feet of new aluminum third-rail"??

From Ruben Safir <mrbrklyn@panix.com>
Newsgroups nyc.transit
Subject Re: huh? "12,800 feet of new aluminum third-rail"??
Date 2025-10-07 23:20 +0000
Organization PANIX Public Access Internet and UNIX, NYC
Message-ID <10c477e$86f$1@reader2.panix.com> (permalink)
References <Pine.NEB.4.64.2510062000350.5657@panix2.panix.com> <10c1q3g$tre$1@gal.iecc.com> <10c43c6$15c$1@reader2.panix.com>

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Thor Lancelot Simon <tls@panix.com> wrote:
> In article <10c1q3g$tre$1@gal.iecc.com>, John Levine  <johnl@taugh.com> wrote:
>>According to danny burstein  <dannyb@panix.com>:
>>>. Improvements so far include the replacement of 128 bridge spans that 
>>>connect tracks, column to column; the addition of 12,800 feet of new 
>>>aluminum third-rail; and the addition of 6,500 feet of signal cables, 
>>>25,000 feet of new running rail, and over 40,000 feet of new communication 
>>>cables.
>>>      ======
>>>rest:
>>>https://www.amny.com/nyc-transit/park-avenue-viaduct-metro-north-10062025/
>>>
>>>   huh?  aluminium third-rail ??  Is that legit?  Thanks
>>
>>Sure.  Here's a company that makes them, aluminum with a steel cap.
>>
>>https://www.rail-fastener.com/the-third-rail.html
>>
>>Aluminum conducts much better than steel so I'd expect the power losses to
>>be lower, and in new construction you could put the power feeds further apart.
>>
>>It says "The conductivity of aluminum alloy is 3-4 times that of low carbon steel."
> 
> The conductor is so large, I doubt the lower resistance of aluminum vs steel
> matters much.  Losses _in the 3rd rail_ should be truly minimal.
> 
> However, aluminum 3rd rail with a steel wear strip is much lighter than solid
> steel rail and that has to make life a whole lot nicer for anyone installing,
> removing, or maintaining it.
> 

It is not a moving part so I don't give a shit.  What I do care about is
that the MTA is removing a track that can last 100+ years with something
that will have the life expectency of a chowowa - 18 years top.

They don't give a shit

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Thread

huh? "12,800 feet of new aluminum third-rail"?? danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com> - 2025-10-06 20:02 +0000
  Re: huh? "12,800 feet of new aluminum third-rail"?? John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> - 2025-10-07 01:24 +0000
    Re: huh? "12,800 feet of new aluminum third-rail"?? tls@panix.com (Thor Lancelot Simon) - 2025-10-07 22:14 +0000
      Re: huh? "12,800 feet of new aluminum third-rail"?? danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com> - 2025-10-07 22:34 +0000
      Re: huh? "12,800 feet of new aluminum third-rail"?? Ruben Safir <mrbrklyn@panix.com> - 2025-10-07 23:15 +0000
      Re: huh? "12,800 feet of new aluminum third-rail"?? Ruben Safir <mrbrklyn@panix.com> - 2025-10-07 23:20 +0000
    Re: huh? "12,800 feet of new aluminum third-rail"?? Ruben Safir <mrbrklyn@panix.com> - 2025-10-07 23:13 +0000

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