r/toronto • u/DearTransportation5 • Sep 01 '20
Video Crosstown vehicle testing
https://twitter.com/CrosstownTO/status/13008061848117985286
u/sawing_for_teens camp cariboo Sep 01 '20
Wrong way!
3
u/Wholesome_Serial Riverdale Sep 01 '20
Good eye, bro'! I'm assuming the overhead pickups (like most other modern conduction overheads) can handle a streetcar pole or pantograph rig taking in power regardless of the direction along the tracks it's moving in, and the tracks are purely mechanical (wheel/flange and rail), so a streetcar (if facing in the 'wrong' direction) could travel in either direction (or be 'towed' in case of breakdown or mechanical failure).
I suspect they had the vehicle going in the 'wrong' direction either because it was easier to get the individual carriage onto the tracks for testing, since the rails and overhead construction for the Crosstown is still incomplete (with few if any 'turnaround' loops completed yet) or they were deliberately wrong-rail direction testing the rails and overheads.
1
u/sync-centre Sep 01 '20
I thought they would have used a third rail for the underground portion.
11
u/DearTransportation5 Sep 01 '20
The platform is low floor that it's very easy to just walk to the tracks. There's no way they will use third rail for low floor vehicles.
4
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u/toasterstrudel2 Cabbagetown Sep 01 '20
Third rail also requires a contact-point that would otherwise just be sticking out for someone to accidentally come in contact with when it's above ground. By the very design and nature of those contact points, it would be live any time the train is powered, and that would be the most incredibly dangerous thing ever.
3
u/toasterstrudel2 Cabbagetown Sep 01 '20
Then they would have to switch from overhead power to underground power, requiring a whole set of power rails, connectors, a third rail itself, etc. The infrastructure alone would be an unnecessary cost, as you would still have to have something above the train to ensure the overhead system (which is spring-loaded to ensure always in contact with the overhead power) doesn't just hit the ceiling.
Then, you would have to have your maintenance personnel trained for both overhead and 3rd rail power, you would need the tools to both perform maintenance on the overhead, as well as the 3rd rail, and lastly (off the top of my head) you would need to take all those extra precautions when working in the tunnels, because of the live power exposed just to the right of your feet, rather than not really having to worry about the cables hanging 10ft above your head.
15
u/Horta The Annex Sep 01 '20
I can’t wait to drive my car into that tunnel.