Could be a dumb question but I'll ask it anyway

[candidrachel]

I've seen alot of photos over in the States with people standing on railway tracks. Isn't that really dangerous and would't they get electrocuted Over here in the UK it is illegal to wander onto railway tracks and you get fined if caught.

This is one of those types of questons that you want to ask but don't want to looks silly!

[Biomech]

Being from the UK I wouldn't know :P But I imagine they are disused tracks?

Shameless selfplug: (BTW Rachel, have you seen my photo booth service that stretches to Hampshire? )

[Aegea]

Most US railroads are not electrified (so the main risk would be actually getting hit by a train).

[conor5150]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

I've seen alot of photos over in the States with people standing on railway tracks. Isn't that really dangerous and would't they get electrocuted Over here in the UK it is illegal to wander onto railway tracks and you get fined if caught.

This is one of those types of questons that you want to ask but don't want to looks silly!

as I live here and use the train I think I am correct in saying that you would get electrocuted only if you touch the "third rail", having said all that I have never actually stood on the tracks.....you want me to try on my way home?

[NicoleScraps]

Originally Posted by Aegea

Most US railroads are not electrified (so the main risk would be actually getting hit by a train).

Yes, ^this^
But I am pretty sure that it is illegal to be on tracks like that regardless.

[Sloseph]

being from UK and being a country bumpkin we used to walk on the tracks all the time, non of us ever got electricuted or caught by anyone with power

[RLucas]

They are not electrified tracks. But it is in most cases, illegal. They are owned by the rail company, and considered private property.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by conor5150

as I live here and use the train I think I am correct in saying that you would get electrocuted only if you touch the "third rail", having said all that I have never actually stood on the tracks.....you want me to try on my way home?

That's true of the subway train lines, but for the standard 2-rail tracks you see in most pictures, there's no third rail: theyre just dead iron.

The thing you guys in the Uk have to remember is that the US (and Canada) doesn't use trains all that much. Certainly nowhere near as much as the UK or Europe.

[conor5150]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

That's true of the subway train lines, but for the standard 2-rail tracks you see in most pictures, there's no third rail: theyre just dead iron.

The thing you guys in the Uk have to remember is that the US (and Canada) doesn't use trains all that much. Certainly nowhere near as much as the UK or Europe.

True but.....the train I take is a commuter train that originates out of Grand Central....from that trusted site wikipedia


Metro-North Railroad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

relevant info

Most services running directly into Grand Central Terminal are electric powered.
In the case when the diesel powered train runs into Grand Central, General Electric P32AC-DM electro-diesel locomotives capable of switching to a pure electric mode using contact shoes to contact the railroad's under-running third rail power distribution system. Shoreliner series coaches are used in push-pull operation.

On the Hudson Line, local trains between Grand Central and Croton-Harmon are powered by electrified third rail. Through trains to Poughkeepsie are diesel powered and do not require a change of trains at Croton-Harmon. The Harlem Line has third rail from Grand Central Terminal to Southeast and are powered by diesel north of that station to Wassaic. At most times, passengers traveling between Southeast and Wassaic must change trains at Southeast to a diesel-powered train. These trains are powered by Brookville BL20-GH locomotives. Electric service on the Hudson and Harlem lines is provided using M3, and M7 MU cars.

The New Haven Line is unique in that trains are powered through both 700 V DC from a third rail or 13.8 kV AC from an overhead catenary wire. The line from approximately Woodlawn to Pelham (3 miles, or 4.8 km), is powered by third rail, while from Pelham, New York east to New Haven Union Station (58 miles, or 93 km) is powered by catenary. Multi-system M2, M4 and M6 railcars are used, as well as the new M8 railcars, of which 380 have been ordered; the first sets entered service in March 2011.

The New Canaan Branch also uses catenary. The Danbury Branch was formerly electrified but in 1961 became a diesel-only line. The Waterbury Branch, the only east-of-Hudson Metro-North service which has no direct service of any sort into Grand Central, is diesel-only.

The third rails on the three Metro-North lines which go into Grand Central Terminal are unusual in that power is collected from below the third rail as opposed to above, unlike most other third rail systems (including the Long Island Rail Road and New York City Subway). This system is known as the Wilgus-Sprague third rail and the SEPTA Market-Frankford Line in Philadelphia and Metro-North are the only two electric rail systems in North America that use it. This allows the third rail to be completely insulated from above, thus decreasing the chances of a person being electrocuted by coming in contact with the rail. It also reduces the impact of icing conditions on operations during winter weather.[18]

[UlpilotSC]

In my State, train tracks and the roadbed are considered private Property. You can be arrested for trespassing but it doesnt happen much even in our city. Most people dont even realize it. Thankfully we are a rural area with no electric rails. We do have two trains a day though. They run trash from the northeast down to local mega-landfills. You new yorkers are certainly colorful with your rail car tagging. It would make some interesting photographs if they werent going through town at 15-20 mph.