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Unlike the horse
UHub headline tomorrow:
Needs to rhyme for UHub
What a novel idea.
How come no one thought of this before? What excuse will they use tomorrow when the trains break down or stall in the middle of the tunnels. I just left South Station which at night looks like a refugee camp with the poor souls seeking shelter from the bitter cold.
What kills 'em?
I understand how a track switch can freeze up but what's in these trolleys which is freezing below a certain temp? (Honest question, not trolling.)
A lot of cities have weather far worst then Boston. (It's 4 degrees in Chicago currently.) If the T wanted to make the trolly and subway cars "freeze proof" what would they need to change?
I'm not expert but
I can't imagine the cold is good for much on those trolleys, there may be some fluids involved that don't like being cold, or metal parts might be affected by thermal contraction, or the cold might make certain parts more brittle and likely to break when they go to put the trains to work (and I have to imagine some parts of the vehicles get hot fast once in operation, so the shock of cold to hot might break parts).
Batteries
Those trains have huge batteries in them for backup power. I believe the LRVs are the only ones who have these due to the nature of the method of power (think drop outs when they switch wires). Not enough power to drive the train, but enough to keep critical systems running in hopes to get the train back onto the catenary wire.
The blue line MIGHT also have them due to usage catenary wires, but not sure.
As I explained to two of my users today who's laptops would not power on after coming into the office after riding the T today... Batteries are very susceptible to extreme temperatures. If its too cold, the cell inside the battery will just drain out, and not even provide enough power to even power on the device (even if its plugged in!).
Same probably could be said about the Green Line too. And same with your car!
And no, it doesn't matter what kind of battery (except for maybe Fuel Cell), or how expensive or cheap it is, it will do this. Leave your favorite flashlight or battery powered device out tonight, even if its at 100% energy, it will be dead tomorrow.
I'm curious too. I will ask my friend who works for the "T" in Minneapolis (aka "Metro Transit"). They are far colder than we are during the winter, and run similar LRVs. I'm almost positive they are kept inside when not in use.
you explained wrong
"As I explained to two of my users today who's laptops would not power on after coming into the office after riding the T today... Batteries are very susceptible to extreme temperatures."
Temperature of the battery influences its ability to provide power, because it slows or stops the chemical reaction. It does not change the SoC (State of Charge.)
"Leave your favorite flashlight or battery powered device out tonight, even if its at 100% energy, it will be dead tomorrow."
It'll be "dead" until you bring it back inside and warm it up, at which point, it'll work just fine, and have the same amount of available power as it did before.
Um
You're nit picking. Sorry I don't go into much detail with my users. Most are not tech savvy so I keep it as basic possible.
And my statement is still very true. Batteries are susceptible to extreme temperatures... because it influences the ability to provide power. With or without the extra part still makes my statement true.
And as far as my other comment. Again, still true, and kept to a basic level. I also stated that in this manner because I DONT want people to leave laptops in cars overnight or in cold rooms. I want my users to take care of their laptop and not break it.
Minneapolis Metro Transit "T" Storage Yard
So I did ask my friend, and they are stored indoors always.
A quick google search sends me to Metro Transit's website where they list all their facilities.
http://www.metrotransit.org/facilities-people
Seems like they have two facilities. And if you google map it, very little track exists outdoors, unlike our Riverside, BC, and Lechmere car yards.
Minneapolis Light Rail Operations & Maintenance Facility
1810 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
See It Here
And
St. Paul Light Rail Operations & Maintenance Facility
340 Broadway Street, St Paul, MN
See It Here
So there you have it. Yes in cold climate areas, the cars are stored indoors always. And folks, remember Minneapolis "T" Metro Transit's LRV lines are not very old, most of it has been built in the past 15 or so years. And many of the cars are newer than the our Breda cars.
So in short, the T is doing the right thing. It isn't the cars fault. We're just lucky that we have warm enough winters to store cars outdoors with little issue.
love the comments
under that tweet... *eye roll*
Agreed
Even DPWs prefer to have their vehicles kept inside in minimally heated buildings (like 50 to 55 deg F). It's less of a toll on them during startup and prep for going out on the road. It's a tough sell to municipalities and the voting members, but it's a necessary sell. Vehicles just last longer when cared for properly.
You know. , I could never
You know. , I could never understand that compelling reason for housing DPW vehicles . Most , if not all , trucking fleets, some that roll 24 hrs , don't do this. Park them outside , as do most of the utilities. And their numbers exceed their cousins in municipal services. Even pre-staged sand and salt loaded dumps just need shelter on top. But , alas , things are different in the public sector, just don't understand it , where public money is so scarce. It's a thing I guess.
Housing
The sand and salt sheds (with protection on 3 sides) are useful because when it's hit by rain or other moisture, it can clump up and clog the spreaders, slowing the ability to get their job done.
I know it can seem crazy, but with small budgets, they need to make their vehicles last. It also increases safety for the employees, reduces the winter response time in emergencies, reduces outside noise in the neighborhood, and increases operational efficiency.
I id a quick google search for housing DPW vehicles inside and Lexington, MA recently built theirs and solicited opinions from around the state and country as to the reasoning the DPW folks prefer it. Maybe this link and the info provided therein will help? http://www.lexingtonma.gov/DPW/Vehicle_Storage%5B1%5D.pdf
Also, storing trucks and equipment
which are powered by diesel engines indoors during cold weather means they don't have to run the equipment constantally to keep it from freezing up. Saves wear, tear, and fuel. Not to mention less pollution from the exhausts.
Interesting link , but most
Interesting link , but most of the stuff is postured to the arguement. Truck sheds are just as effective , in my book.I think the private sector agrees with me.
Of course it was
Of course it was - they wanted a new building - for many reasons.
The private sector trucking companies (24/7 running vehicles) have different philosophies from the municipal world on where and how to spend the money they have. Further, they use their vehicles in a completely different manner. Thus I don't think the two can be compared as if they were the same.
If the folks who run DPWs throughout the country (and their associated bean counters) have found that the best practices for maintaining fleets longer (and ultimately spend less of their municipality money in the long run) is to build facilities to house said fleet in an enclosed building, I'm not going to argue with them. I find it very hard to believe that all of the DPW people have pulled the wool over everyone's eyes to encourage said buildings, from Washington State to Maine it is the way things are.
You can read more here: http://www.pwmag.com/ <-- but this, too is geared toward the industry in question.
Any idea where this photo was taken?
Is this in the yard near Cleveland Circle, or Riverside, or somewhere else? (It is definitely not Lechmere.)
This is inside the
Reservoir car house.
...putting as many Green Line
...putting as many Green Line trolleys as it can into car barns tonight ...
Ummm... Where do they put them other nights? Release them into a box canyon so they can graze on fresh grass before bedding down for the night and whistle for them to come back down to the tracks in the morning?
Some of them are usually stored in outdoor loops at end of lines
such as Lechmere, or Lake Street (Boston College line).
overnight
Under normal circumstances they would just stay out in the yard. The carbarn is full of trains being repaired during the day.
The carbarns are 99% storage
The carbarns are 99% storage only. Maintenance is done in other buildings.
Somewhere else in the DOT twitter or blog page they did say something about storing as many vehicles as possible in the service shops (in these weather conditions).
They could store vehicles in the tunnel system, of course. There's limits to that - there's not too much non-revenue trackage in the system, it becomes impractical to get operators to and from them, and taking revenue track for storage (say - part of Park St Station) is a logistical challenge when you have to keep enough track running revenue service 24 hours/day (no, wait... wrong city)
They can also store a few cars in the service shop behind the Oak Square Y, at the end of the A... never mind.
No, they send out one of The
No, they send out one of The Ride shuttles to corral the cars back to the station.
Awww
Did they read them Thomas the Tank Engine stories?