1,100 feet of cold, hard steel arrives to keep the Red Line hot and running this winter

By adamg on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 5:17pm

The MBTA reports it's taken delivery on 1,100 linear feet of brand spankin' new third rail that it will use to replace older, more brittle third rail on the Red Line later this month, as part of its program to make the T better able to withstand the sort of winters we've been known to get in New England.

"Replacing aging third rail with new rail makes the subway less vulnerable to power-related issues," a spokesman says.

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The T

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Red Line

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Comments

1,100 feet

By roadman on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 9:22am.

That's about 1/5 th of a mile. Or less than the distance those folks stranded in Qunicy that morning had to walk.

Edit - corrected the distance (somehow, I translated approximately 20% of a mile into approximately 1/20th of a mile) - thanks to JPYuppie for pointing this out

Actually it's about 1/5 of a mile

By JPYuppie on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 5:50pm.

...but your point stands.

Hey,

By dnkaye on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 5:56pm.

at least those 1,100 linear feet of third rail will never break down again, probably.

Seriously... I would be a bit

By bgl on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 5:57pm.

Seriously... I would be a bit more impressed if they had a few miles in there (its ~6 on the Ashmont -> Downtown Crossing alone).

Its third rail....

By Roslindaler on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 6:19pm.

The third rail is typically pretty short, no? They aren't talking about replacing track....

Third rail runs along the

By SomervilleDJ on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 9:04am.

Third rail runs along the entire length of the track (hence, "third rail") to power the trains. Without third rail, the trains do not receive electricity and will not move.

Think about it

By roadman on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 9:21am.

The third rail is needed to power the trains. So the third rail follows the running track for most of its length.

Knowing the MBTA, they'll

By SomervilleDJ on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 5:54pm.

Knowing the MBTA, they'll probably replace an underground portion with that small amount.

A creative mind at the MBTA

By anonism on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 6:24pm.

A creative mind at the MBTA would be in the process right now of planning to sell 12-inch lengths of the old third rail as souvenirs. Or perhaps shorter sections, depending on the weight.

"Ya wanna piece o' me?"

On second thought, if shipping costs don't kill the idea, ~~handling~~ labor costs will. ("Labor" such as it is at the T)

Joking?

By BostonDog on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 6:49pm.

The T already sells a bunch of surplus equipment such as the phones, rolling signs, fare boxes, etc from vehicles taken out of service. They have a website and a showroom in Cambridge (c/o Ward Maps) and a warehouse in Somerville.

I'm not a big MBTA fan but having the ability to buy equipment actually used in service is kinda neat. I'm sure if they offered up 1' sections of rail they'd sell at least a couple dozen sections. But the bigger value in that much steel is simply selling it for scrap. (Assuming someone doesn't steal it and sell it for scrap first as if often the case with state projects...)

As soon as the old Kinki

By bgl on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 8:05pm.

As soon as the old Kinki placards go on sale, I am totally buying one. Pretty surprised at myself for not "borrowing" one during my formative years growing up, actually ;)

Was on one of the reconditioned

By roadman on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 7:03pm.

Type 7s this morning. Disappointed to see that the builder plates only read "Reconditioned by Alston", with no reference to the original builder (unlike the plates on the rebuilt Buddliners, which listed both original manufacturer/build date and the rehab company/rebuild date).

UPDATE - Managed to ride one of the other reconditioned Type 7s this afternoon. Was carrying maximum load, and still squeaks as badly as the un-reconditioned ones do.

Scrap prices are way down

By anon on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 8:10am.

Scrap prices are way down again. Selling a couple-inch length of third-rail for say $5-10 as a souvenir would be much more profitable (again, with the caveat above that if it involves T "labor" that might not be the case).

dumb question, but what's the

By C D on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 9:34am.

dumb question, but what's the website?

Ward Maps

By greenlinetobrooklyn on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 12:02pm.

http://www.wardmaps.com/ They have an actual store on mass ave outbound between Harvard and Porter.

It would weigh 25 pounds.

By anon on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 7:15pm.

Rail is heavy. And that is the'lightest' grade.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_profile

Shit-storm at Kendall and Charles inbound

By anon on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 7:57pm.

around 4:30-4:45. ''Police Activity' at DTX. Packed train was waiting to exit the station when I arrived.Station also packed. 10 minutes later the train lurched out of the station. 5-6 minutes later, another pulled in, packed. More got on,including myself. After 5 minutes of inactivity, people started getting off, and exiting the station. 2-3 minutes later I managed to force my way off the train. As I was exiting the station to walk across the bridge with many othet people, they announced the train was out of service, everybody off. I go from Kendall to Park, switch to the D line ( which is also effed up today!). I walked from Kendall, across the bridge, down Charles to Beacon, cut through the Public Gardens, to Arlington St. station. EXTREMELY HOT AND PACKED. Waited eons, had to let 6 trains go by until I could finally squeeze on. It should take me roughly 45 minutes to get home from Kendall. Today, took me 2 hours.

It's getting beyond insane. The T should be banned by the Geneva Convention as cruel and.unusual.

Do we miss Deval and "Doctor" Scott yet?

By moxie on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 8:06pm.

Meanwhile, El Globo is reporting that Baker is working a deal with Walsh and Lynch to broker a huge infrastructure expansion to South Station, arguably the most important transportation piece in the state:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/08/06/charlie-baker-may-not-lik...

I think the adults have finally taken over.

have a little respect

By cybah on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 8:19pm.

You may not have liked her, but she is an accomplished lady. Have a little respect for her. She is Dr Beverly Scott, PHD. She did her doctorate work, is it so hard not to be snarky and have a little respect for a lady who went the distance for her education and career?

And I have a Masters in Library Science

By moxie on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 7:27am.

Simmons, 1981. And henceforth and hereafter, in perpetuity demand to be addressed as Master Moxie.

Call it what it was, a political, gender, and race based appointment for a demanding technical position that she wasn't up to. And we paid (and will continue to pay) the price.

And the doctorate, such as it is, is in political science, btw:

http://www.whdh.com/story/28072544/who-is-mbta-general-manager-beverly-s...

That's nice.

By cybah on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 8:00am.

Yes I know how to use Google too. And her Ph.d is also in public administration.

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/print-edition/2013/12/13/outside-the-b...

This article also states she's worked in public transit for over 30 years, that's not qualified enough for you? Being the head of several transit agencies isn't qualified enough for you? I'd hate to see what you think what is qualified for the job. Let's hear your ideas on who you think would be qualified for the job.

Oh wait.. yeah she can't be black or be a woman, otherwise any job seems like a "political motivated appointment' in your eyes. God for bid someone QUALIFIED actually gets the job.

PS - Your buddy Cholly seems to be appointing people to the MassDOT board that have virtually no transit experience. Yeah if these aren't politically motivated moves, I don't know what is. I'll take a seasoned transit veteran anyday over some political appointment who has no experience.

Selective bio

By moxie on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 9:38am.

I defy anyone who experienced her "first rodeo" presser of last February to tell me that their response was: "Thank God this woman is in charge here!"

And since we're doing selective biography, try this one from those racist and sexist dogs at BDC:

Beverly Scott’s relationship with her board of directors in Atlanta had grown so strained that the board in 2010 paid $144,000 to a business psychologist to help Scott and her leadership team improve their management styles.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2012/11/11/new-manager-un...

She can be black and a woman. And a trainwreck as well.

whatever

By cybah on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 11:39am.

You really are an idiot. We've debunked that BDC article many, many times on here. Talk about selective memory.

Secondly.. only crickets about my comment about Cholly's appointees? really? That's telling. Means you just hate anyone who got their job from someone with an D next to their name, but an R can select people with zero experience, and they are OK I guess in your world.

Just because you have a masters degree doesn't necessarily mean you're the brightest bulb on the Christmas Tree.

Respect?

By merlinmurph on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 8:16am.

Have a little respect for her. She is Dr Beverly Scott, PHD. She did her doctorate work, is it so hard not to be snarky and have a little respect for a lady who went the distance for her education and career?

So, I'm supposed to respect someone simply because they spent a few years going to school? Really?

I don't think so.

FWIW, I did have respect for Bev Scott. She stuck up for her employees. She walked into a cesspool and never had the chance to really do anything. I don't blame her for leaving.

Yes

By cybah on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 8:28am.

Yes but you aren't being snarky. That's the difference.

That's a Shirley Leung piece

By anon on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 12:19am.

Credibility destroyed. Boycott.

What's wrong Mox?

By anon on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 6:45am.

Surely you could find other non white people to deride and castigate.

You missed a stunning chance to drag Obama into it.. how lazy.

Good to know us white folks still enjoy our complete monopoly on 'adulthood'. For your valorous efforts at racial superiority dog whistling, here's a fine transportation tune to get you on your way.

https://youtu.be/n6DAqMFe97E.