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Are subway trains equipped with Back-Up Power?


Javier

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Okay, in case a blackout were to happen on the subway, and let's say a (Q) gets stuck in the middle of the tunnel, does everything in the (Q) train shut off (Thinking if it as it uses R160's) like the FINDS, lights, Speaker System, etc or does the train just flickr it's lights and turns on to backup power? Can the train still move if it has backup power?

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Almost everything gets power from the 3rd rail. No 3rd rail power = no movement & power at all

 

Then you have the battery lights which (as the name suggests) get their power from the car batteries and stay on should the car lose power until the battery themselves lose power.

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few years ago there was a east regional blackout. All the subways line stop running. The people who recorded it tell the media that the train stop where it stop without power. The train operator and conductor work together to inform the passengers they are looking for emergency exit. They ask all passengers to remain calm as they look down the tunnel. The lights stay on as it own emergency backup to keep the passengers going into panic mode of darkness. There was  express trains was in the local station area. they get all the passengers off the train by going down small ladder to trackbed and up the ladder to station platforms. There was passengers had to walk on elevated walkway to the closest assigned station.  The transit authority all work together to make sure they don't touch 3rd rail in case it did come back on unexpected.  The train can't move until the 3 rail get power. It take at least 24 hours to get the train back on track. That including to find any subway trains that had not moved, check all signals to make sure it working, light in tunnel and lots more inspection. 

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Is there any video demonstrating how this works? And is there any video on how a R142 is programmed?

The redbirds and the Arnines are 2 big examples of what happens when the car loses third rail power. The lights go off and at the same time the battery lights come on until the car gets back on the 3rd rail.

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brings up the question how long did it take for the (MTA) to evacuate its subways and elevated lines when the 03 blackout happened. I remember seeing trains stuck on the ELs but never saw people evacuated, or walking along the elevated catwalks.

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