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Trains News Wire EXCLUSIVE: Northeast Corridor looks to rebound from power outage crisis
Once upon a time The NY,NH&H RR had their own power generators in Cos Cob and other locations. While the MTA purchases power from NY utility Con Edison, I wonder if the road should explore having some form of aux. power available again. The loss of power and its resulting disruption for both commuters and Amtrak should not be taken lightly. Yes…they were upgrading the primary feed line in Mt Vernon, NY…and yes…they did not anticipate the secondary cable to fail, but fail it did. Begs the question- shouldn’t there be a Plan C ??
Plans should exist/being developed/being conceptualized for supply interruptions at the very least to the major inputs to the catenary, third-rail, communication/train control, and support: like engine/MU servicing, station lighting…
It’s a different world from the one where engrs would figure the max stress a structure would endure and the build it twice as strong as it had to be; now, bridges of the Interstate System were erected 50 years ago with a design life of 40 or so years…and to closer stress calculations than twice.
Sea-walls high enough…'til SS Sandy sailed into NY and NJ.
I nearly plugged a toaster and a George Foreman grill into the same 15 amp circuit…1300 Watts and 1100 Watts…I could have melted that circuit, like I’m guessing that is why the back-up Con-Ed feeder failed?
Let’s look at the positive. Total KUDOS to MNRR for being able to implement the emergency 30% plan on Friday and through the weekend. Then working with Con Ed to get something better for the 9/30 Monday morning commute. Shuffling equipment around the system, arrange for bus transfers and shuttles, making and arranging parking room at other stations, and keeping people informed virtually hour by hour…check their website. Being ready, implementing emergency service plans virtually without blinking is impressive considering what we’ve seen elsewhere in commuter railroading. Even being able to accommodate and work with Amtrak for their needs, certainly says a lot about MNRR.
And not one word as to what caused this outage in the first place.
In its last years New Haven had all kinds of problems maintaining Cos Cob. The loss of power on the New Haven became one of many problems.