Welcome to another #RailwaysExplained thread... a while back I asked for ideas and @DiegoBeghin suggested something on AC versus DC electrification. So here goes!

HOW IT WORKS - AC and DC electrification

Trains can be supplied with either Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC) electricity. If you don't understand the difference, check out https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/alternating-current-ac-vs-direct-current-dc/all

#railways #OLE #OCS #OverheadLine

Alternating Current (AC) vs. Direct Current (DC) - SparkFun Learn

#Restoration work to clean up the #tracks at the #Rawang #train #station, which was affected when a crane used for the construction of a multi-level car park project collapsed yesterday, is being carried out and expected to be completed within 24 hours

The construction crane sank at the site and tilted towards the tracks, causing the upper part of the crane, the cables and components to break and fall on the #overheadline and #railway #track

Read more: https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/collapsed-crane-restoration-work-going-rawang-station-railway-tracks-ktmb-449927

#rail #overhead

Collapsed crane: Restoration work going on at Rawang station railway tracks - KTMB

The restoration work involved the reinstallation of broken cables, replacement of damaged components and testing of the electricity supply.

Astro Awani

Welcome to another #RailwaysExplained thread... a brand new one this time. A couple of weeks back @chris asked about specific challenges in electrifying railways in mountainous and forested terrain.

Lets first take a look at what characteristics mountain railways have which differentiate them from lowland ones...

#railways #OLE #OCS #OverheadLine

Welcome to another #RailwaysExplained thread… this is my first completely new thread on Mastodon, and boy is it going to be an epic one.

HOW IT WORKS (AND WHEN IT DOESN’T) – DISCONTINUOUS ELECTRIFICATION

Something I get asked about A LOT is #DiscontinuousElectrification. A typical comment on social media will be something like “well with battery technology so readily available we can just electrify the easy bits and run on battery in between…”

#railways #OLE #OCS #OverheadLine

Welcome to another #RailwaysExplained thread... this one is another port over from the Site We Don't Mention. More to come!

HOW IT WORKS - RETURN CONDUCTORS (RCS) AND AUTO TRANSFORMER FEEDERS (ATFS)

This is a #railwaysExplained thread on Return Conductors (RCs) and Auto Transformer Feeders (ATFs). As part of that I'll be attempting to explain how immunisation works. HEALTH WARNING: this will involve electromagnetism. Apologies in advance!

#railways #OLE #OCS #OverheadLine

Welcome to another #RailwaysExplained thread... this one is another port over from the Site We Don't Mention. More to come!

HOW IT WORKS - NEUTRAL SECTIONS

Back in 2020 @driverbod125 asked: "I was hurtling along in my 125mph diesel train earlier & started thinking about Neutral Sections...

When designing OLE do you take into account locations of signals? I mean you wouldn’t want a train stopped in a section unable to draw any juice?"

So lets answer that!

#railways #OLE #OCS #OverheadLine

Welcome to another #RailwaysExplained thread... this one is another port over from the Site We Don't Mention. More to come!

HOW IT WORKS - DEWIREMENT CAUSES

I posted this one back in 2019 for those tempted to ask me about the causes of [insert dewirement date and location here]. Perhaps it will come in handy here as well?

#railways #OLE #OCS #OverheadLine

Welcome to another #RailwaysExplained thread... this one is another port over from the Site We Don't Mention. More to come!

HOW IT WORKS - TEST TRAINS (with some indulgent personal experience)

Back in 2019 a colleague posted this video. This innocent post started me on an odyssey which ultimately ended with me blagging my way into the cab of said train. Want to know more? Read on

#railways #OLE #OCS #OverheadLine

Welcome to another #RailwaysExplained thread... this one is another port over from the Site We Don't Mention. More to come!

HOW IT WORKS - INSULATED PANTOGRAPH HORNS

Back in 2022 I posted this photo of the pantograph of GWR class 387 EMU no 387144. At that time it was entirely unique on the GB mainline, and even now it is a member of a very exclusive club. Can you guess how?

#railways #OLE #OCS #OverheadLine

Welcome to another #RailwaysExplained thread... this one is another port over from the Site We Don't Mention. More to come!

HOW IT WORKS - TROLLEY OVERHEAD LINE

Back in 2019 I visited Beamish Museum, and used what I learned there to write about Trolley #OLE for the #OLEbook 6th edition.

#railways #OLE #OCS #OverheadLine