NYC Underwater Subway

[Hawkmoon]

Because of the dense packing of people on the subways --and in general --I believe New Yorkers are invulnerable to many diseases because of horde immunity.

[230RN]

^ Heh. Just a microstroke of a microgenius.  But you can't believe how tightly-packed those cars are during rush hour.  It's no joke to wonder who's feeling you up this time.

I don't know, this whole thing sounds fishy (no pun) to me.

If it's 650 to 750 volts, and the water is regular drainoff from the streets, there should be a lot of electrolysis involved.  The positive element (probably the third rail) would generate oxygen and the regular (negative) rails would generate hydrogen.  And with those voltages (even if it were AC), a lot of gas should be developed.   Yet someone's daughter has testified that they keep running despite the flooding.

I do know they can shut off power in pretty long sections of track, but since each car is powered by its own third rail pickup slider, the powered cars at each end of the non-powered section can still pull the non-powered section through.

But 650-750 volts in dirty water....?

'Tis a puzzlement.

Terry, 230RN

[RocketMan]

^^^ roffle

So that's why I posed the question --to ask why flooding didn't disrupt service altogether. Seems strange to me, as well as others.  The total current delivery capacity must be enormous.  And if I may say so, the notion that it's the current-delivering capacity of an electrical system which is dangerous is false without considering the voltages and resistances involved.

Terry, 230RN

T'was a joke, Terry.  A play on that popular yet inaccurate canard.  Work with me here, buddy.

[230RN]

I'm too technically-minded.  I've heard that concept several time from others, though, and it's more complicated than that anyhow, as in body resistance, path of the current, frequency, luck, etc.  As a general rule, "50 volts" used to be the standard lethal voltage, but I think they lowered that a bit in the usual "abundance of caution" philosophy.

BTW, technically <ahem, koff-koff> that apostrophe in T'was should be before the T.  The missing letter was "I" in It was, hence 'Twas.

Frankly, I think there would be a net improvement in some folks' error rates if they did not use apostrophes at all.

Possessive (mine, mine, mine):

"There was a deficiency in the Kleenex's quality and I blew right through it, thereby snottifying my hand."

Plural:  "There was a deficiency in the Kleenices' quality and I blew right through them, thereby snottifying my hand repeatedly."

Terry, removing himself in an abundance of caution, 230RN

[WLJ]

Were you exposed to Dihydrogen Monoxide in New York City on July 8 2021? If so you may entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Offices of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe for more information today!

[MechAg94]

If the current is DC, how does that change the lethal votage?

I would be concerned about low spots on the track having a high water level myself.  Are they all at the same level? 

[230RN]

I never trusted non-attorney paid spokespersons.

[230RN]

If the current is DC, how does that change the lethal votage?

I would be concerned about low spots on the track having a high water level myself.  Are they all at the same level? 

Well, there is (or was) a rather deep drainage channel between the two main tracks, but the way they're talking the water is deeper than that. Since they're building the railroad in a pre-dug tunnel, they could keep things level throughout, except maybe in the Bronx.  I remember, though, there was one station with three levels.

Kinda bothers me that with that much voltage, there should be a lot of H₂ and O₂ being generated.  Hence my deeper curiosity about the whole affair.


In terms of Lethal Voltage, once again there are a lot of factors involved.  I guess people have survived direct lightning hits (or so said the media), yet trees are blown apart by the sudden heat generating high-pressure steam inside the tree itself. And getting zapped by five kiloVolts generated by rubbing your feet across the carpet is generally harmless.

You can also have a voltage source reading 50 volts on your meter, but with very high spikes which get averaged out.

I believe AC up to "skin effect" frequencies, is considered more dangerous because of the repeated and rapid muscle twitching, including in the heart muscle if it's in the pathway, but don't put that down as sworn testimony. It's just my off-the-cuff reaction to the question.  I suppose if you could get enough direct current through the chest cavity, that would block the heartbeat impulses --again, offhanded.

And skin-effect frequencies, if they don't kill you, leave a rather painful and persistent burn.  That, I can testify about  personally.

So while it's true that it's the current that kills, that statement must be qualified by a bunch of other factors or it's meaningless.

I await better data from those more qualified.

[MechAg94]

Well, there is (or was) a rather deep drainage channel between the two main tracks, but the way they're talking the water is deeper than that.

Kinda bothers me tht with that much votage, there should be a lot of H₂ and O₂ being generated.  Hence my deeper curiosity about the whole affair.

Depends on how the roof is set up.  Will it trap gas or can it vent out?

[230RN]

Well, they have vents to the sidewalks to allow compressed air ahead of the trains to escape.  Remember that scene with Miss Monroe being victimized by one of those updrafts?

NSFW (still photo):
        https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.485133230.4073/raf,750x1000,075,t,101010:01c5ca27c6.u4.jpg

Similar effect in the movie The Girl In The Red Dress.

Yowsa.

Correction:  The movie was "The Woman in Red" (1984) directed by Gene Wilder.  The internet has several variants on the movie's name.

Also NSFW (video clip):

https://youtu.be/qNqEWQOLL-E (2:03)