AUC 207 Add. 9 Amtrak Trains & Catenary Wires

Question 1

How shall power removal be complete when dealing with 12,000kv catenary wires? (2.1)

Answer 1

Have a Class “A” employee, a.k.a. “A-Man” ground the catenary wires to eliminate residual electricity.

Question 2

What else may the “A-Man” use to detect whether the power has been removed from the catenary wires? (2.6)

Answer 2

A voltage detecting device. It will detect is the power source has been removed, but it will not detect residual static current.

Question 3

It may take some time before you will get an Amtrak employee on scene to ground the train. In the mean time a fire could grow to larger proportions. What level of power removal must be achieved before water may be used? (3.1)

Answer 3

480 volt stand-by power, 3rd rail and catenary lines must be shut down. Only then, may a fog line be used.

Question 4

How shall the fog line be operated? (3.2.1)

Answer 4

Fog pattern, from the platform, into the train avoiding any contact with overhead wires and the pantograph connection.
If conditions warrant, a handline using a fog stream can be used from the adjacent platform directing water at the train’s undercarriage thus controlling the fire and keeping the diesel tanks cool.

Question 5

What distance must be maintained between the nozzle and the electrical components? (3.2.4)

Answer 5

NFPA says 4 feet.

FDNY says 10 feet.