by wintower
Channel 7, WABC, is reporting that an explosion took place at the Van Nest substation in the Bronx around 11:00a. this morning.
Railroad Forums
Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, mtuandrew, Tadman
twropr wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2019 8:59 pmIs the substation just east of the Bronx River, at about Milepost 13?It's this Con Edison Yard, at least the equipment immediately adjacent to it. Con Edison kept saying it wasn't their facility, so presumably Amtrak owns the part closer to the tracks.
I'm not sure what happened after the fatality, but the railroad was apparently closed for about 5-6 hours.
Andy
MACTRAXX wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:58 pmThis substation steps down ultra high voltage AC current down to what is fed to the catenary.You're basically right, but I would note that we have little to no ultra high voltage power transmission in the US, and AFAIK, none in the NYC area. They are stepping down high voltage or extra high voltage to lower voltage either for further transmission to substations or for the catenary itself. UHVAC is over 800kV, and the highest voltage power lines in the US AFAIK are 765kV.
CTRailfan wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2019 7:58 pm It is the substation that supplies Amtrak's 60hz power on the Hell Gate Line. I didn't realize Amtrak has a 60hz power system south of Metro-North, but they do. Amtrak 25hz power in the NYC area is provided via a static converter at Sunnyside.if it were part of the 25 hz system would this have shut down power? they were still towing trains into NYP with diesels around midnight.
CTRailfan wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2019 12:29 pmGood info! My recollection is that, with the exception of the DC tie lines New England - Canada (450 Volts phase to ground, 900 volts phase to phase as I recall), the highest transmission voltage is 345kV anywhere in New York State and New England. In New Jersey and most of the PJM Interconnection, it is 500kV (EHV). AEP has 765kV in the Ohio area. But for two locations in Manhattan (49th St and one other station) which are 345kV, the rest of ConEd is 138kV, so that would be the highest at the Van Nest station. The NESC minimum clearance for a 138kV conductor phase to ground is about 9 feet, and companies typically add 3 feet as a safety margin. Amtrak's single phase transmission on the NEC NJ tunnel portal to Washington is 138kV.MACTRAXX wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:58 pmThis substation steps down ultra high voltage AC current down to what is fed to the catenary.You're basically right, but I would note that we have little to no ultra high voltage power transmission in the US, and AFAIK, none in the NYC area. They are stepping down high voltage or extra high voltage to lower voltage either for further transmission to substations or for the catenary itself. UHVAC is over 800kV, and the highest voltage power lines in the US AFAIK are 765kV.
That being said, whatever they are feeding in, being it 115kV, 345kV, or some other voltage, it is still extremely dangerous to work with, and can jump significant distances to ground.
Ken W2KB wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2019 8:21 pmGood info! My recollection is that, with the exception of the DC tie lines New England - Canada (450 Volts phase to ground, 900 volts phase to phase as I recall), the highest transmission voltage is 345kV anywhere in New York State and New England. In New Jersey and most of the PJM Interconnection, it is 500kV (EHV). AEP has 765kV in the Ohio area. But for two locations in Manhattan (49th St and one other station) which are 345kV, the rest of ConEd is 138kV, so that would be the highest at the Van Nest station. The NESC minimum clearance for a 138kV conductor phase to ground is about 9 feet, and companies typically add 3 feet as a safety margin. Amtrak's single phase transmission on the NEC NJ tunnel portal to Washington is 138kV.Also good info. I thought that there was 765kV in Upstate NY coming from Niagara, but I looked at some maps, and there isn't so I must be thinking of very large and high amperage 345kV lines.
east point wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2019 9:06 pmEveryone on this site. Remember this substation and do not claim that MNR is supplying 12.5 Kv 60 Hz power to the Hell Gate line. That misinformation keeps coming up over and over.Yeah, it's interesting, I did not know Amtrak has 60hz power south of MN. I thought the Hell Gate Line was fed off of MN. Not so.
Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2019 1:43 pm Local News outlet NY1 appears to have most coverage of the incident at present:https://www.gofundme.com/f/jarrett-erhart-memorial-fund
https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/ne ... oad-tracks#
One fatality, an Amtrak employee, is reported.
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