RHL wrote:I have a question about the third rail. I was talking to some guy and he said he saw someone actually sit upon it and not die. He said as long as you are not touching the running rail at the same time you are safe. Was this guy pulling my leg, or what?
The running rail is the ground for the circuit, so it would be almost guaranteed death is the current was to pass acress the ab/chest area (I do not believe that if your feet are bare (and touching a running rail) and your knees touch the 3rd rail you would die, but it would sure make you wish you were dead). If you are touching the ground, you can still complete the circuit, and it could still possibly kill you, but it is RELATIVELY safe compared to touching the running rail (I said RELATIVELY safe, DO NOT interpret this as meaning it is safe itself!)
IN THEORY, If you jumped up onto the 3rd rail with both feet, and DO NOT touch the third rail and anything other than the third rail at the same time, you should be fine. But that is one risky balance beam!
You may have seen the guy sitting on the cover, which is not electrified, but I sure as heck wouldn't do that!
To make a long story short, Just Don't touch it at all!