Sand Box John wrote: ↑Mon May 16, 2022 10:23 am
scratchyX1
Electrification was freight only, and through Virginia Avenue tunnel. First Street can't clear double decker cars, and have wire. It cannot clear space under, because of metro rail, and can't really make space on top.
And, as has been noted elsewhere, would not even be built with today's security requirements.
The bottom of the foundations under the walls in the First Street Tunnel are at least 4' below the top of the rail. The top of the segmented steel lined Metrorail tunnels are at minimum 10' below the bottom of the foundations of the First Street Tunnel.
I will also note that when the 63rd Street Crosstown line was built back in the 1970s the top of tunnels were incorporated into the invert under the tracks leading into Grand Central Terminal. The distance between the top of the rails leading into Grand Central Terminal to the top of the inside of the 63rd Street Crosstown tunnel is less then 5'.
Oh, I had read that it was 10 inches, not feet minimum clearance.
Good thing I didn't write plans for a stonehenge monument on a napkin.
Ok, so maybe, it would be possible. But would mean closing the tunnel, and making passengers use metro as a shuttle. Not a good idea, in it's current state.