B train hit by lightning 7/20/08

[firepug]

Look like it hit the rear car pickup between Packards Corner and Harvard Avenue. Lots of photographers around so expect something up somewhere at some point. Buses now going from Kenmore to Washington St. Also looks like nobody hurt.

[Ron Newman]

See also the LiveJournal report

[concordgirl]

Yeah so that explains the green line alert I got over the weekend. The alert email referred to "Pachards Corner". I knew what they meant tho lol The email said it was a power failure. That's actually kind of funny.

"Green Line-Due to a power problem at Pachards Corner shuttle bus service will operate between Kenmore station & Washington street. 7/20/2008 3:38 PM
Sent: 7/20/2008 3:44 PM"

[aline1969]

Not the first or last time a trolley will be hit by lighting...

Was there damage to the car? Type seven or eight?

[firepug]

Type 8, and the pantograph looked like it had been split and then fallen down on to the top of the car. Someone who saw it happen said they saw a lot of sparks...

[concordgirl]

How often does the T get hit by lightning?

[NealG]

I don't think it's too uncommon. A few years ago I was on an Amtrak train going to New York when the locomotive was struck (I saw it happen from the rear most car), the train stopped few minutes later and passengers were told that they had to "re-cycle" the locomotive. After a little while, were underway, but when we got to New Haven, they had to change locomotives.

[concordgirl]

A little more info (there was a downed line) here:

http://www1.cw56.com/news/articles/local/BO82956/

(So, if we include the CR in my reckoning, lightning joins wet leaves, snow, ice, car traffic, foot traffic, medical emergencies, and suicidal types as potential issues that can affect service. And that's before anything even is wrong with the equipment )

[firepug]

It didn't look like a downed line, though there was something hanging from the wire which could have come from the place where the pole is supporting the wire, if that makes any sense. Also they seemed to have it up and running fairly quickly afterwards. Not that it matters a whole lot! Let's hope thats the last time it happens this week; looks like there's more lightning in store.

[concordgirl]

Idk,maybe the article got it wrong? I wonder what it's like to be on board when that happens.

[Veristek]

Idk,maybe the article got it wrong? I wonder what it's like to be on board when that happens.

Maybe we'll gain superpowers or something? I'd love to have train based superpowers! (chuckle)

[aline1969]

I would hope nothing happens if you were onboard... just like the electric power for the trolley it comes down the pole, through the car/motors and return through the rail.. so I would hope lighting would take the same path

[concordgirl]

Sure, but I mean.... the noise and would you feel an impact? Idk. It's gotta be scary I think! I bet you'd feel the hairs on your arm stand up

[diburning]

I was there. Although I didn't see it (I work at shaw's supermarket at packard's corner) I was outdoors at the time. The thunder was really loud.

[Disney Guy]

A lightning strike is often followed by a power failure; it may trip a substation breaker or even fry substation components.

Or depending on where the lightning hits, the trolley wire might be melted at one spot and fall on something grounded and the short circuit trips a substation breaker perhaps not before melting a hole in the roof of a car amidst more sparks.

Some of the time, lightning arrestors here and there including on cars will shunt the lightning strike to ground. Additional lightning arrestors in the lead in wire between the pantograph and the car electrical system reduce the likelihood of car damage.

It's eyewitnesses who saw the lightning flash and heard the thunder simultaneously and loud who will declare that a lightning strike started it all.

People inside the (metal shelled) car are perfectly safe. Boston's Museum of Science runs shows where someone stands in a metal (birdcage like) cage while simulated lightning strikes the cage.