Gothamist: Death By Third Rail

Mike

Wed, 14 Jul 2004 00:36:14 -0500

It's a simple concept: if the third rail were ever between the running rails, then every single train in the system would be unable to run in that location, and someone would quickly notice that no trains were passing by that location and put the third rail back where it belongs, outside the running rails.

hy

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 20:27:18 -0500

Yeah, I've never seen the third rail in between the running rails on the NYC Subway system, but I can't find any information to back this up. Although, if you're advised to lie down in the ditch between the running rails in the event you find yourself on the tracks ahead of an on-coming train, that'd probably mean the third rail is never in-between the running rails on the NYC Subway system.

Chris

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 17:09:03 -0500

Ironically, "The Taking of Pelham 123" was on TV last night. And yes, the Third Rail has a supporting role.

Mike

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 17:00:51 -0500

Wha? Never between. Only beside.

Dirk

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 13:55:48 -0500

Hahah, miss representation, I never really thought of the ConEd slogan like that before! So true... sum up their philosophy so well...

miss representation

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 13:09:18 -0500

Well, ConEd published that list of about 150 sites where the box covers (which killed that woman walking her dog last winter) were electrified. I'm certain that haven't fixed them all (after all, the ConEd slogan was 'On it' not 'Done') If you pissed on one of those, you might have better luck. Standing on it and pissing would be even more effective (though that might be kind of cheating). Finding one in the middle of the street (Queens Blvd would be ideal), and pissing on it, at night, in dark clothes: suicide gold.

jake

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 12:39:28 -0500

goddamn it- my plan was always to piss on the blarney stone, and then come back to nyc and kill myself by peeing on the third rail. unless i can think of more things to pee on.

girlygirl

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 12:33:38 -0500

Which reminds me of the climactic scene from "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three," which I won't spoil by divulging here.

david spade

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 11:43:46 -0500

It's called "survival of the fittest". Look into it.

Dirk

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 10:55:21 -0500

I heard about this last night and was wondering how someone could fall and hit the third rail, it's so far from the platform.

hy

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 10:53:14 -0500

Also--in case you're drunk and you really really need to pee, you can rest assured that you can't get electrocuted by peeing on the third rail.