09-29-2018, 11:16 AM
(09-29-2018, 10:06 AM)Pheidippides Wrote: So in normal paired service both pantographs would be up, but because it was a towing test only one was up?
That's what we're thinking. In normal service, the pantograph is designed so that it can supply enough current for one LRV's worth of motors + accessories. The only signals going back and forth in the electric portion of the Scharfenburg coupler (the bits on the sides) are digital control signals. Those signals are what are used to synchronize the control system for the motors for both vehicles, for example, so they're operating exactly in unison. The loads on the coupler are thus minimized.
The testing on the hill was acceleration and deceleration testing for Bombardier qualifications and it is believed one vehicle was inert. Lowering the pantograph may have been done to "guarantee" there was no faking it out.
Quote:I forgot to mention that my son noticed that a number of the ticket vending machines are powered up (and displaying an error message that we couldn't read while driving by).
That's a great observation!