Originally Posted By tashajilek ^^ Wow, that would really suck to have very little oppertunity to ride the Trolly.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I kind of figure that 50% of the time you visit DCA the Red Car won't be running because either A) what Ferret said, or B) the place will be too crowded.
Originally Posted By crapshoot In regards to overhead trolley wire, I find it somewhat elegant as it is only a single wire while the cars have a front and rear trolley pole. That as opposed to a cantenary system that uses two wires and a huge pantagraph on the cars to make the electrical connection with. Even though the DCA system will use batteries to power the cars, I hope they have gone the extra mile and have the poles simulate the really cool blue electrical sparking where pole and wire connect.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< That as opposed to a cantenary system that uses two wires >>> Rail-based vehicles need only a single wire, because the rail itself serves as the other "wire." Electric buses, with rubber tires and no rail, need the second wire to complete the circuit.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Maybe they're just using a different way to deliver the electricity to the trains, but most high-speed trains in other countries use two wires. I believe the system in California (including the just-announced electrification of the Bay Area Caltrain corridor) will also use 2 wires.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< but most high-speed trains in other countries use two wires. >>> Which countries specifically? I'm not aware of ANY that do.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Well I stand corrected! From all the pictures I'd seen, it looked like there were 2 wires, but looking at photos online, there appears to only be one. The wide contact poles coming off the top of the trains (which look almost identical to those on rubber-tire buses) threw me off. Upon further investigation, it looks like there are even some light rail systems that I've seen in person, and had assumed to use 2 wires, that only use one. Funny how you never notice things like that! I know that some rail systems use a 3rd rail for electricity; do you know why they can't just use the 2nd rail to complete the circuit? It's always baffled me, since you only need 2 points of contact. Maybe the extra rail is to provide a ground?
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<I know that some rail systems use a 3rd rail for electricity; do you know why they can't just use the 2nd rail to complete the circuit?>> Just like a Lionel train set, you have to insulate the two wheels with the steel axles. Not easy to do in full scale.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Oh, that makes sense. I was never advanced enough at model trains to build the locomotives myself, and the HO scale tracks only had 2 rails, so I wondered how it all worked. Given my profession, I feel like I should have a better understanding of how this all works! : )
Originally Posted By Moon Waffle Hollywood Land is looking great; I am very excited to see this area brought into the "past". I don't mind the Red Car cables at all. What looks ridiculous now is the Hyperion theater. Wow does this thing need to be re-done.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Particularly the exposed sound stage looking side facing Tower of Terror. Apparently the Intolerance Elephants were removed this week.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I know that some rail systems use a 3rd rail for electricity; do you know why they can't just use the 2nd rail to complete the circuit? >>> <<< Just like a Lionel train set, you have to insulate the two wheels with the steel axles. Not easy to do in full scale.>>> Plus, you have to insulate the power rail from the ground, which would be impossible with a rail that's embedded in the ground (even with insulation, think of what happens when it rains). But perhaps more importantly, there's the issue of electrocution hazard. A powered rail embedded in the ground where people can walk over it would make accidental electrocution very easy. The only rail systems that have a powered third rail are where the entire length of the railway is a restricted right-of-way, with no pedestrian or vehicle crossings over the rails. <<< Given my profession, I feel like I should have a better understanding of how this all works! : ) >>> I was wondering that myself!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Miceage posted some very nice photos of the Red Car from the Monorail today: <a href="http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/DisneylandResort/2012/04-23-12-Edited-Update-Photos/i-jQwPqr6/1/X2/IMG7282-X2.jpg" target="_blank">http://datelinedisneyland.smug...2-X2.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance That picture is awesome. It's the first picture I've seen that enables me to get a feel for what the place is going to be like when finished.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 That area between the main gates and the monorail bridge is, I think, the last area to be finished. It was dirt for a LONG time. BTW, Miceage (and, of course LP!) often have fine photo shoots, but my favorite remains Disneygeek, who not only takes the sort of "obvious" pics, but loves to take quirky shots of little details, both the construction and things you've seen a million times before.
Originally Posted By DBitz2 Mint Crocodile's "Magic Eye" blog always has some really nice photos, too. The Orange Empire Rail Museum in Perris is having a couple of weekend events in the coming weeks where they will be running their Red Car Trolleys, which are the real deal. I've done it before and it's a lot of fun. I'll try to find the dates to the events. They also have Ward Kimball's Grizzly Flats equipment out there, giving Disney fans another reason to go.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "BTW, Miceage (and, of course LP!) often have fine photo shoots, but my favorite remains Disneygeek," Disneygeek is pretty awesome. I so look forward to his DLR updates. I've never seen a pre DCA construction update from Disneygeek, so I wonder, do they become much shorter when there isn't a bunch of contruction to take pictures of?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt He really does love construction. The guy will take 15 pictures of the same thing from virtually the same angle. Bless his heart.
