Northeast Corridor Catenary Wire Madness (Metuchen, New Jersey - April 15th, 2024)

[JuniusLivonius]

https://livonius.substack.com/p/nec-catenary-madness-metuchen-april-15-2024-article

How did 3 trains break their pantographs on April 15th, 2024? A written and audiovisual story of the events leading to a nightmare evening for thousands and a documentation of the research process


After nine years months in development, hopefully it will have been worth the wait. Waiting to publish turned out to be a good thing because there were several facts and points that weren't realized or found until later.

Because we have the cab footage from NJT and the radio transmissions, there is still a video that will come out but that is going to be several months away.

Ask your questions here or in the article's comment section; if it's interesting enough it will be included in the article.

Please spread this article around in your own circles.

 

[Acela150]

I won't forget this day. I still have the Form D in my lunchbox from running opposing between MENLO and LINCOLN on 1. I was working 646 and 653 that day and we got to NWK on 653 and that was that.

 

[JuniusLivonius]

I won't forget this day. I still have the Form D in my lunchbox from running opposing between MENLO and LINCOLN on 1. I was working 646 and 653 that day and we got to NWK on 653 and that was that.

That's funny. Let's see if you can fit the audio clip in your lunchbox:
View attachment 2024-04-15-2112-formD-A819.ogg

It looks like #653 came through at 9:20PM. I checked the footage and other information and that was in the middle of #3723's pantographs being sawn off but just before catenary repairs started. Did you get to see anything?

Lucky for you, you rolled by almost two hours before #3169 broke the last usable track.

 

[Acela150]

That's funny. Let's see if you can fit the audio clip in your lunchbox:
View attachment 39124

It looks like #653 came through at 9:20PM. I checked the footage and other information and that was in the middle of #3723's pantographs being sawn off but just before catenary repairs started. Did you get to see anything?

Lucky for you, you rolled by almost two hours before #3169 broke the last usable track.

My Engineer and I knew that "Can you repeat that line 13?" Was going to be asked over and over and over.

I honestly don't remember to much, just confirming with the Engineer that the Pan Drop test was a good test. Since we were using a Cab Car you have to test the Drop Pantograph feature to ensure it works. I do remember seeing that High Speed set on 2 and the Arrows on 4 and ET on top of the equipement on 4. That's about it.