Not only do The Enquirer's reporters regularly publish stuff that would have gotten them fired from my college newspaper, they get on Facebook and defend it. 

 

^Thank you for posting!  Firefighters are simply trained to avoid the power lines by working within the space between the lines and the building facade.  Just don't cross the wires with an aluminum ladder or hose stream.  There are feed cables along the side of the street but at least those are insulated.  More problematic is the issue of rerouting wire-bound electric transit around public emergencies on streets that may not have the power lines.

 

The Enquirer prints stuff that clearly isn't news just to keep the "s word" in a state of continual controversy so they can get more clicks and sell more papers.  Think of it this way:  dozens of North American cities and thousands world wide have had some form of street running electric transit for over 100 years.  So all of a sudden Cincinnati's streetcar wires are some kind of a new problem? That isn't news, and the first rule of journalism is if it ain't news don't print it.  C'mon give me a break!

What is the height of the wires? Did they go with federal transportation guidelines of 14'? Are they concerned with the height or the electric?

Wires?  LOL!!!

What is the height of the wires? Did they go with federal transportation guidelines of 14'? Are they concerned with the height or the electric?

 

I think pretty much just that they are exposed wires.  The big difference between modern streetcars as opposed to the old systems is that new tracks much more often travel in the curb lane than they did in the past which brings the wires about ten feet closer to trees and buildings.  But such systems with curbside tracks have now been in place since the 1980s in various cities around the country (Baltimore, Portland MAX, etc.).

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

If I were a first responder I would probably assume all power lines were hot and act accordingly, but having said that I'm thinking...can't they just cut the power to the impacted loop and leave the rest of the system running?  Our experience with trolleys here in Dayton shows that when emergency vehicles block a street part or all of the route shuts down. In this situation sometimes supervisor vans come around and pick up people standing at stops.

If I were a first responder I would probably assume all power lines were hot and act accordingly, but having said that I'm thinking...can't they just cut the power to the impacted loop and leave the rest of the system running?  Our experience with trolleys here in Dayton shows that when emergency vehicles block a street part or all of the route shuts down. In this situation sometimes supervisor vans come around and pick up people standing at stops.

 

You can sort of see where the electrical blocks are in the wiring (I believe there is one in front of Rhinegeist) but I'm not sure exactly where they all are or how large the blocks are.  The problem with cutting the power is that a streetcar might be in the middle of an intersection when the power is cut.  If there is no onboard battery whatsoever that means that the streetcar's running lights also go out, making it somewhat more vulnerable to getting hit. 

 

In Boston I remember that there was an SUV with a battering ram on it that could push wayward trolleybuses back under the wires.  I haven't heard if Metro will have a special vehicle sitting around to tow or push the streetcars in the event of a power outage or other problem.  It will be a very rare occurrence, but we can sure count on The Enquirer and talk radio to go nuts the first time it happens. 

Trolley buses have batteries but nevertheless you see them getting pushed by service pickup trucks a lot .... Trucks with huge oversize wooden bumpers in the front. Cincinnati streetcars don't have batteries? Are you sure? Seems like the power out thing is a contingency that should be planned for...storm, auto hitting a pole or substation, or whatever. At least you gotta keep the lights and radio working.

From wikipedia: "CAF has developed an option to build supercapacitors into the Urbos 3, allowing brief operation without an external electrical supply." Don't know if that applies to ours though. 

Streetcars can either by towed by another streetcar (which obviously won't work if the power is shut off) or by tow trucks. When the first streetcar arrives in Cincinnati, it will be towed around by a tow truck to make sure that all of the track and stations are properly aligned before they actually run one on power.

 

Ours do not have batteries, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is a small battery that at least allows them to power their lighting, so they could put on flashing lights if they get trapped in an intersection or something.

WCPO also did a story on the Streetcar Wires & CFD. With a MUCH more accurate title:

 

As streetcar overhead wiring begins testing, CFD working on safety plan

Chief: 'We work around wires all the time'

 

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/over-the-rhine/as-streetcar-overhead-wiring-begins-testing-cfd-working-on-safety-plan

 

That's how it should be DONE.

 

A vacuum truck was spotted yesterday in the CBD sucking all of the accumulated debris out of the track flangeways.

This happened on elm about a week ago. The mother of all vacuums.

It was going through 5th & Walnut right at noon today. OCS install also happening in this area. And recently installed at the Rhinegeist stop:

Any reason why this couldn't wait if the cars won't be here until November?  Seems they will have to do it again.

 

Also, how does this cleanliness maintain itself over time?  Do the cars crush any detritus or do they have to sporadically vacuum?

 

Thanks!

Love the bike racks! Much better use of space than a little patch of grass that may or may not be well maintained.

 

Once the streetcars are running, the flangeways will stay clear of debris on their own.

I saw the bike racks being installed in a couple spots today on the way to work. Nice pop of color and a good use of that space.

It seems like they could have put in a couple more. Those seem far apart and will only hold 6 bikes total.

There are 3 more on the other side of the shelter. The other two stops with these installed are Liberty & Race (3) and 12th & Race (4?), but they do not have the decorative pavers.

Those dirt patches devolved into a green, primordial ooze of algae runoff ponds as the summer wore on.

 

They won't be missed.

 

Now if Taft's Ale House would just get some much-needed racks.

This city needs more bike racks. There are so many places that could use them. Especially now that the meters are being removed in favor of the pay boxes.

It's been 8 days since the last post here.

 

And I have a great post! The Enquirer released an editorial stylized as a letter to CAF. I almost threw up at the beginning. I haven't read it yet, but this is how it starts:

 

To: CAF USA, Streetcar builder, Elmira, New York

 

Hi, CAF. It’s me, Cincinnati.

 

I’m writing you this letter because at this point, I don’t know what else to do. Forgive me if I seem a little emotional, but I’m at my wit’s end, missing you. No matter how hard I try to get in touch and find out what’s going on, you no longer respond. You are making our streetcars, and I want us to go through this experience together, especially if you might miss your due date.

It's been 8 days since the last post here.

 

And I have a great post! The Enquirer released an editorial stylized as a letter to CAF. I almost threw up at the beginning. I haven't read it yet, but this is how it starts:

 

To: CAF USA, Streetcar builder, Elmira, New York

 

Hi, CAF. It’s me, Cincinnati.

 

I’m writing you this letter because at this point, I don’t know what else to do. Forgive me if I seem a little emotional, but I’m at my wit’s end, missing you. No matter how hard I try to get in touch and find out what’s going on, you no longer respond. You are making our streetcars, and I want us to go through this experience together, especially if you might miss your due date.

 

I gave up trying to read it. I feel embarrassed for the Enquirer's editors. This is one of the most cringe-worthy articles I've ever attempted to read.

There's a strong case to be made for not reading or commenting on those articles. Instead, read and comment on the much more levelheaded WCPO articles that have been coming out.

This seems like some exercise out of a sixth grade writing class. 

I got about three sentences in before I was done. It appears from the comments section that others felt the same way.

 

What a ridiculous "editorial."

 

Also insulting they signed it "Cincinnati" as if this opinion is representative of the city as a whole.

That reads like it was written by someone on the "outside" and then the big money told The Enquirer to run it or else they'd stop talking to them. 

WVXU's Jay Hanselman saying on Twitter that the first streetcar should arrive by the end of October. CAF is adding extra shifts to make up lost time. Still on track for original opening date of Sept. 2016.

The way I read this is that Streetcars 1 and 2 will be delayed but 3-5 will be accelerated with extra staff so they should arrive on-time. So instead of getting the streetcars spaced out over time, we'll probably them in a more condensed time period.

The way I read this is that Streetcars 1 and 2 will be delayed but 3-5 will be accelerated with extra staff so they should arrive on-time. So instead of getting the streetcars spaced out over time, we'll probably them in a more condensed time period.

 

Interesting. Curious as to the source of the problem though. Sounded like a subcontractor problem. Extra staff wouldn't help that, would it?

Wow I'm in shock that this monumental disaster hasn't killed the entire project and the city isn't falling into a death spiral of debt and bankruptcy.

 

/sarcasm

The way I read this is that Streetcars 1 and 2 will be delayed but 3-5 will be accelerated with extra staff so they should arrive on-time. So instead of getting the streetcars spaced out over time, we'll probably them in a more condensed time period.

 

Interesting. Curious as to the source of the problem though. Sounded like a subcontractor problem. Extra staff wouldn't help that, would it?

 

I don't really care about the details on a one-month delay in a 2-year international project.  Anyone who works in manufacturing, construction, logistics, or whatever is used to miscommunications, missed shipments, credit holds, damaged product, defective product, substitutions of one vendor for another, and the endless ways in which a project can be delayed. 

 

^Exactly. You can have the best people in the world managing a project but when you have that many different subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, etc. all working on the same project something is going to go wrong at some point. It's inevitable and in the whole scheme of things a 3-5 week delay on the delivery of one aspect of a large project is tiny delay and honestly quite impressive. It could be way worse. Our project will still finish on time and on budget which is more than can be said for the vast majority of infrastructure projects.

A streetcar is a complicated machine. Its not like they make IKEA directions for its assembly.

People like that certainly don't want to hear how long it took to finish the Statehouse.

A streetcar is a complicated machine. Its not like they make IKEA directions for its assembly.

 

Could you imagine?

Crews will begin grinding down Main Street this week in preparation for repaving. That's a pretty clear sign that construction is coming to a close. Heavy construction should be finished up in less than two months, with the curve from 2nd to Main being the final section of track installed.

 

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/streetcar/news/streetcar-progress-update-september-8-2015/

Just a fun reminder of how fast these could go if given the opportunity on an extension or tunnel line. This is from the Streetcar Progress Report with the caption: "The streetcar won’t go this fast in Cincinnati (it will observe the posted speed limits on City streets), but as part of the dynamic tests, Cincinnati Unit #1 reached a speed of 44 MPH on the test track in Elmira."

  :wink: You mean the streetcar has the physical capability to exceed the speed limit? OMG shhhhhhh!!! Don't tell the Enquirer or WLW.

Cincinnati Streetcar said the first streetcar is scheduled to arrive October 30th..and that a special announcement will be revealed for November 16th...Guessing that's when the first train will being testing on the OTR loop.

Don't be alarmed if I disappear from the forum in mid-November. I will be living in a tent on Elm Street obsessively photographing each passing streetcar.

  :wink: You mean the streetcar has the physical capability to exceed the speed limit? OMG shhhhhhh!!! Don't tell the Enquirer or WLW.

 

Last year I attended one of the streetcar construction tours led by Paul Grether.  When I asked him if he was going to let one of the streetcars gun it during testing he got a bit red-in-the-face.  I think we can all rest assured that no streetcar will exceed 30mph under his watch. 

Quick question. Those grey middle columns on the streetcar..the purpose is to extend the length of the streetcar for the inclusion of more passengers correct?

 

 

Assuming that's the case, and say you have a busy night with many people on one veichle with both columns extended, what does that make the official length of the street car then?

^No.  Those allow the streetcar to bend during turns.

Notice the streetcar line on the map

 

This question is probably best for John. Will our Streetcars have the ability to chain together ala the MAX trains or is adding additional center cabins the only way to extend them?

^No.  Those allow the streetcar to bend during turns.

 

And makes accordion sounds while turning.

This question is probably best for John. Will our Streetcars have the ability to chain together ala the MAX trains or is adding additional center cabins the only way to extend them?

 

I'm pretty sure that's the case. Not cheap though.

This question is probably best for John. Will our Streetcars have the ability to chain together ala the MAX trains or is adding additional center cabins the only way to extend them?

 

Our streetcars will never chain together like light rail trains commonly do, but they do have the ability to connect to tow eachother. The only way we're getting longer streetcars is if the city orders larger streetcars in the future. Even so, that would probably be part of a larger change that would involve lengthening the platforms... so it's unlikely to happen unless we integrate the existing streetcar track into a regional light rail system.