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Posted by
600vdc
on Sat Dec 20 19:23:00 2014, in response to Re: Copper cable theft delays Metro-North trains, posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Sat Dec 20 12:46:12 2014.
edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d The thieves were lucky they weren't electrocuted, as many copper thieves have been.
We have the same problem in radio broadcasting; many stations have had their ground systems and coaxial cables stolen over the last several years. Heck, one station down south went to sign on one morning last week and the transmitter wouldn't come on. There was a good reason for that: not only had someone stolen the coax that feeds the tower and much of the ground system, they also took the transmitter! Estimates are in the vicinity of $75,000 in damage. Some other thieves have not been so lucky and been killed because they were dumb enough to try stealing the copper while the transmitter was on.
Likewise, my wife works for a major company that maintains tree clearances for utility companies. They had a, shall we say, less than reputable employee who was electrocuted while trying to steal wiring from power poles. He thought he was taking a disused ground wire: it was, in fact, a live 4000 volt line.
Playing around with wiring in an electrified rail line is just as dumb. While you may be dealing with a low voltage signal line, you could also be mistaken and dealing with lines feeding catenary or a third rail.
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