Ruggles stairs are falling down, falling down
By adamg - Fri, 10/02/2009 - 8:10am.
Charlie on the Commuter Rail notices that rather than fix the steps down to the commuter-rail platform, the T has instead installed a weird-looking cable.
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I think it's a grounding
I think it's a grounding cable. I've noticed that pretty much every outdoor fence, railing, or other metal fixture on T property is connected to the ground. Is it in case of lightning?
It might be because of the
It might be because of the overhead wires for the North East Corridor. If anything funky every happened with that high voltage wire arcing you'd want railings and whatnot grounded.
It most likely is a grounding cable.
Such cables are installed not only for lightning protection (the need for which seems to be highly unlikely here), but where metal structures are in such close proximity to power cables or transformers that a residual voltage could be transmitted through the metal. It is done not only to mitigate a possible shock hazard, but to protect the metal from possible long-term damage due to the presence of an electrical current.
More than likely, the T's specifications call for use of grounding cables as part of all fence and railing installations, whether or not there is a potential for a stray voltage at any given location.
prevents shock if a wire falls on it, etc.
If a wire falls on a fence that isn't grounded, the whole thing becomes electrified.
If a wire falls on a fence that is grounded, some spectacular fireworks ensue and a circuit breaker or fuse probably trips.
Shocking stairs
Stating the obvious re: the previous posts on that site, but that the T let the concrete stair risers be exposed like that is unbelievable. They're letting the stairs be eaten away by water (once those black plastic coverings on the vertical surfaces are compromised, there's no brick there to protect them.)
And I assume what caused the crumbling around the bottom of the railing brick-stack was pooling at that point.