If, I remember what my Father told me, sometime in the early '30's., when he was a young Lad living in Mariner's Harbor, Staten Island, N.Y.C., N.Y.S., in his neighborhood ran the Staten Island Rapid Transit.
The Road had steam, early diesel and third rail and though the R.O.W. was fenced off, the children used to take a short cut through the holes in the fences, to and from school.
It was a rainy day and a young girl with an umbrella, for whatever reason, touched the third rail with the metal tip of her umbrella, causing her own death, by electrocution.
This, incident left a lasting and unpleasant memory in my Father's mind.
Though, electrified third rails are dangerous, they do provide an alternative means of power to locomotives.
Railroad personnel, of the Railroads that I worked near, were always checking to make certain that all safeguards were in place.
After all, safety was most important to all.
Vehicle roadways should have as many safeguards as Railroads, then THERE would be fewer fatalities, injuries and/or property damage!!!!!
Ralph
