The 26 Line Suffering From Frequent Weather Related Shutdowns.

Boga Island, BR. March 4th 2015.

The 26 Boga Island El Line is prone to shutdowns from water & weather. 

The 26 elevated line is an open target for weather. The low bridge that crosses the Atlantic Ocean to Boga Island has been being succumbed by water with every Nor'Eastern storm passing the area and the wire above it has been forming ice even on days where winter storms aren't even present. It's a costly issue that's delaying and shutting down train service. Trains are getting damaged and fires have broken out from poor electricity contact from the train to the wires because of large amount of ice glaze.

Older Train Cars Have De-Icing Equipment for Power Wires. 

All elevated train use a device called a Pantograph which an antenna that acts like an electrical collector bring the power from the wires to the train wheels. About 45 pantographs (that's 45 train cars in total), have been damaged or burned from large chunks of icy glaze. In total about $10,000 was spent replacing them and more trains were rotated out to Boga Island then usual leaving noticiable service gaps on other lines. A few Rt 39 & Rt 65 trains were canceled because their cars were running on the 26 line clearing ice since older elevated cars have ice scrapers attached to the roofs protecting the electrical pantograph from ice damage. The problem comes from ocean spray as well, sometimes ocean spray on clear cold night does form ice on the tracks and wires.

There are plans to replace the Boga Island Bridge with something higher that will clear the ocean spray but will still be open to ice storms. Workers have suggested using beat & pickle juice to coat the wires that way they don't freeze as easily. Another idea was installing insulators who will heat up certain sections of wire. Of course it would require one every 200 feet. A costly amount. Until the agency is keep their fingers crossed there will be no more Ice storms anytime soon.