On Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 9:24:33 PM UTC-5, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
      
      
   > 12.5kV means four times as much current as 2x25kV, but if they think   
   > their decrepit infrastructure can handle the load, c'est la vie.   
      
   I don't know the various loads factors, but in Penn Central days   
   they hauled numerous through freights on the NEC and connecting   
   branches, and obviously those trains consumed a good deal of   
   current.  In PRR days, some of the trains were long heavy-weight   
   cars.  I suspect two GG-1's pulling a 20 car train consumed a good   
   deal of current.   
      
      
   > Variable-tension and 25Hz are far more pressing problems that can be   
   > corrected independently, though it'd be wise to do both in a way that   
   > makes moving to 2x25kV later much easier.   
      
   I would say the physical catenary itself is the major problem.  I   
   understand much of it still dates from the 1930s and is very worn   
   out with frequent failures.   
      
   I would say the second biggest problem is lack of capacity.  Earlier,   
   we here had discussed the practicality of adding a new tunnel and   
   tracks to the south side of Penna Station, which apparently was the   
   original intent.  Did we ever reach a consensus about that?   
      
   The State of New York is still pushing to make the post office part   
   of the station, but I'm not sure that's such a good idea due to   
   track/platform limitations and its location further west.   
      
   Personally, as a passenger, I really wish NJT would speed up run   
   times to what they were back in the 1980s.   
      
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