From: gl4317@yahoo.com   
      
   In article <483c2c46-1970-486b-826c-c46e8a682a82@googlegroups.com>,   
    hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:   
      
   > *I don't know what a 'super capacitor" is.  Some trackless trolleys have   
   > batteries to run off wire for short distances, such as for emergency detours.   
   >  would anyone know how that feature works in actual practice?   
      
      
   King County Metro (Seattle) looked into what everyone else was doing in   
   detail, including borrowing a modern trolley bus from Vancouver BC.   
   Seattle has a very aged fleet, especially when you consider that much of   
   the current fleet is basically running gear from much older buses, with   
   a new body added.   
      
   Page 9 of this report:   
   http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/projects/pdf/TrolleyBus_PreliminaryFinding   
   s_April2011.pdf   
   says that Seattle is the only system north of the Mexico border   
   currently not using some sort of auxiliary power system for its trolley   
   bus fleet.   
      
   Philadelphia is the only one of those that decided to go with a diesel   
   unit.   
      
   I think the batteries used on the early Vancouver BC trolley buses only   
   allowed for 3/4 of a mile operation, but the ones being produced today   
   are somewhere around 2 or 2.5 miles, depending on how steep the hill is.   
      
      
   > Frankly, I didn't really see any substantive differences between them and   
   > traditional light rail.  Light rail systems vary quite a bit depending on   
   > location, and in some cases, have the same characteristics as a "modern   
   > streetcar".   
      
      
   I think the only place there is a significant difference is the USA.   
   Here, those places that are operating "street car" lines have to put   
   turn signals and etc. on their cars, so that they are street legal   
   vehicles.   
      
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