In article ,
David Hansen writes:
On Sun, 7 Jun 2009 14:01:51 +0100 someone who may be tony sayer
wrote this:-

I rather think that the current flow wasn't that much, well on the scale
of the power that the OHL can supply.

As I recall the maximum current on UK "classic" lines is just under
200A and that is to move a train.

There used to be two types of pantograph used, at 25A one and a 40A one,
but this was before the likes of Eurostar (and I'm out of date now).
There used to have to be a pantograph or two on each engine (traction)
unit, as UK rules didn't allow carrying the 25kV between carriages, but
I believe EU-wide rules now do.

However, the fault current through an arc could be a good deal more
than an train normally uses.

Anyways lets hope he's at peace now .. poor sod;(..

Yes. There are photographs of the few people who have survived
exposure to traction systems on one of the railway safety sites. A
boy with one ear burnt off and one with very bad burns on his body
come to mind.

Bad burns on feet are common too, where the current exits via an arc
through the soles of the trainers, often burning off some toes.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]