On Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:40:40 +0000, Dave Liquorice wrote:

On Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:53:35 +0000, tony sayer wrote:

Yes I did read about that somewhere, seems the earth at that sort of
voltage and DC was quite suitable for that purpose....

The impedance of The Earth is effectively zero, making good connection
to it is the tricky bit. In the days of trams and traction power return
via the tracks they initially weren't very bothered about making sure
the tracks had decent electrical continuity. The up shot being that the
traction power would find the path of least resistance, sometimes down
the lead sheaths of telephone cables buried near by until the GPO
started making a fuss.

http://www.urban75.org/railway/brighton-sea-railway.htm

Read the bit under 'The Tram'...!



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