Just for some hi-rail fun, here's a great comeback for the next time you hear "unrealistic" comments about that middle rail thingy or lack of overhead wire for your trolleys.
New York, Washington and London streetcars all had areas with conduit power pick-up systems between the rails. Info & photos: https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Tracks_on_Broadway
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There were center rail electric railways, just like Lionel track. The center rail was discontinued because it could not be covered to keep people from touching it. See previous post on center rails here:
@David Johnston posted:There were center rail electric railways, just like Lionel track. The center rail was discontinued because it could not be covered to keep people from touching it. See previous post on center rails here:
I've seen the New Haven 3-rail post - that's pretty cool (for us modelers 
). The Dolter stud system was another system consigned to history after a few electrocutions. Someone even modeled a scene on this British 00 layout. https://tinyurl.com/y66xjljy [Photo: John Prentice]
Those rails almost look like San Francisco cable car track. Don
@scale rail posted:Those rails almost look like San Francisco cable car track. Don
Very similar construction challenges I would guess, with the pickup shoes down below instead of the cable gripper.
The below article describes B-W "poling" locomotives used at Whiskey Island iron ore dock in Cleveland, OH. They shifted cars below the Hulett ship unloaders (Google those - they're fascinating machines) and drew power from two conductors under a centre protective cover.
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