Comments on: Episode 3: Barrel of Bricks, Urinating on the Third Rail, Eel Skin Wallet

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:16:24 +0000

To check the myth about the third rail correctly one has to actually pee on a 3rd rail.I don’t know where you can get someone to actually do that.In other myths, Everything right down to the degree in the weather has to be the same. You heard of freak accidents, well to do the accident again, you’d have to have the same compontents that were in the original accident, and even then you could get conflicting results.

By: DeeJay

DeeJay — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:57:02 +0000

Third rail systems vary in their voltage, however the major difference between them and a power line, as well as the way the guys tested the myth is one minor little fact.

Subway systems use direct current. When Jamie and Adam tested this myth, they used a generator which produced alternating current. This in itself totally screwed up their results, since they did not test the system using accurate data.

Secondly, they made no allowance for the return of current. In 3rd rail systems, the third rail itself carries a positive charge, where as the running (track) rails carry a negative charge. Once the power is used by the traction motors in the cars, it is returned through the track rails to the power distribution station.

There are also a handful of recorded deaths due to urination on third rails. The UK Daily Mail reported in 2008 that a Polish tourist was electrocuted to death when he urinated on a 750-volt rail in London, and a 14 year old boy was killed in Chicago in 1991 doing the same thing. In 1977, a drunk man was also killed when he wandered onto the ground level tracks in Chicago and urinated on the third rail.

By: Jason Antinori

Jason Antinori — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:14:22 +0000

I ran across this site by mistake, and though I’m not an regular of the show I gave watched it at least a dozen times. But after reading about the 3rd Rail Urine Test with the articles linked to the postings and my profession lying on legal suits & wrongful death and injury. I WOULD ADVISE MYTHBUSTERS AS WELL AS ANY AFFILIATED TELEVISION STATION If MY CLIENT TO ASAP TAKE DOWN ANY STATEMENTS SCIENTIFIC OR OTHERWISE DISPROVING THIS HYPOTHESIS.

By: Steve I.

Steve I. — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:48:44 +0000

But you did not actuall pee on the third rail, and If I remember the episode correctly ditto for the electric fence. Get some huevos and ditch the ammeter..
As for breaking into droplets unable to conduct current, you’ve obviously never imbibed a large quantity of beer… :-)

By: FatBigot

FatBigot — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 20:48:07 +0000

Its all about VOLTAGE.
3rd rail is typically 600-750 volts.

UK overhead electric lines for mainline trains is about 25,000 volts.

Power line is 11,000 to 475,000 volts. Energy delivery is V squared over R. At those higher voltages, air can ionize, as does pretty much everything your body is made of so R goes down increasing the energy delivery even more. I’ve heard that the fat in your body explodes.

Please to a repeat of the urination mythbust on 25,000 volts, say.

By: Cesar

Cesar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:11:25 +0000

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9E62II80&show_article=1
Wash. man electrocuted by urinating on power line
myth confirmed?

By: sarristocrat

sarristocrat — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:20:44 +0000

Third rail mythbusted is dead wrong..

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/1019032/man-believed-killed-peeing-on-power-line

By: Taco Bellnacho

Taco Bellnacho — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:28:45 +0000

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9E62II80&show_article=1

MONTESANO, Wash. (AP) – Authorities believe a Washington man was killed by accidentally urinating on a downed power line after a car crash.
Grays Harbor County sheriff’s Deputy Dave Pimentel (PIM’-en-tel) said Monday 50-year-old Roy Messenger was not seriously hurt after he collided with a power pole Friday and called a relative to pull his car from a ditch.

However, family members found Messenger electrocuted when they arrived.

Pimentel says Messenger apparently urinated into a roadside ditch but didn’t see the live wire. The urine stream likely served as a conductor, allowing the electricity to reach his body.

Pimentel says there will be an autopsy but burn marks indicated the way the electricity traveled through Messenger’s body.

By: Chas

Chas — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:17:58 +0000

Someone was executed for peeing on a power line:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011224510_apwaurineelectrocution.html?syndication=rss

By: Leon Stark

Leon Stark — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:10:54 +0000

“Paddy’s Sick Day” barrel myth may have been done using the kinds of barrels of the WW I/ Depression Era days, half rotted and barely maintaining integrity.

Remember, there was not a Product Safety Commission, or Occupational Safety and Health Administration in those days. Those came after FDR.