Know Before You Go: Amtrak's Ice Patrol battles winter hazards in North River tunnels
News 12's Roxanne Evans reports that the team operates around the clock, targeting ice buildup on the catenary lines—wires carrying 12,000 volts at 25 hertz that power trains—when temperatures drop below 30 degrees.
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Snow and freezing rain pose threats to rail travel, but Amtrak's specialized Ice Patrol crew keeps the more than 100-year-old North River Tunnels clear.
News 12's Roxanne Evans reports that the team operates around the clock, targeting ice buildup on the catenary lines—wires carrying 12,000 volts at 25 hertz that power trains—when temperatures drop below 30 degrees.
Assistant Division Engineer Tyrone Gordon explains that the crew uses a "patagram pole" to smash icicles at restricted speeds across the 2.5-mile tunnels under the Hudson River.
Left unchecked, ice can snap wires, trip circuit breakers, or damage train equipment, halting the entire system.
