# Whizzing on the third (electrified) rail **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [December 3, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882 "2009-12-03T19:04:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/21 "2009-12-08T17:02:47Z")
OMG! Not one, but TWO, posts from Unca Cece in the same thread. I may faint from joy. ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/22 "2009-12-09T01:48:55Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > OMG! > > Not one, but TWO, posts from Unca Cece in the same thread. I may faint from joy. I know! And in a thread I started… I’m feeling kinda light headed I tried to find more info on Taylor Robert Eshoo but came up empty. Mythbusters apparently said it wasn’t possible but **md2000** said a college buddy (again, it’s always someone thrice removed who this happened to) was shocked from an electric fence. Someone on here must have a teenager they can send out to test this. Or a crazy friend that will do anything on a dare. Anyone know how to get a hold of Johnny Knoxville? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/23 "2009-12-09T04:24:51Z")
> [@Rack-a-Bones](#): > > I tried to find more info on Taylor Robert Eshoo but came up empty. Mythbusters apparently said it wasn’t possible but **md2000** said a college buddy (again, it’s always someone thrice removed who this happened to) was shocked from an electric fence. Someone on here must have a teenager they can send out to test this. Or a crazy friend that will do anything on a dare. Anyone know how to get a hold of Johnny Knoxville? Well, I have witnessed it. The clown I mentioned earlier started whizzing on the mower. He finally got the stream to hit the sparkplug and when it did, he let out a howl, levitated straight up and landed curled up in a ball (and made a helluva thump when he landed), grabbing his johnson with both hands and pissing on his fingers. It took nearly 10 minutes before he could stand up, and he barfed right after he did. There were many jokes made about smoke pouring out of his dick and how he had sucked the last 6 inches of the stream back inside, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/24 "2009-12-09T09:29:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The mythbusters spent a lot of time on this story. They found that a urine stream is too broken up with droplets to make a good conductor. They tried a lot of scenarios trying to make it happen. They finally had the test dummy barefoot, standing in a puddle, and only inches away before he got shocked. > > [BOSSWIN168 Registered Kennels – International Designer Canine Registry](http://mythbustersresults.com/episode3). According to a friend of mine there is enough voltage for the electricity to work its way from droplet to droplet and cause severe damage. I don’t know if he has tried it but it’s his job to know. ---
**Author:** ![Silvermink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Silvermink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvermink)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/25 "2009-12-09T15:19:57Z")
Spark plugs have a much higher voltage (10,000-60,000 volts) that make it much easier to follow a stream of water. ---
**Author:** ![Powers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/26 "2009-12-09T20:15:23Z")
> [@Rack-a-Bones](#): > > Mythbusters apparently said it wasn’t possible but **md2000** said a college buddy (again, it’s always someone thrice removed who this happened to) was shocked from an electric fence. The Mythbusters called the third rail thing “Busted” but they were able to get a connection with a strong enough stream, so they could just as easily have called it “Plausible”. It’s kind of a judgment call. And they tested the electric fence and that was confirmed. So there’s no contradiction here. Powers &8^] ---
**Author:** ![Kenyth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kenyth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenyth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/27 "2009-12-10T16:37:33Z")
HV can potentially arc mutiple times through the droplets. Also, a relaxed unanticipating drunk with a full bladder peeing straight down would have a much more consistent stream than an anxious, shaking, horizontal arced stream. Also, once an electrical arc is connected, it can sustain itself for a short period as it creates an ionized “path” through the air. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/28 "2009-12-10T17:34:35Z")
> [@Kenyth](#): > > Also, once an electrical arc is connected, it can sustain itself for a short period as it creates an ionized “path” through the air. I don’t think we’re in that category of high voltage. A 3rd rail is only 800 or so volts. (From what I remember from my father, who worked on subway trains in Boston for 30+ years) They will make a hell of a spark, but only at VERY close distances. ---
**Author:** ![J-P\_L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/j-p_l/32/3156_2.png) [@J-P\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J-P_L)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/29 "2009-12-11T16:40:57Z")
Growing up on the farm, I watched a female pig pee on an electric fence, the sow did a small jump when the stream touched the wire, walked away some and resumed her business as if there was nothing to it. ---
**Author:** ![Bogeyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3e96dc/32.png) [@Bogeyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bogeyman)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/30 "2009-12-11T17:38:42Z")
> [@Rack-a-Bones](#): > > so then there is probably something more to **fgasparini**'s story regarding his high school acquaintance? Well if the Mythbusters debunked it, then I guess that settles it. For me anyway. I’m still sure there is at least one Doper who has peed on an electric fence. Yes, there is. Now, my memory is not what it was and it happened more than thirty years ago, but I did pee on the electric cattle fence surrounding a pasture in the village where I grew up. I remember two things clearly: touching the fence with my hand gave me an unpleasant stinging shock, though milder than expected. I had figured that there would be more juice going through there since cows have tougher hides than humans. Thus encouraged I did pee on the wire and got a mild tingling sensation in my appendage but nothing more. I can’t recall any further details like the distance from the fence or the strength of the stream. Just another snippet of first hand, empirical if not scientific evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/31 "2010-03-04T17:22:10Z")
Can I bump this based on the [recent follow-up column](http://chicago.straightdope.com/sdc20100304.php), or should a new thread be started? ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/32 "2010-03-04T18:47:26Z")
Let’s keep it all in this thread, even though the column in question appeared in Straight Dope Chicago. I just got a call from a doctor at the Cook County medical examiner’s office - she had the missing Sang Yeul Lee autopsy report, which she had used to prepare a talk. She said she gave it to her secretary to return to the file, but it evidently went astray. She’s going to try to track it down. Her recollection is that, contrary to the belief of the paramedic Cecil talked to (this guy was my old high school classmate), there were contact burns on Lee’s legs. However, she also said that in preparing her talk she had come across a report of a European case in which the victim had burns on the tips of the fingers and penis - I think all would accept this as probative of current traveling up the urine stream. The doctor had seen the Mythbusters episode and shares the general desire to get this figured out. More info when it becomes available, with luck early next week. ---
**Author:** ![megan\_robyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@megan\_robyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/megan_robyn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/33 "2010-03-05T07:12:08Z")
It’s not peeing on the same thing, granted, but it’s still relevant to the concept of creating a pee conductor… [http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/west/view/20100301man\_dies\_urinating\_on\_power\_line\_wire/srvc=news&position=also](http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/west/view/20100301man_dies_urinating_on_power_line_wire/srvc=news&position=also) ---
**Author:** ![W0X0F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@W0X0F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/W0X0F)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/34 "2010-03-05T19:50:44Z")
Unfortunately, the autopsy results seem to have busted that story… [http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/100304/K030406AU.html](http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/100304/K030406AU.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/35 "2010-03-05T19:54:24Z")
The autopsy showed this did not happen through his urine stream. [Linky](http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/04/1160395/autopsy-man-electrocuted-through.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/36 "2010-03-05T20:02:56Z")
I didn’t see the Mythbusters episode [but this guy seems pretty thorough](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQD2El05OP0). Although it looked like he added a high amount of salt. **WOXOF** - unfortunately? for whom? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![W0X0F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@W0X0F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/W0X0F)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/37 "2010-03-05T20:07:49Z")
Yep, not the greatest phrasing as I realized after I sent it. Unfortunate for the myth, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/38 "2010-03-05T21:27:28Z")
> [@Rack-a-Bones](#): > > I didn’t see the Mythbusters episode [but this guy seems pretty thorough](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQD2El05OP0). Although it looked like he added a high amount of salt. But he’s wizzing on an electric fence, not a 3rd rail. The fence is \<1’ from the output stream source, the 3rd rail would be at least 3x that distance. Droplets are too far apart to get a continuous arc up the stream. Now, a puddle forming, that has connectivity to the rail, and then contacts your foot, could cause the electrocution, but not the stream itself… IMO. ---
**Author:** ![bhofferb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@bhofferb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bhofferb)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/39 "2010-03-14T07:53:04Z")
[http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Elma-man-electrocuted-by-urinating-on-power-line-85855067.html](http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Elma-man-electrocuted-by-urinating-on-power-line-85855067.html) Not a pretty way to go… ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882/40 "2010-03-17T19:16:34Z")
> [@bhofferb](#): > > [http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Elma-man-electrocuted-by-urinating-on-power-line-85855067.html](http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Elma-man-electrocuted-by-urinating-on-power-line-85855067.html) > > Not a pretty way to go… Nah, that’s the one that was debunked. See posts 34 and 35. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whizzing-on-the-third-electrified-rail/519882.md?page=3)