GG-1 Generator Car Powered

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Ah... but you are forgetting one important link - lawyers. You are absolutely right, that PCBs in a sealed transformer are more than likely not going to hurt someone. But, should some former museum worker, or a neighborhood kid get cancer, and the layer can find one teeny tiny leak in the GG1 transformer, it is all over. Why? These railroad museums are usually non-profit and cannot afford to defend themselves against a shark lawyer out for $$$. Same is true with asbestos. A lot of asbestos is harmless. And most of the danger from asbestos comes during mining, installation, or removal. If it is sealed up in a building, the danger is minimal. But, due to the bad PR with that mineral, places would rather pay for the costly removal than wind up with a lawsuit from someone that gets sick.

you're probably right. Luckily, PCB levels are easily tested for. If there was enough to cause a problem, you'd be able to detect it in said person's body. If they can't detect any PCB levels beyond normal, they can't really make a claim.

Besides this is what Legal Waivers are for. If i remember correctly, the GG1s gained 10 years because the government already allowed them to run with their PCB transformers even after they determined they wanted PCBs to go away. Otherwise, they would have been long gone before Conrail. I'm pretty sure many of those tanks you see on road-side telephone poles still have PCBs in them and leak all the time with few people realizing it.