The output of the transformer would be >600VAC to allow for voltage drop across the full wave bridge rectifer then a coil to smooth out the ripple. I have seen a set up like this before although it was not running 600v

Here you go, likely from the Cleveland Rapid:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-kw-Silicon ... xyYTRSWDZN

Did they take the pictures with a potato? For 11k you think you could get a readable shot of the data tag.

Only $51.48 shipping!

Before you buy, make sure you can get 11,000 volt 2000kva primary service from your utility!

The substation shown on Ebay would seem to be a bit oversize for running a small museum operation!

Also should point out I think you could get really, really close to six digits on the rest of the substation. The main primary circuit breaker would probably be at least 30-50k alone and that's without the panels to mount it in.

I'm always skeptical of numbers which seem unachievable. I find they are usually either naysaying, pie-in-the-sky, or a professional accustomed to bidding government jobs with all their cost-adders. Nobody in railway preservation can afford that kind of gold plating.

Maybe it's my Detroit/California bias where many industries are coming out never to return, but there's a glut of the type of AC switching equipment you need. We got a set "free" with purchase of an old pallet factory.

One important feature you may need to spend real money on, is the arc fault or "rate of rise" detection. It looks for current changes (generally upward) that cannot be explained by a compressor startup or taking of points. Because it is measuring millivolts across an ammeter shunt, the device doesn't know or care the capacity of your substation, so that doesn't bear on the cost of it. I'd pencil in $5000 for one of those, with hopes of finding a less expensive way to do it.

2000kva is the rating of the substation. Just like you can put VR-rated tires on a car that can't make 130mph... if the power company can't provision 2000kva, just set your breaker for what they can provide. You want yours to trip before theirs.

To get even closer to flatline DC, I've seen arrangements using two sets of transformers (or two sets of taps) 180 degrees out of phase with each other, a sort of "6-phase" power if you will.