This is the explanation I've heard over and over, but it seems a bit simplistic, stemming from an unknown article decades ago, becoming nearly myth or legend at

This is the explanation I've heard over and over, but it seems a bit simplistic, stemming from an unknown article decades ago, becoming nearly myth or legend at this point. I've yet to see a photo of a BART wheel up close, nor an explanation as to why they supposedly chose a cylindrical wheel. I've looked. I can't imagine the design decision happened without some knowledge of why conical wheels were used in the past. Call me skeptical.