NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/rec/models/railroad/2406

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-20 | 1.9 KB

Xref: sparky rec.models.railroad:2406 rec.railroad:9130
Path: sparky!uunet!psinntp!pbs.org!btiffany
From: [e-mail]
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad,rec.railroad
Subject: Re: Pantograph pickup width Swiss 460
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 19 Nov 92 11:01:35 EST
References: <urf.722020840@sw2001> <[e-mail]>
Organization: PBS:Public Broadcasting Service, Alexandria, VA
Lines: 27

> I've always been impressed with Swiss catenary, because they
> seem to make more consistant use of curved catenary than any
> other place I've been.  That is, when rounding a curve, the
> catenary wire (or top wire, or support wire) is off to one
> side, so that it pulls the running wire to the side at every
> support point.  This keeps the running wire within a few
> (prototype) centimeters of the centerline of the track, so
> narrow pickup shoes should pose no problems.
>
> By comparison, most catenary I've seen in the US, or France and
> Italy, for that matter, has been strung with the support wire
> directly above the running wire, so that both hang straignt
> from one lineside support pole to the next.  This leads to
> deviations of on the order of 10 to 20 cm from the centerline
> of the track on a curve, and it clearly needs a wider shoe for
> safe running.

I presume you're talking about model RR catenary only, since this is not
true of PRR or NYNH&H electrification.  On the prototype the wire was
(and is) beautifully curved over the track centerline, a real (and no doubt
expensive) work of art.  In Europe catenary tends to go around curves in
short tangents.  In fact, often there is some zigzagging of catenary on
straight track, too.  I believe the reason for this is to minimize wear
on the pantograph contacts by spreading it over a greater area, rather than
having it saw down into the center of the contacts.

-- Bruce Tiffany