Carnforth Trolly Wire

[Nonsense]

Apologies if wrong forum, none seemed a good fit.

At Carnforth sidings, among the rusty rolling stock, there is what appears to be a Trolly Wire above one of the sidings. I can't find any information on this but it looks like tram catenary.

Is there any history for this? Or images of it being used by a train.

 

[edwin_m]

When the WCML was wired some of the sidings alongside it were also wired but using a single wire sometimes referred to as trolley wire (though only ever used by pantographs, and not actually a catenary as that refers to the second wire above). Possibly it's one of those, especially if the supports are galvanised square or H sections like the ones on the main line.

 

[Beebman]

The 'Lancaster Guardian' has a gallery of old photos of Steamtown of which 3 of them clearly show the trolley wire (scroll down the page), however it can't be part of the WCML electrification as there's wooden posts and small insulators which are probably only suitable for 750V DC. I've seen the wire before on a visit there a long time ago but I've never found out why it's there.

 

[AndrewE]

I can't see the pictures referred to, but could it be power for the yard lighting strung ovehead because it was easier or cheaper?

 

[Beebman]

The wire is definitely strung along the centre of the track, however looking again I'm not actually sure there are any insulators? I've attached one of the photos from the article for anyone who can't see them and visible is an electric loco that I think is 86259 'Les Ross' which is (or was) based there. Could the wire be unpowered and simply allow the testing of raising its pantograph? I'm not sure that a DC electrified line would be allowed so close to an AC one due to track circuit interference.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

The wire is definitely strung along the centre of the track, however looking again I'm not actually sure there are any insulators? I've attached one of the photos from the article for anyone who can't see them and visible is an electric loco that I think is 86259 'Les Ross' which is (or was) based there. Could the wire be unpowered and simply allow the testing of raising its pantograph? I'm not sure that a DC electrified line would be allowed so close to an AC one due to track circuit interference.

The lack of tensioning suggests more washing-line than contact wire

 

[P Binnersley]

This article from British Tram News Online refers to a Blackpool tram being used for testing at Carnforth in the 1990's.

615 would remain in service in this condition until January 1974 when it was withdrawn and a start made on its conversion to become an OMO car. This was duly completed in the May of 1975 with the tram re-entering service as OMO 11. It became the last OMO to run in normal service in March 1993 but its life didn’t end there as it became a test tram moving to Carnforth for a time before testing in Blackpool up until early 1997. Another withdrawal followed and it was then scrapped in September 2000.