Catenary Wires

[NightStar]

Good Evening, I have been as most probably know by now very interested in modeling electric railways both here in the US, and in the UK. Most of my efforts have been towards gathering information on conductor rail since it is of most interest to me at this time. However I am beginning to wonder if anyone has had any success at modeling the overhead wires and been able to get the system to power a train and not cause exessive wear to expensive and hard to replace pantographs?

Robert

 

[chris89]

Not sure myself about operational.

But in this months Model Rail (Out on Thursday) they do have a article about OHL though.

Chris

 

[NightStar]

Chris, Thanks. I will keep an eye out for the new issue of MR.

Robert

 

[AnonymousUser1]

never done any but i do remember Hornby catalogues in the 80s advertising OHL running available on their class 86 ? model

 

[John Webb]

never done any but i do remember Hornby catalogues in the 80s advertising OHL running available on their class 86 ? model

Triang introduced OHLE in 1959! It consisted of catenary formed from stamped steel pressings which were then tin-coated; it was strong but grossly overscale. It clipped on to masts which in turn clipped into the Triang track. Due to the fixed lengths of catenary, it was not very flexible in setting up. There were two locos - a freelance 0-4-0 and a version of one of the Transcontinental locos; these were fitted with a change-over switch to allow pickup from the track or the OHLE. In 1961 models of the EM2 electric locos used on the Manchester-Sheffield line were introduced.

1961 also saw a new single wire system replacing the pressed steel catenary. This gave much greater flexibility, particularly at junctions. The system was marketed until 1972. A limited amount of equipment reappeared in 1988, although models of the class 86 locos were available from 1981. The catenary was only sold in kits from 1988 onwards (when the model of the class 90s was introduced) and was dropped around 2000. Both the 86 and the 90 could be worked from the catenary.
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...... and not cause exessive wear to expensive and hard to replace pantographs?

Robert

The layout my father and I developed in the late 1950s/early 1960s had a whole branch line fitted with the Triang OLE. Our Triang 0-4-0 steeple cab loco ran from the OHLE for several years and we had no problems with wear in that time.

 

[O L Leigh]

The Hornby stuff from the late 1980s and early 1990s was rubbish. Heavy and not looking at all like the real thing.

Almost all model OLE that I have seen is vastly overscale and/or oversimplified. While modelling does allow for a certain amount of licence, the increase in detail standards generally has not been reflected in OLE.

Part of the problem is that there is no standard design of OLE, while the other issue is the general lack of understanding of the system by most modellers. A good basic off-the-shelf OLE system in a variety of scales is made by Sommerfeldt, but it is mostly to Continental European design. But even this is vastly overscale, especially in relation to the wires themselves. Frankly, unless you're a wizard scratchbuilder with spare time measured in eons, I wouldn't bother with OLE at all because it is expensive, complicated and takes ages to get right.

The best model OLE I have seen is a scratchbuilt system for a P4 scale model of Birmingham New Street. However, a quick look around the website should illustrate just how much work is involved in just a single structure, and if you want a layout of any appreciable size you are going to need a LOT of structures.

As for wear, you shouldn't get appreciable wear on model systems. However, if you want any component to wear it would be better if it was the pantographs rather than the contact wires. They are not as hard to acquire or replace as others suggest, and replacing a pan or components of the pan would be cheaper and far easier than having to renew all your OLE.

O L Leigh

 

[John Webb]

The Hornby stuff from the late 1980s and early 1990s was rubbish. Heavy and not looking at all like the real thing.

Almost all model OLE that I have seen is vastly overscale and/or oversimplified. While modelling does allow for a certain amount of licence, the increase in detail standards generally has not been reflected in OLE.......

O L Leigh

The later issue of Hornby OLE was identical to the earlier stuff. I agree it was rather heavy, and particularly with a single wire didn't look much like the real thing, but at least it worked! The original pressed-steel catenary of Triangs was even worse, visually speaking.
Biggest problem in scale modelling of OLE is the fineness of the wire required in 4mm/ft or smaller scales - this of course is then difficult to handle and susceptible to damage which means that it can't be mass produced for commercial sales in mind.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

.... Both the 86 and the 90 could be worked from the catenary.....

And the 91s that have the same pantograph (some have a rather naff plastic moulded thing).

 

[table38]

* [FX] dusts off Hornby Catalogues and scanner... *

 

[chris89]

And the 91s that have the same pantograph (some have a rather naff plastic moulded thing).

The trainset ones had the naff plastic one.

The trainpack/ standalone ones had the metal working one.

Dapol make some for OO and N

Also in latest Model Rail there is a super test as well.

Chris

 

[sarahj]

I have run some locos using overhead back in the days when I used Dc. You get sparks and wear on your pantograph. you can replace them of course. Since I model HO euro I use sommerfeldt, their profi wire is much thinner and looks good once its painted, They do other countries, but not the UK. The closest to the UK was the french JV, but not sure where you would get that.
You CANNOT use overhead pickup with DCC.

 

[Prairie_5542]

Guitar strings are quite good, they come in different sizes. Use brass to make the stancheons.