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Overhead Cantenary

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • 51 posts
Overhead Cantenary
Posted by TrainsRock on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 6:11 AM

What is the best wire to use for an overhead centenary to run an MTH P5a? I will be getting one soon and am considering installing overhead lines that would supply power to the pantographs.

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Lake Worth FL
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Posted by phillyreading on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 2:19 PM

There are two ways to install overhead catenary wiring. 1) Buy the MTH already made set of catenary. 2) Make your own catenary wiring.  There was an article a couple years ago, in CTT, about making catenary wirng for a layout. I think the person who wrote it used H.O. rails for the wires and soldered them together, forget what he used for towers and supports.

Lee F.

Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
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  • From: Wisconsin
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Posted by Bob Keller on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 3:48 PM

I believe these are all the stories we've run on catenary. I don't think any are on-line.

 

Catenary – Put catenary on your layout, Neil Besougloff, December 2002, p58

Catenary  Build a catenary system, Bob Lavezzi, July 1995, p88 

Catenary – A simplified catenary system, Pete Riddle, November 1996, p92 

Catenary – Build your own catenary, Stan Trzoniec, February 2004 p56

Bob Keller

  • Member since
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Posted by Taranwanderer on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 7:57 AM

In the "Build your own catenary, Stan Trzoniec, February 2004 p56," the author used square brass tubing, cut and soldered together for the towers and the HO rail for the current-carrying overhead wire.  It seemed like a lot of work, but it looked very cool.

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