catenary

[fatjack]

Hey Bob... How could you forget the article, "Layout Help from the Hardware Store" in the July, 2009 CTT???!!   One of the most interesting suggestions was to how make catenary out of yard/garden/farm fencing.

Needmoretrains,

The article explains how to make it, and while not really prototypical or scale, it works and it's really cheap.  I only made an 8-ft demo to use for photos in the article, but it went fast and easy.  You will have to build your own poles to support the overhead wire but that too is easy... just use dowels or square wood pieces with a hole drilled at the top to accept the cross wire.  I also used a cross beam at the top for the demo.  You'll see it all in the photo with the article.

In the design for the article, I used two poles across from each other to support the wire, but I've since figured out a way to use only one pole.  It involves bending the cross wire so both ends come back to the same pole.  My inspiration for this was looking at the end of my soldering gun as a shape that would work.  The power wire remains attached at the end of the straight wire (turn the gun upside down to see how this would look) and bend the other wire back to attach to your poles above the straight wire.  You'd need to drill two holes at the top of your poles for this method.

I hope this will help you.  If you use it, let me know how it works as my layout is not far enough along to add catenary yet.

Jack

[Bob Keller]

We've run four stories on creating catenary systems:

 

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, Peter H. Riddle, November 1996, p92  

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

[runtime]

accatenary:

Thanks for posting.

I spent some time at your site - you have a wonderful layout! And fantastic catenary!

Some day I may try to set up overhead power for my GG1, as I remember seeing on my father's cousin's layout long long ago.

I periodically pass through Philadelphia on I76, and I am always stealing glances at the 30th street station trackage, catenary, and further points NW. You have captured it in uncany and magnificent detail! I have often wondered how it all works - with turnouts and crossovers, etc - comething you have obviously figured out. Bravo.

runtime

[AofD]

I used "N" scale flex track that is working out great. Putting 2 rail with the rail heads facing out then using scrap N scale rail about 3/8 in soldered to the top and bottom rail every 4 inches. You can then use N scale rail joiners soldering those once in place.  

 ____N scale rail head up______________

I               I               I                I                I   sections soldered

    rail head pointing down

Not scale but after some flat black paint (not on the trackside rail head) looks good.

Poles made from brass tubing 

[accatenary]

For Operating Catenary in HO scale made from 20 guageCopper wire you can buy at Lowes check out this site

http://prrnortheastcorridor.com/NORTHEASTCORRIDORHO.html

[balidas]

I have read an article in the other magazine about a fellow who built an operating cantenary system for his layout. He did give details on how he built his system. If I remember correct, this was a couple of years ago.

[dwiemer]

I have also seen some, but have no personal experience.  With that in mind, one idea would be to use HO "Flextrack".  I also recall that some company like "Steel Toys" makes some pre-fabricated stanchions and you can do whatever you want for the actual wire.  Lots of benefit to the flex track.  One nice feature to the catenary is that you can keep the lights in the passenger cars at a constant voltage and govern the speed of the engine using the wire...of course if you have command control, that would be covered anyway.

Please post photos with whatever direction you go.
Dennis

[Major]

I have seen some articles on individuals that use rail instead of wire to form the overhead.  Small rail like code 70 or smaller would be more ridged than wire and easier to construct.  While it is not perfect this may be a viable option to consider.  Photos I have seen of this method looked acceptable to me.  With rail you do not have to worry about having tension on the wire overhead to keep it from flexing.   This is something I have been pondering for my electric locomotives!

[needmoretrains]

Over the years, I've collected a number of electric engines, my favorite being the venerable GG1.  I'd like to construct an operating catenary.  They seem hopelessly complicated and the readymade products (like MTH) impossibly expensive.  My layout contains 3 separate loops, two of which I'd like to have under wire.  My layout is 10' x 30'.   Any thoughts as to how to  best proceed?