I follow Japanese hobby practice. The support bridges, single-track support poles, rotary converter house, tensioners and main power cables are modeled. The catenary itself is virtual, thereby eliminating a spiderweb of potential problems from the air space over a puzzle palace of double slip switches.
I don't know what wire size would be appropriate for PRR 25,000VAC catenary contact wire. JNR standard contact wire is about #30 in HOj (1:80) scale - way too small to power one of my juice motors with two vertical open-frame traction motors. OTOH, #22 contact wire would look something like hoist cable - visually unacceptable. At any distance much over 100 feet the prototype overhead wires seem to disappear.
If you do install contact wire, remember that it isn't simply centered over the track. It shifts from side to side, to spread the wear on the pantograph shoes.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with 1500VDC catenary)
Model Memories offers HO-scale catenaries following American practice:http://www.modelmemories.com/hocat.htm
Regards, Volker
There are several, mostly European brands of catenary systems available.
The most comprehensive one (and also the most difficult one to install) is Sommerfeldt/Germany, followed by Viessmann, which is a little less complicated. With both systems, you can built a working carenary system on your layout, which works fine with DC, but not with DCC.
Last, but not least, there is Dapol/UK. Dapol´s system is designed for OO scale, ´which is slightyl larger than HO scale, but that should not be an issue. US prototype catenary has a larger vertical clearance than continental European catenary, so Dapol is also a viable choice!
Dapol catenary is available directly from Dapol and other UK dealers.
A lot closer to the US style catenary are trhe products from Model Memories Products. I cannot comment on how difficult it is to install.
I'd like to install some overhead cantanery and need some help. Are there sources for the supports, wire and connectors? I've found information on a lot of people who have scratch built beautiful systems, but I am looking for something closer to ready to run with a Pennsylvania Railroad style to it in HO. Ideas? Also, I don't think I want to power the wire. It would just be for appearances. Thanks!
Lefty