Anyone model trolley car lines?

[Anonymous]

I have just enough room in the center of my layout for a trolley car line. I'd like to hear from modelers who have modeled trolleys and whether or not yours is electrified or not. If electrified, were the results worth it? I've heard that powered catenary lines can be a chore and usually only the most experienced modelers model them.

[BR60103]

SuperChief, only the inexperienced are foolish enough to model working overhead. [:D][:D]
Seriously, I built a traction layout (2'x4') about 30 years ago with operating OH using trolley poles. With a bit of care it works quite well. The only problem I had was when I cleaned out my dealer's stock of crudely cast trolley pole parts. When I found some well made imported brass ones, it made all the difference.
The last railway show I went to had 3 trolley layouts -- 2 O gauge and one HO.
Simple trolley is easy to do; high powerd catenary can be a [xx(]

[Jetrock]

My layout is going to be a trolley layout--it isn't currently (I'm modeling the diesels that replaced the electrics right now) but will include them Real Soon Now. I'm also going to model a strictly-trolley section to represent Sacramento's Pacific Gas & Electric trolley line.

I've heard mixed reports about running trolley wire. It does require a little more care than traditional two-rail, but it isn't super hard and since trolley layouts tend to be small it isn't all that much of a chore. I can see, say, a basement-filling model of the Key System or Pacific Electric being a little too much work, though.

Personally, I'm going to run both--on my freight line I'll hang non-functional trolley wire over two-rail, since the era I will model included both diesels and electrics running over the same tracks, while the city trolley line will feature powered overhead.

There are advantages to running via trolley wire--such as being able to use Richard Orr single-point turnouts (trolleys used special tight-radius turnouts with a single point, instead of traditional two-point railroad turnouts) and not having to worry about wiring reverse loops and wyes.

I highly recommend Kalmbach's (long out-of-print) Traction Handbook--it includes a ton of good information for the traction modeler, including layout plans and photos, plans for trolley and interurban motive power plus an article on scratchbuilding interurbans and trolleys, street trackage, and how to hang trolley wire. Perhaps with the increase in interest in traction modeling, Kalmbach will bring it back into print...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BR60103

SuperChief, only the inexperienced are foolish enough to model working overhead. [:D][:D]
Seriously, I built a traction layout (2'x4') about 30 years ago with operating OH using trolley poles. With a bit of care it works quite well. The only problem I had was when I cleaned out my dealer's stock of crudely cast trolley pole parts. When I found some well made imported brass ones, it made all the difference.
The last railway show I went to had 3 trolley layouts -- 2 O gauge and one HO.
Simple trolley is easy to do; high powerd catenary can be a [xx(]

[:0]Trust me--I don't want to be one of those foolish enough to even contemplate modeling overhead lines! My skills are improving s-l-o-w-l-y with every little facet of modeling as it is. But thanks for the feedback. I really do want a small trolley line and will settle for conventional (current provided through the tracks only) powered trolleys as a compromise. I think this will be add additional interest to the layout as it progresses.[8D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock

I highly recommend Kalmbach's (long out-of-print) Traction Handbook--it includes a ton of good information for the traction modeler, including layout plans and photos, plans for trolley and interurban motive power plus an article on scratchbuilding interurbans and trolleys, street trackage, and how to hang trolley wire. Perhaps with the increase in interest in traction modeling, Kalmbach will bring it back into print...

Thanks for the feedback Jetrock. I'm hoping to locate a copy of the Traction Handbook you described, perhaps at a train show. My LHS is aware of my interest and the owner has promised to make a few calls to folks he knows who may have a ratty copy or two.

[Anonymous]

If you are interested in live overhead, go to www.the-gauge.com and look for work by "interurben". He runs live overhead, and it is simpler than you may think. For example, it makes reversing loops dead easy, as you don't end up with a short when the track comes back on itself.

Chris (Interurben) has a great layout that I have had the fortune of seeing in person. He scratch-builds or bashes a lot of his equipment, and I think would certainly be willing to answer any questions you might have about live overhead if you can't find the answer among his many posts.

Andrew

[BR60103]

I hope my comment doesn't discourage anyone from operating overhead, If you can solder, you can hang overhead.If you can'r solder, Bowser makes (used to make?) an overhead system that just bent together.
Do you want poles or pantographs? The pantograph overhead is a bit simpler because you don't need frogs.

[Anonymous]

Andrew,

I scratchbuilt some catenary in an old trolley style on my last layout. It is not for the faint of heart, but it wasn't that difficult. I got frustrated soldering tiny bridle wires on a curve.

In the end it turned out great. The poles and wires looked cool and it was powered as well. I used my setup with pantographs, which simplified things tremendously.

I was inspired by seeing a live demonstration of wire hanging by George Huckaby at Customtraxx (they have a web site). They have a great pamphlet on constructing trolley lines. O' Toole Lines carries wire and all kinds of cool traction parts. Have Fun.

Guy Cantwell

[Jetrock]

I met George at the last train show and I too was inspired by his knowledge of trolleystuff, including suggestions on how to allow two-rail and trolley trains to live together while still powering the trolleys via the wire!