Going to build a small, 55" by 33" portable traction layout. Need to know how far apart to put the line poles for the overhead? Picked up a somewhat generic Suydam Niles powered coach that will be repowered(probably a NWSL Stanton drive unit so its nearly silent when running). Planning to use Suydam line poles, and just some generic rural Indiana scenery that might have been seen in my area of the state in the 1920's while riding in the coach. Lots of abandon right of ways in my area, even within walking distance of my house. If someone knows of a way to get the old spring belt drive to run real quiet, please post that up as well as I do have several can motors that could replace the open frame noise maker. Thanks Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
Somewhere I managed to pick up a book on the original Indiana Railroad. I'll dig around a bit and see if it has any info.
Are you planning on using live overhead wire or will it just be for show?
The distance between trolley masts depend on the type of catenary employed and the radius of curves. North American traction lines typically had a rather simple catenary with trolley poles as a pick-up instead of pantographs, as mainly used in Europe (and today´s new streetcar lines in the US).
As a rule of thumb, the distance between catenary masts must be set in such a way, that the wire rekains as close to the middle of the track as possible.
More information to be found here!
Looking at Google Maps, Iowa Traction has poles about 150 feet apart
emdmike Picked up a somewhat generic Suydam Niles powered coach... ...just some generic rural Indiana scenery that might have been seen in my area of the state in the 1920's while riding in the coach.
Picked up a somewhat generic Suydam Niles powered coach...
...just some generic rural Indiana scenery that might have been seen in my area of the state in the 1920's while riding in the coach.
These cars ran on the Oregon Electric Railway. Which is a long way from Indiana. But there's lots of information on the OE, including photos featuring the line poles. And their spacing.
Here, for example, is a photo that might help with pole spacing:
And, here's something that might cause you to consider modeling the actual OE:
Ed
Prototype pole spacing won´t help you much, as you will have to consider the radius of your curves, which aren´t prototypical.
The following diagram will help you to understand the issue of spanning the wire on a layout.
The tighter the radius is, the shorter the distance between poles.
Thanks guys, the coach is Suydams model 1907, which according to thier catalog is a generic version and not a SN model. It was adertised as a Niles coach but according to someone that spoke to Ed Suydam, it also took cues from Jewett and other brands of prototype cars that operated outside of the west coast. This is why I jumped and bought it. Would love to find the 1907t non powered trailer. I am debating buying a 57 foot Niles powered coach as well but not sure. Probably should wait and get this car running well first. In my memoriblia collection, I have 2 traction items. A green and clear "Mickey Mouse" insulator that was used to carry the transmission line that fed the trolley line itself. Named by the way it looks with its big "ears" that cradled the thick power cable. His grandfather had worked for one of the smaller Indiana interurban lines and he got them when they took everything down and closed up. A Stanton is the way I plan to go. Was told the 7 foot wheelbase with 36" wheels is what I need. Mike the Aspie
Here is the car. From the other pics from the auction, looks to be a later run as she has nickle silver wheel sets on both trucks where most other Suydam's have brass wheels. I do want to put up powered overhead eventually, but at the beginning I will run them without on my 4x7 layout while fine tuning the drives in the cars. If the layout I have now was built with a plywood under structure, I could put the poles up on it. But its just pink foam and ceiling tile(not built by me). So the poles have nothing to really anchor into that is solid. I could fake it on this layout, but working overhead will have to go on my little portable layout.
Mike the Aspie
Here's a link to a page in a Suydam catalog:
http://hoseeker.net/suydam/suydamcatalog1961pg07.jpg
It surely looks like it is saying the Suydam "Niles" cars are based on OE prototypes.
The phrase: "With the release of these O. E. models,..." is of particular interest.
I am just going by what someone who spoke with Ed Suydam stated. If I remember right, OE didnt have powered 62' Niles cars, only trailers or sleds. Most of the later Niles cars are OE prototypes, but supposably the 1907 and 1907t powered and trailer are more generic
The links to info on HOseeker never work, as I've tried many times. You have to go there and look yourself.
But anyway, I have a traction road down the street from me.
https://www.easttroyrr.org/
Their poles don't stradle the track, and hang from a wood pole on one side. Maybe some of the pictures from their web site will help. They seem to be closer together than power poles. I think the spacing should be what looks good, AND supports the wire the way it needs to be.
Ulrich's drawing and info is great.
Mike.
My You Tube
http://www.trolleyville.com/tv/school/catenary_construction/index.shtml
Guideline for modeling Less than 100' on straight track.
Lots of information at
http://www.trolleyville.com/trolleyville.shtml
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.