Catenary construction tips?

[Anonymous]

Its not my work, so I couldn't explain any construction tips, but I recently came across some photos while looking up N Gauge B-Train Shorties. Scroll down the page a bit to get to the Shorty photos, click on the photos for a larger image of Japanese style catenary in action with DCC:
http://hobbyworld.aoshima-bk.co.jp/hobbyworld/egallery/

Cheers,
Maureen

[tatans]

Catenary systems have intrigued me, I admire anyone attempting a gigantic project such as this , does anyone out that has a catenary layout have photos of their set up ? I see very few, if any photos, please post a few photos of your layout, thanks.

[CNJ831]

First of all, do youself an enormous favor and purchase a hardcopy reference on the subject of traction modeling and don't rely strictly on on-line sources you might find. At the moment eBay has listed at least two copies of RMC's Traction Planbook for Modelers. It's a tried and true reference, even if not absolutely up to date. I'd also strongly recommend obtaining copies of the three MR articles on building modest traction layouts that have appeared oven the last ten or fifteen years or so. While there is a certain amount of difference between heavy electric mainline operation and simple one-track traction (trolleys), the basics of the complex wiring necessary are still at least similar.

I anticipated that the biggest stumbling block you might encounter is if you plan to model something like the PRR's or NH's multi-track mainline, as it is difficult to obtain American-looking mainline catenary assemblies. Model Memories has NH and I think PRR catenary but modeling any real length of mainline will prove a very expensive deal indeed. The cheaper European catenary systems are very different looking from most U.S. versions.

There also was/is a quarterly magazine on traction modeling, as well as an NMRA Traction Special Interest Group, that may prove helpful.

CNJ831

[ndbprr]

The hardest part of catenary is starting. That being said there is a lot to putting up cat and how detailed you want to be. Real Cat has a top wire that has a sag in it (due to gravity), a second wire hung perfectly horizintal and a third wire for contact below that. The best material is Phosphorous bronze wire available at most wire suppliers. When I bought mine 20 years ago I asked the wire house for 400' and they told me it would be $20.00 (minimum order). So while waiting for it it dawned on me to ask ho much it cost per pound and they said something like $2.00 so I changed the order to ten pounds. I still have about seven miles of wire left! Walthers chrages an arm an legh for 50'. Real wire is about 3/4" in diameter which is about .008". As I recall mine is about .015" and is more rugged. I made cat poiles from plastruct shapes and drilled holes directly over the center line of the track I made brackets shaped like a [ from larger phos bronze wire to isolate sections and pulled the top wire straight. You will also need to use some poles made of brass on the outside of curves to hold the cat over the centerline. I then used the little minature 1/4" staples as standoffs between the top and bottom wire. That gave me a large surface to solder to at both top and bottom. Other than time it wasn't hard once I started. I had very little repair to the wire over about a ten year period. Just be sure to leave an area without cat like a siding where you can put trains on the track. Derailments under catenary require a little more finesse to clean up but you soon learn the tricks.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any useful tips or hints on how to construct catenaries in HO scale?
E.g., what gauge/diameter of wire to use, what type of wire to use (stainless steel, copper, etc?)
What height should the pick-up wire be above the rails, etc . . .
Anything you can think of - including useful links - would be most gratefully accepted!
I am planning a room sized layout which will have the main lines 'electrified' by an overhead catenary system. It is not expected to be a live pick-up system as I understand that any breaks in power (almost inevitable with overhead pick-up) are anethema for DCC operation - would I be correct in assuming that?