Has anyone here tried to power their Electric Locos through the Catenary? If so, How was the performance? I ask Because I plan to power my Acela through the Catenary and I don't want to buy it and the performance is very poor. Thanks [ 12 May 2002, 15:34: Message edited by: AcelaExpress2036 ]
I havent done this myself, but as long as the wire is set just right , the performance is just as good as regular set ups. You will have to take great care in installing the overhead, and soldering will be a must. The overhead will have to remain at the same height over its entire leingth and centered over the tracks. If I were you I would just put up a "dummy" overhead, and use the rails for power. If you decide to go with powered overhead, there may be someone on the board who will be more able to help you out........Mike
Hi there, I've worked on a UK based show layout which had lots of overhead catenary, we used a dummy wire on that as that let us have the staging yard without overhead wires for easy access to the trains. What kind of thing are you thinking of? I can see a few ways of doing this? 1. Have the overhead as a dummy (as we did), the layout gets wired as standard 2 rail, and you won't need to modify any rolling stock or loco's. 2. Use the wire as an addition to one running rail (common return) if you're using block wiring, electric trains will pick up from the wheel on one side & the wheel & pantograph on the other side. Probably wouldn't work if your layout has a return loop though. 3. "Proper" overhead working with the train picking up current only from the overhead wire & returning it through both/either running rails. You'll not be able to run any loco without a pantograph, an you'll not be able to run your trains on any other conventionally wired layout, as you'll have to rewire them. For my money I would choose the first option, for me at least model railroading is a very visual thing and the appearance of the pantograph running along the wire was good enough, after all my diesels aren't diesel either! If I had to have live wire, it would be option two, and just link the wire to a certain running rail and make sure the wiring in the trains themselves reflects this, it's more work than option 1 mind you....there might be other options I've not thought of mind! Just some thoughts, hope they were of some help. All the best!
I think powering the train through the catenary is a neat idea, but difficult to accomplish. Then you also need to consider the arguments above. Let us know what you decide and how you accomplish it. Norm
I saw a layout at an exhibition recently (UK) with dummy overhead, but with a really neat visual effect. At a couple of places they had fitted a tiny blue led just above the catenary wire (mixed in with the insulator so you could barely see it unless you got real close and looked hard). This was connected to some kind of circuit that gave a couple of very brief flashes in quick succession. In turn this was 'fired' by a reed relay under the track and all the electric locos had a magnet underneath. The result was stunningly realistic. As a diesel passed - nothing. As an electric passed there was an uncannily realistic blue flash . Almost everyone that watched for more than a minute or two noticed this and commented positively on it. Can't remember the name of the layout though .
