ATLAS O AEM7, POWERED BY LIVE CATENARY

PantenaryOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Good evening all:

I have been working on a robust catenary system for the last year or so. I tried to wait to post a video of its operation until the control board was finished and other details cleaned up, but I had some time tonight and decided do a test run and share it. There are 2 videos on YouTube, here facing east, and here facing west. I'll be posting construction details soon, I was just excited to share a successful test run at speed.

EPILEPSY NOTE: I mistakenly turned my shop light at 2:18 of the FACING WEST video. It's BRIGHT. If you're sensitive to flashes of light, be warned. Sorry about that, I'll clean it up when I get a chance.

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This loft area layout is a single track main with a staging track and 3-ladder yard, with an O63 ruling curve.

The overhead wire system is modeled after Amtrak's newer constant tension catenary above New Haven, CT. The wire is under enough tension to bend 3/8" threaded rod bolted to 3/4" benchwork, re-enforced by a small steel mending plate above and below it. The catenary bridges and supports are my own design, using as few poles as possible. Some poles are dual-purpose pull-off points as well as regular catenary supports. There are 5 separate catenary circuits.

The locomotive is an Atlas O AEM7 #911, controlled by the Dallee Electronics LocoMatic system. The pantograph arms are stock Atlas, a great representation of the original Faiveley DS-11 pantograph, while the head is my own work modeled after the head of a Brecknell-Willis high speed pantograph, model 29500A. The pantograph is lubricated with silver conductive grease.

This is a TEST run to observe pantograph and catenary interaction. The main control board is not done, and MTH DCS has not yet been integrated into the system. Note small arcs and even pantograph wear.

The camera is a GoPro Hero 3 mounted to a Lionel flat car. I apologize for the shakiness at times. The camera car was made in 1954. It's not the engine or anything else shaking.

Static shots of #911:

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2/17/1710:35 PM

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Number 90OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

That's an accomplishment! Congratulations. I enjoyed watching the pantograph ride on the wire, adjusting when needed.

2/17/1710:55 PM

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Former Member

That's great ! Don't you love watching the pantograph move up and down with changes in the wire height ? I've saved a couple of your photos from your build thread. The on-board camera is a nice tool for spotting any hiccups.

2/17/1711:24 PM

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PantenaryOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Thanks, guys.

Dan -- I have to be honest. I had some alone time tonight (a rare commodity these days) and the choice or activity was control board circuitry or a catenary test. I've been trying to save the test for when the controls are other pantograph experiments are complete. But life is short, and I couldn't help myself. The 911 needs some detail work, and will get a new pantograph with an updated head. But it sure was fun to watch. Following the pan is cool, but the arcing is even better. When arcs get brighter or are down the arms, that's when it's time for more grease. I burned a pan to a crisp some years ago by watching larger arcs for too long.

I also apologize for the shakiness of the video at times. The Lionel flatcar that the GoPro is mounted on was made in 1954, my grandfather's set. It's obviously not to scale and shakes at speed, but it was my small way of involving him in my layout. Thanks, Pop.