Not sure what happened to my original post,
but I was trying to find some info on PRR catenary poles. I don’t want to run my engines off the overhead but was planning to make simple system with HO scale rail as an overhead wire so it gives the appearance of catenary. I was wondering if anyone 3D printed the poles or if there’s a commercially available alternative that won’t break the bank.
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@Christopher2035 Your words:
"I was wondering if anyone 3D printed the poles or if there’s a commercially available alternative that won’t break the bank."
Sounds like a Want to Buy, which is probably why it was deleted. Guess how I know.
It’s not a wanted to buy post. I’m just looking to see if anyone knows or any ideas of what would be an easy way to scratch build them. I’m not wanting to buy them now as I don’t even have my bench work up yet. Just seeing what options are out there. I am surprised nobody has tried to do a 3D printing of them considering the popularity of the GG1
Thanks I am curious as well. Would like to add catenary but also not exactly sure I want to electrify it.
My new layout is going to be PRR focused so that means GG1s. I can’t have the pantograph just reaching towards the sky without anything. I guess worst case, I can try to scratch build something
I was seriously considering doing the same thing you are doing. I was looking into scratch building the poles using plastic "H" girders and "I" beams. I would have also had to make my own insulators using beads from a craft store. This solution was quite laborious and not cheap. I abandoned the idea because the track that I was going to make to appear to be electrified ran through a 12' long tunnel that was originally built with too low a ceiling, and the tunnel is under the middle level of our permanent layout and cannot be raised.
However, I did a google search for PRR O Scale catenary poles that led to the hyperlink below.
They list the PRR "K" cross member catenary bridge poles with prices but, after reading the text that goes with the product, it seems that they do, in fact, no longer sell the product. However, they do have rudimentary working drawings that you may be able to use if you decide to go ahead with the project. I may also be able to get you better working drawings of PRR's poles if need be.
Keep us posted on your progress.
@Randy Harrison posted:I was seriously considering doing the same thing you are doing. I was looking into scratch building the poles using plastic "H" girders and "I" beams. I would have also had to make my own insulators using beads from a craft store. This solution was quite laborious and not cheap. I abandoned the idea because the track that I was going to make to appear to be electrified ran through a 12' long tunnel that was originally built with too low a ceiling, and the tunnel is under the middle level of our permanent layout and cannot be raised.
However, I did a google search for PRR O Scale catenary poles that led to the hyperlink below.
They have the PRR "K" cross member catenary bridge poles. Keep us posted on your progress.
Thanks for the link. Those are t economical for a large layout but it gives me some ideas if I were to try and build something
I know that MTH made a catenary system for use with Realtrax (might be able to adapt to other track systems), but it is probably hard to find.
Did a quick search (curiosity) and found this: PDF on building PRR catenary If you end up going the scratch building route.
I realize these are expensive if you can find them, but this is the Railking system. It is oversized, but overall, I am pleased with it for what it is.
Maybe this is something along the line of what you might want to use.
A fellow member came to me and asked if I could build some sort of caternary by the Union Station on the CLRC layout. He didn't care if it was powered, just a static wire that looks realistic when he parks his GG1 on some of the station tracks.
I acquired 6 Marx flood light towers, removed the base and light platform. Then they were CA'd together. A wooden ball and cube from the craft store are used for the base and finial. The cross span is a wood dowel sized to one of the holes in the tower. It was shaved down in the center to make it more of a beam and less chunky. Pieces of brass wire were shaped into a "U" or "V" to hold a length of HO gauge rail that was soldered on.
The catenary rails come together over a turnout and then end at the bridge, held up by a "S" shaped wire. The other ends just terminate after a few inches into the station.
@third rail posted:Maybe this is something along the line of what you might want to use.
A fellow member came to me and asked if I could build some sort of caternary by the Union Station on the CLRC layout. He didn't care if it was powered, just a static wire that looks realistic when he parks his GG1 on some of the station tracks.
I acquired 6 Marx flood light towers, removed the base and light platform. Then they were CA'd together. A wooden ball and cube from the craft store are used for the base and finial. The cross span is a wood dowel sized to one of the holes in the tower. It was shaved down in the center to make it more of a beam and less chunky. Pieces of brass wire were shaped into a "U" or "V" to hold a length of HO gauge rail that was soldered on.
The catenary rails come together over a turnout and then end at the bridge, held up by a "S" shaped wire. The other ends just terminate after a few inches into the station.
Bill,
This is awesome! What a great idea!! Do you have anymore pics?
Did you look at simplified product from The Train Station in Mountain Lakes, NJ?
@rdg_fan posted:Did you look at simplified product from The Train Station in Mountain Lakes, NJ?
I saw they have single track poles but didn’t see anything for a double track main
https://ogrforum.com/topic/80551019517758603 Great info in this post with lots of detail about PRR Catenary, I would think making a non-functioning version using plastic or even wood stock would not be hard, if you set up jigs you could probably mass produce something pretty quickly as well. The PRR multi-track towers are pretty simple as far as structural shapes go.
New Catenary...pictures! | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum
The system I showed in your prior post, may have been why it was deleted. So I will not repost.
As you can see in the above link this is the same system I suggested without the added 3D printed parts I made.
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