Source for Power/phone Poles,scale Transformers

weaver models sells poles.

www.weavermodels.com

Thanks Pete, I'll check it out.

While Lionel has some rather low-end poles I don't think are very scale (6-22360, 6-62181), they had three sets of very good poles in the 2011 Signature catalog: about a half dozen poles each set.  The set 6-37939 has overhead service transformers attached, whereas 6-37851 does not, and 6-37995 has attached street lights on the poles that have actual tiny lights in them.  The poles are configured more like telephone poles rather than power poles (multiple crossarms, many insulators per crossarm), if you know and care about the difference - but a few seconds with snippers and a file takes care of that. 

Hey Dewey,

Hope things are well with you.  We need to coordinate your next visit to the "Choo-Choo." I have been looking forward to meeting you there sometime.

Now the three newer Lionel "telephone" poles sets are in fact ideal "utility" (power&phone) poles.  The only two drawbacks are the molded on concrete base and plastic brown finish.  The base can be carefully cut away.  And I intend to do a black India ink wash to give them a blacker (more creosote)look as I recall from back in the day.

I say ideal because first off you see that insulator at the top of the pole itself, that is for the "Static Wire."  A vary power thing.  This is the first time I have seen that modeled.  Now the ORDER of run power lines is the highest set (if present) "Transmission" wires under them "Primary" wires and then under them the "Secondary" wires (that services are tapped off of.)  It is true that the cross bucks only need/should have only four insulators for the four wires carrying 3-phase power.  And the telephones wire ran a safe distance lower/under the Secondary power wires.  These phone wires were a bundle of wires attached to the pole itself(not necessarily on cross bucks), in fact the lowest set of wires.

I intend to nip off the extra insulators (theone between the inter and outer most.)  The top cross buck will carry the "Primary" lines and second/lower cross buck "Secondary"(service) lines.  Then attach a heavier looking telephone wire bundle to the poles lower then the lowest cross buck.

But now If you are looking to emulate railroad signaling poles and lines that run the RR right-of way, then it is the Weaver product you need.  As I recall they are in kits and built-up form.  They have cross bucks with 10 insulators five on each side of the pole as prototype.

I saw the Lionel poles at Charles Ro and thought they looked terrific. 

You can always make your own for pennies by using wood dowels and craft store beads. That's what I did.

Thanks for the Lionel/Weaver pole tip guys.

I Haven't been to Lil Choo Choo in quite awhile Ron.

Working on that project now Jumijo, twin poles connected for a 3-phase transformer base/platform where  power exits my Textile Mill's Powerhouse. 

Hi Dewey, I know ths is one of those Gee-Wizz ( not to be confused with Germanium and Cheese Wiz) Mario ideas that are still waiting to be tried, but here goes.

Take a small wooden thread spindle, cut cardboard  strips to be glued on the sides as heat veins, then take a couple of shirt pins with the round heads on them and pass said pins through the center of four or five collar snaps pointed up, paint silver and hang on Lionel pole.

Good luck.

Yep, Mario when I go "retail" on the Town grid with single phase but in this case I am coming out of a generating plant with 3-phase for operating a nearby Denim Mill. will have some photos in a day or so.

I have a bunch of spools from Michaels Craft Store which I got with your suggestion in mind. Meantime I need to order some poles and make some if time allows.