Can someone find me a picture at the point where the train switches from 3rd rail to catenary. I personally think this is one of the most; possibly the most interesting railroad line ever built on planet earth.
I have some shots but their all slides. Its not that intresting, the track is both catenary wire and thrid rail for about a mile. Where the catenary bridges end, there are yellow signs hanging where signals would that state something to the effect “Pantagraph Up.” The coolest section of catenary wire are/where; 1) the triangle wire between Cos Cob and Stanford (gone) 2) the cruved catenary bridges between Stanford and Norton Hieghts (there something like 10 in row, only placed they where used) 3) the voltage change in the Bridgeport Yard that still has the orginal signal from the New Haven, looks like an oversized PRR singal with all the lights on so it forms a circle. I got all this stuff on flim, I haven’t got any chance to change it over.
There used to be a similar arrangement in the Chicago area. At East River Road on the Skokie Swift line of the CTA, there was a similar transition between third rail and catenary overhead. There was an overlap of about 1/2 mile where the pan trolleys or pantographs were raised or lowered. The Skokie Swift has since been converted to all third rail, so this transition has vanished.
On the South Shore, Wilson siding (the Ideal Section) still has the box-girder latticework catenary supports similar to those used on the North Shore’s Skokie Valley line.