Good job on the trolley poles! There are “subtle tips” in your post including the “pull-offs” for potential feeders. In fact, I spotted quite a few subtle tips that are worth thread re-reading to glean for future use. Rix crossbucks are also a nice touch!
I’m hoping to be at the “pole stage” about a year from now for the (n scale) CR&T, and; convinced reliable pole template/jigs are crucial for consistency. I’m looking at poles similar to your poles for the CR&T trackage, and; am still mulling over template/jigs for the Pennsy traction poles trackage to run the GG1.
Like most Japanese-prototype modelers who model traction, I, too, have settled for `virtual’ catenary - especially since:
Much of my catenary country is hidden track.
The worst puzzle palace of multiple slip switches etc. is (supposed to be) under wire.
In my case, the catenary is JNR standard 1500VDC, which means that multiple tracks are spanned by triangular cross-section steel trusses. Poles are (for the most part) concrete, and also carry communications and higher-voltage AC transmission lines. The crossarms are present, but you will search in vain for the actual wires.
I don’t know if the SN used line tensioners. I’m sure they DID use substations with rotary converters. Adding those details will give your overhead a bit more authenticity.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - partially under virtual catenary)
I don’t think they used line tensioners, but some parts of the main line used catenary overhead and other portions used exposed third rail. The parts I am modeling were almost all simple trolley overhead, although I may include some former “third rail” country. By 1946 it went out of service due to a state law about exposed third-rail, the tragic result of a child in Rio Linda, CA who was killed by touching the unprotected high-voltage rail, but a lot of the third-rail infrastructure was left in place for years afterward, especially on trestles and bridges.
Substations are part of my future modeling plans: both a portable substation built on an old boxcar, and (for a section of layout not yet built) a poured concrete substation building on an agricultural branch. Both still exist so I can get a bit more precise about things. The Western Railway Museum still operates SN equipment following prototype practice, and has construction records from the original railroad, so I have the definitive source for how the line I’m modeling did things!
Very nice to see this posting on your layout’s development. I think the Sacramento & Northern is most modelgenic. I’m starting my own traction odyssey too, though no where near as far along as you are, therefore I look forward to seeing you progress your project. Well done. Lovely wok.
Actually I have been working on it, just haven’t bothered posting much about it! Some work is in progress now, but the photos below are from last November (November and December are my traditional “model railroading” months) of the second section of line poles, and a few buildings completed and underway.
This module, known as “17th & D” (the name of the freight depot/yard) is a 6x3 foot L-shaped module with three industry spurs serving four industries (two one-car industries on one spur, two larger industries with 2 and 3 car capacities), a runaround track and the aforementioned yard, three tracks with a capacity of 8 cars, generally used for locomotive storage as it is due south of Haggin Yard which has a capacity of about 60 cars. I used the methods detailed upthread to create poles for this module, and another, but need to take pictures.
Thanks! Here are a couple more recent photos showing the 17th & D section and the Alhambra Boulevard/Libby McNeil Libby cannery:
And the Front Street yard, still without poles but with ballast and ground scenery.
Downtown Sacramento’s streets were raised in the 1860s/70s to prevent floods using brick walls that enclosed the streets. When a building burned down, as this box factory did in the 1920s, it left the hidden “underground sidewalks” visible from the alley, where this freight yard is located.
The yard is down at the original street level but M Street raises to meet the levee and the Tower Bridge. This fence keeps pedestrians from plummeting onto the tracks:
Really great Modeling. I had forgotten about this thread. Your trolley poles, look like my street lights, made about the same way, with 1/8th brass rod and incandesants/brass lamp shades.
