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KB2VXA > INFO 16.07.02 02:40l 41 Lines 1602 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 51619_WT3V
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: More cats 'n aries
Path: DB0FHN<DB0ZWI<DB0CHZ<OK0PKL<OK0PPL<OK0NAG<9A0BBS<VK6BBS<VK3AVE<WB0TAX<
N7FSP<KB6LE<KB6LE<W7IJ<WA1URA<N7QDN<K1UOL<K1UOL<WA2PNU<KC2COJ<WT3V
Sent: 020713/0434Z @:WT3V.#JS.NJ.USA.NOAM #:51619 [Lakehurst] $:51619_WT3V
From: KB2VXA@WT3V.#JS.NJ.USA.NOAM
To : INFO@WW
Hello electric rail fans,
Pardon my play on words in the subject line, cats 'n canaries came to
mind.
Perhaps "caNtenaries" is the proper word, but in common US railrad terms,
we call them catenaries, or simply cats. The term comes from it's being a
form of caneleveric support structure. For better explanation, ask a
civil engineer specializing in bridge design. Sorry, I don't know any and
railroaders seem to have cats on the brain. (;->)
The 'cats" actually are the supporting cables, the ones that droop
between the supporting insulators. The straight cable which is the actual
current carrying conductor is supported under the cat by suspensor
cables, simply called the suspensors. Directly under it connected by a
series of clamps is the trolley to which the pantograph makes physical
contact. That's the typical US design, others may vary somewhat.
The supporting towers are called catenary or cat poles, and they are
connected across the tracks by the "bridge".
I'm still wondering why they're called cat poles, makes more sense they
should be called canary poles. The canaries are perched at a safe
distance and the cats find those steel poles impossible to climb.
Oh, I forgot being half asleep, the afore mentioned current carrying
conductor is called the runner. No jokes on this one, you think I'm
bonkers enough already. (;->)
*********************************
I'm a technician, not a magician!
*********************************
73 de Warren, KB2VXA
e-mail: kb2vxa@juno.com
Message timed: 04:31 on 13 Jul 02 UTC
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