Hi Everyone-- Here's a suggestion for creating your own catenary system for providing power to your O-gauge trolleys and interurbans...
First, hang the messenger wire supported by various brackets or span wires along the right-of-way.
When everything is in order, hang the actual contact wire below the messenger wire, using ordinary wire staples to keep the spacing even. The staples are carefully soldered to the messenger wire and then to the top surface of the contact wire. YES, it takes time, but it looks great! I use "bronze" staples, either 3/8 or 1/2-inch in length. You can solder the bronze staple a lot easier than steel. For the wire itself, I use 24-gauge phosphor bronze or nickel silver ! 30 or 32-gauge magnet wire is used for "pull-offs" ...
The wire should be hung at a scale 22-feet over the track centerline; 20-feet for city cars and trolleys.
If any of you oldtimers have any old spools of phosphor bronze "fishing cable" manufactured by the Hackensack Cable Company in Hackensack, NJ, you can use that as well. The wire is "braided" but hangs more realistically ! Questions ? Don't hesitate to ask!
Cheers.
KRK
