I just completed converting my Lionel Pennsy 6-18306 power car to run on overhead catenary. I was able to run a wire through a small hole I drilled in the roof, just under the base of the pantograph. The first test run went flawlessly. I don't expect any issues from here on.
However, and here's the oddity. I have a post war ZW transformer. One throttle powers the track while the other powers the catenary. Normally I can run my GG1s and a steam or dies loco at the same time. But when I moved the track throttle forward, the commuter car slows down and it looks like there will be a short.
The commuter car has can motors, while the GG1 has Pullmor motors. The A & D terminals of the ZW power the center rail and the catenary respectively.
My layout is more of a research and development adventure with my permanent layout yet to be built. On the permanent layout I can have a completely isolated catenary powered track, so it won't make a difference at that time.
I was just wondering why the anomaly.
