PVRR Catenary Project
The Patcong Valley Catenary Project is made possible by our friends at Model Memories. 
Model Memories Catenary can be purchased by following this link: 
 

We began by measuring out the first span of wires per the directions that were provided to us by the manufacturer. It is important to ensure you start with the proper spacing and maintain that spacing through the whole project.

Once the proper distance was established between the poles, their height was adjusted to ensure proper spacing between the catenary wiring and the pantographs that will be operating under neath it.

Multiple locomotive styles were tested to ensure the spacing was accurate and that the pantographs would remain under the wire as they traversed the curves on the layout.

Here we see a GG1 being positioned under the wire. The GG1 has a different wheel base than most model engines and because of this, the model proves to be the most difficult to keep under the wire in curves.

The first 5 catenary poles in this order are installed and the wire will be finished during the next work session. Eventually the catenary will be airbrushed to match the real life prototype.

Here is an example of the current day railroad and how the PRR combined signal towers with their catenary. This is the look we hope to achieve here on the club layout for our visitors to enjoy

A Pennsylvania Railroad P5 sits under the catenary while we double check the height of the wire. We have several different engine types that members run and we want to make sure that they all work.

Construction crews are seen hard at work installing one of the new catenary poles. We thought it was a good idea to include a construction scene so visitors can see that the project is under construction.

We test fit a power substation on the layout to check to see if it would fit in this area. Electric trains can not run without electricity and this substation will help provide the power to the wire.

Shown here is the completed catenary construction scene. Our master modelers weathered the crane and reinstalled it into the scene. Only thing missing is the animatronic welder that is still on order.

Shown here is the completed catenary construction scene. Our master modelers weathered the crane and reinstalled it into the scene. Only thing missing is the animatronic welder that is still on order.

Here is a completed section of catenary. We had to measure the curvature of the track and the tracking of the pantographs to ensure the wire would remain above the equipment through the curve.

Here we see Buzz double checking the wire curvature with the GG1. We set the wire to the GG1 since it has the widest wheel base and thus the widest "swing" through the curves.

This next section coming up is going to prove to be a challenged for the catenary team. Both diverging routes will need to be wired which will allow for a pretty cool catenary setup.

One of our members had 24 single track poles at home and brought them in for us to use. We were able to get a jump start on the yard lead out of Kip Junction. 

These single track poles will allow us to electrify the yard lead so that our electric locomotive powered trains can access the yard under wire. 

The single track poles continue down the yard ladder which will get the engines down to the switch they need to enter the engine servicing terminal pictured to the right of the photo

This shows the bottom of the yard ladder. Electric engines will take the switch at the bottom of the photo and then change directions into the engine service terminal.

Work continues with the installation of additional catenary. Our team has started wiring up the interlocking leading into the 3 track section of the mainline. Wiring this are proves to be tricky.

As you can see, both the mainline and diverging routes need to be wired. This requires us to ensure the wire is placed directly above the rail so that the pantographs stay under the wire when switching.

Here we see a quick shot of the wire train one of our members is putting together. Wire trains were employed by the railroad to assist crews in the install of the catenary along the mainline.

Details have been added to include signal wire along the route the catenary takes. These wires would allow the dispatcher to change the signal aspects along the railroad at the many interlockings they controlled. 

Here we see a photo of some test painting we did to see if we could use brush on acrylic paint to paint the catenary. Sadly this process did not work so we will need to airbrush the paint onto the structures

Here is a side view of what the catenary structure looks like at eye level from the visitor's isle. This shows the many details within the catenary structure. Notice all of the different solder joints!

Here we see the wire maintenance crew checking the tension and wire height in the new catenary instillation. The PRR used this custom elevating structure to get crews at the wire level to make repairs

Here we see the scrap metal car and the tunnel clearance car at the end of the M.O.W consist. The scrap metal car is collecting spare wire from the project to be shipped back to the stagging area.

The catenary team was hard at work starting the installation project for the yard engine maintenance facility. You can see here some of the tools they use in the instillation process.

Once all of the catenary poles are installed, the catenary team then begins the process of hand soldering all of the wire up. There are over 1000 different solder joints in this section alone!

Here is a finished view of the engine service facility lead that will allow engines to run down the yard ladder and then reverse into the servicing facility. The lead can hold up to three engines at a time.

Here is a view of the completed engine servicing facility complete with blue flag protection. You can see some engines have already made their way into the service and sand bays.

When dealing with curves coming off a switch, it is sometimes required that custom made sections of wire be built to ensure the pantograph stays under the wire as it swings through the curves in the track.

This is a section of wire that will allow engines to make their way to the engine servicing terminal. Eventually two tracks in the yard will be wired to allow engines to run around their trains.

Here we see the yard lead finally receiving its wire. Now that this section of track is wired, both light engines and trains can make their way into the yard facilities for servicing.

The next section of the catenary project takes us to one of the largest bridges on the layout. This bridge is made entirely of wood and had to be re-decked and re-tracked to allow the installation of catenary poles

Here we have the catenary poles being installed on the newly repaired bridge deck. These poles are 3D printed plastic which was needed because the bridge deck is made completely out of wood.

With the cat poles successfully installed, temporary brass wire was run through the insulators which will eventually have the catenary wire hung from it. The catenary team must first decide which way to proceed

You cant have overhead catenary without a power source to run the trains with. Here we have a picture of the rough fitting of the new substation. This detail will get ground cover and include a power generator

Here we have the completed ground cover for the substation area. Off to the side is the temporary generator building. Power will be generated using a coal powered steam generator.

We did not have any way for workers to access the new substation so our scenery team built a road through the yard using cinders. This also allows crews access to the switch tower as well!

We needed to add some filler into the area around the substation to smooth out the scenery and hide the gap between the existing layout and the retaining wall. We used wall plaster for this.

Once the wall plaster dries, we can begin to place ground cover to blend the scenery and hide the leveling compound. From here some bushes and additional blending will be completed.

Here we have a rough fit of our generation plant that will provide the electrical source for the catenary power. Inside the plant you will be able to see the turbine and boiler. This plant will be coal fired.

Buzz and John as part of the scenery committee look down upon the new substation and power plant and discuss the placement of some additional detail items. Buzz inspects the lighting installed in the scene.

The underground utility lines from inside the plant are shown running through conduit up to the newly installed pole where the lines are tied into the step up transformer before being sent out to the track area.

The generator within the plant is also responsible for powering the interior of the building. Here we show the mechanics required to step down the power off of the generator for use inside the building.