Hi,

I have a small 4' module that I'd like to make into a Reading Company module, Electrified.

I have enough wire and brass structural shapes that I think I can pull it off relatively quickly, and I have built PRR prototype catenary before.


Since the Reading's Philadelphia electrification is rarely modeled, I figured that small module is a good start (I also have 6 Green cars and 2 Silverliner IVs to place under that wire).


Does anyone have access to the scale drawings for the average Reading Catenary structure? I imagine its not that different from the PRR, but I'd rather be spot on than operate on assumptions!

There are several types of catenary supports that were originally used by the reading. Many structures on the 9th St. Viaduct, had trusses for the top member. Other spots, they were simply I or H beams, welded together. The Doylestown Branch, might have used poles similar to the Milwaukee Road.

Check out the various Morning Sun Reading books, particularly Reading In Color, Volumes, I & II. They both have plenty of photos. There was also a soft covered book, with a yellow cover, published in the 1980's entitled something like 'Reading Electrification,' with a color shot of a green MU on the cover. It featured schematics of the power distribution system, and a number of photos along the electrified lines. I can't put my hands on my copy right now, otherwise I'd provide more details.

Hope this helps some.

I have the latter book, "Electric Trains to Reading Terminal". It has a nice diagram, but not much in the way of dimensions and measurements. They might be burried in the text some place, but i'll have to keep digging.


I'd just like to know the average pole heights, the thicknesses of the different components, the distances between the outer most track centers and the poles, height between the cross braces and the trolley wire, as well as height from the transmission lines to the cross brace.

Does anyone have immediate access to the yellow Anthracite T&HS book of Reading MOW standards. That MIGHT have what G.E.C. is looking for. Mine is still packed away, but I can get to it on Thursday if need be.
Another source to a degree might be the Philadelphia Division Employee Timetable. I recall seeing diagrams in there, but I don't think it had dimensions, however one could closely estimate the dimensions by scaling out the diagram. Though it is possibly the same drawing as in "Electric Trains to Rdg Term." book

Otherwise a query to RCT&HS might lure someone with nothing to do into doing the research in the MP&RE drawing collection. Or join and spend some library time... not sure how that works....

Rob

I have the ARHS plan book in front of me. Sorry, nothing on catenary.

Tom

well we tried