Overhead diamond crossing connector

[Mohawk Valley]

A quick question…
My line will feature working overhead electric wiring (LGB). Can anyone tell me how they get over the problem of diamond crossings and overhead collection? Do members fabricate their own 4 way wires holders as I can’t see any that LGB make?

Cheers
Martin

 

[Brixham]

I just happened to be browsing an old Marklin catalogue, and saw this. A metal framed expanded diamond frame.
A large scale one would look quite good, made from whatever metal you have to hand ( brass, tinplate, even old ho nickel silver rail ), with the catenary conductor rods soldered at the bottom.
Unfortunate, there aren’t any pictures in the catalogue

Malcolm

 

[Brixham]

Found a picture, sorry it’s grainy but shows the application....on Marklin ho stud contact track.
The actual print image is probably about 3 square cm, an iPad camera is very good.
Malcolm

 

[Mohawk Valley]

Thanks Malcolm, that looks really very good. I was thinking of soldering up some LGB wire joiners, cut in half, which is another plan!

cheers

Martin

 

[SevenOfDiamonds]

Can anyone tell me how they get over the problem of diamond crossings and overhead collection? Do members fabricate their own 4 way wires holders as I can’t see any that LGB make?

Which version of LGB's catenary are you using? The earlier one (where the wires hook onto the crossbars) or the later one (that has brass clips on the crossbars, and you feed wire through those)?

On the Whiteleaf Light Railway/Tramway, we use the later version, but use Code 75 rail (upside down) rather than the wire LGB supplies (as it fits the channels perfectly, and offers greater rigidity for an exhibition layout). The brass clips (which have two channels on the lower edge) are available separately in dozens (#56204) and if pointwork can be done (either at a pole, or free-standing) by bending the wire of the curved track like this . . .


. . . I can't see why you can't have a second bent wire on the lower channel (my red addition). While the "diagonals" won't be quite in a straight line, they'll be near enough to cater for pantographs (though not trolley poles, of course).

Cheers

David

 

[Mohawk Valley]

Hi David,

Yes, I’m using the later type. I tried using Peco 0 gauge BH rail, which fits well, but I’ve now got plenty of LGB wires and clips. I like the idea you suggest, but wouldn’t this use two poles in close proximity to each other?

Cheers

Martin

 

[SevenOfDiamonds]

but wouldn’t this use two poles in close proximity to each other?

That's why I was suggesting a free-floating (one twelfth of a) 56204. No reason for the junction to be on a pole at all. If your posts are (say) 18 inches apart, you can have poles (say) 9 inches away from the junction in each of 4 directions.

Cheers

David

 

[Mohawk Valley]

Good point and it would work very well.

thanks
Martin

 

[schienenkönig]

If you can wait until the weekend, I'll take photos of it on the big Lgb layout at the museum. They have built their own.

 

[SevenOfDiamonds]

Good point and it would work very well

If you don't feel like purchasing 12 brass clips, I can probably send you an odd one.

Cheers

David

 

[Mohawk Valley]

If you can wait until the weekend, I'll take photos of it on the big LgbView attachment 312760 layout at the museum. They have built their own.

That looks great..yes please I’d like to see more.
Cheers
Martin

 

[Mohawk Valley]

If you don't feel like puirchasoing 12 brass clips, I can probably send you an odd one.

Cheers

David

No problems David, I have quite a few of them.

Cheers
Martin

 

[dunnyrail]

Another solution would be to solder some thin wire for the x at each joining bisection. The thin wire can pass over the other and the pans will happily pass over. We did this on the Ruschbahn where there was an x on the main line.

 

[idlemarvel]

See this thread post #24 for a solution I came up with.

Installing LGB catenary

The original LGB Model catenary that Polo-train speaks of was made by AZB. Champex-linen has their current full line. It's enough to make you drool! Check it out if you haven't yet. They are very nice but they're still nearly €40 for a mast and base which makes one think twice. You rarely if...

www.gscalecentral.net

 

[Mohawk Valley]

I was fortunate to be able to buy a large amount of both types of LGB posts and poles and I’ll be mixing the two where appropriate…
Purist? Not me.

Cheers
Martin

 

[Mohawk Valley]

See this thread post #24 for a solution I came up with.

Installing LGB catenary

The original LGB Model catenary that Polo-train speaks of was made by AZB. Champex-linen has their current full line. It's enough to make you drool! Check it out if you haven't yet. They are very nice but they're still nearly €40 for a mast and base which makes one think twice. You rarely if...

www.gscalecentral.net

That seems to work very well…thanks for the link.

Cheers
Martin

 

[schienenkönig]

I am in Hannover Wehmingen today with my friend, visiting the model tramway layout in G scale.
As promised, I took a few photos of the catenary points yesterday.
It was not easy, because the background was always in the focus of the camera. So I had to cover the background.
The last two pictures do not show a turnout, but electric switches that switch the turnouts.

 

[Mohawk Valley]

Brilliant, many thanks for posting.

Cheers
Martin

 

[borsig1963]

I am in Hannover Wehmingen today with my friend, visiting the model tramway layout in G scale.
As promised, I took a few photos of the catenary points yesterday.
It was not easy, because the background was always in the focus of the camera. So I had to cover the background.
The last two pictures do not show a turnout, but electric switches that switch the turnouts.

nice pics thanks a lot, just a question: are you operating with trolley pole or pantograph?

thanks, Paolo

 

[DafyddElvy]

I don't know how I missed this post, KW Trams produce what you are looking for KW2SOH1 Overhead Fittings | KW Trams