I'm currently involved in a few traction projects which are going to require several trolley harps in order to see them operate, and extras in our possession seem to be universally worn out and too few in numbers. Rather than installing worn equipment from the get-go, we're thinking of purchasing new trolley harps/shoes (the trolley bases + poles + retrievers we have on-hand are "gently used," but being refurbished). Note that we're looking for "fixed" harps/shoes, not the swiveling ones for trolley buses.

Can anyone point us in the right direction as to who is manufacturing/distributing these at this point in time? Clearly they are still available in North America, as there are still a few light rail operations around using trolley poles.


Thanks!

Wabtec
Passenger Transit Division
Lyman, SC

Don't have contact information handy, but that should be enough for a Google search.

Two suggestions.

1. Phoenix Mining Equipment Company has a type of wheel trolley harp that should be functional although it appears to not be patterned on the standard Holland, Nuttall or OB models most trolley systems used.
http://www.phoenixmining.net/mining_catalog_pg17.html

2. If all you need are two or three harps then send an e-mail to the ARM Parts & Consumables Committee coordinator, Rod Fishburn at: rodfishburn@earthlink.net Rod would be happy to then forward your request on to virtually all the trolley Museums in the US and Canada. One most likely would be willing to sell/trade a couple to you.

Thanks!

Caution!
Mining harps are designed to fit on a larger diameter pole than are transit harps, according to my old Ohio Brass catalogs. Check that out if you want to use the Phoenix harp.

Thanks for the info so far, folks.

For the sake of providing more to the discussion, here is a photo of the "usual suspect" we've been using on many of the cars. It is a mining hasp/shoe setup, with a steel shoe, and they've proved reliable. They do fit on transit poles. Unfortunately, they were donated (in kit form) some time ago, sans part numbers or manufacturer info, and the supply of these has now dried up (all are on cars). Look familiar to anyone?