Trolley wire installation

hankmorris · **Posted:** Sat Nov 02, 2002 2:34 pm

What is the typical height above the rails for a trolley wire to be suspended?

hankmorris@earthlink.net

Nathan Harper · **Posted:** Sat Nov 02, 2002 11:24 pm

> What is the typical height above the rails
> for a trolley wire to be suspended?

A practical height seems to be 17 to 22 feet. You want to be sure that a semi-truck at a grade crossing doesn't rip it down. If you have any area with garbage trucks running, 24 feet might be necessary. You might need longer trolley poles in those applications.

nwstaybolt@reachone.com

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Tue Nov 05, 2002 12:53 am

> A practical height seems to be 17 to 22
> feet. You want to be sure that a semi-truck
> at a grade crossing doesn't rip it down. If
> you have any area with garbage trucks
> running, 24 feet might be necessary. You
> might need longer trolley poles in those
> applications.

The California Railroad Commission in its standards for overhead electrical consturction (railway and power transmission) required 17 feet for streetcars and 22 feet where standard railroad cars would be hauled. This is from a 1941 publication.

Brian Norden

bnorden49@earthlink.net