Overhead

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	On page-43 of *Touring Pittsburgh by Trolley* are some interesting
details to note about the overhead.
	Right in the top center of the photo are two of the Ohio Brass Wood
Strain Insulators in the center of spans from the contact wire to a line
pole.  These have eyes in both ends.
	Also note that there are two wires coming out of either side of the
frog.  The one on this side of the frog with the insulator in it is
*probably* the end of the wire that 1442 is using.  Note that although
it is attached to the first span, it continues on to a line pole to
remove strain from this location.  The other wire is continuous up and
over the frog - this was fairly standard for PRCo.
	Also note how thick the contact wire is for several feet either side of
the frog.  PRCo put phosphor bronze casings around the regular contact
wire where wear is the greatest, a rel problem with wheels as opposed to
shoes.
	And note that just forward of the trolley pole but in the other wire is
the more angled hanger for curves as opposed the gentle arcing hanger
for curves found on page 42 in the foreground.  The latter is much more
common on PRCo.  The former could be found anywhere but was especially
common on the interurban.  The turn from Grant to Liberty had this
angled curve hanger to the end and the gauntlet overhead for two wires
along the single track on Overbrook used the dual angled hanger.
	On page 39 of the same book, note the wire construction in the top
photo.  An O-B Wood Strain Insulator with a clevis on one end is
attached directly to the hanger.  A backbone wire between hangers keeps
the hangers perpendicular to the contact wire when the spans run off to
line poles at an angle.  Page-48 shows more backbone wires as does
page-56.  And notice how smooth the curve looks top of page-71 with at
least 13-hangers for the turn!

James B. Holland
------- -- ---------
        Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
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