Pantograph Overhead --- Gleanings from *Trolley Fare* "Pittsburgh Points" by Edward H. Lybarger and Lawrence. G. Lovejoy

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	Gleanings  from  *Trolley  Fare*  "Pittsburgh  Points"
	by  Edward  H.  Lybarger  and  Lawrence.  G.  Lovejoy
			March--April--1979

	"The overhead wire for the new system will be designed to permit
pantograph operation only.  In this fashion the overhead can be much
simpler than that which would be required for a combination pantograph
and trolley pole operation.  In order to permit continued operation of
the PCC cars after the LRT system is completed as well as to facilitate
construction, it is planned to 'retrofit' the PCC cars with a pantograph
over the front truck.  Coupled with this will be a modification program
on the existing overhead trolley wire to permit operation by either a
pantograph or a pole.  Once this modification program is completed, the
use of trolley poles can be discontinued and construction of LRT will be
able to proceed without service delays at construction contract
boundaries.  The pantographs to be placed on the PCC cars will be later
salvaged for further use on future LRVs.  The overall cost of this work
will be substantially less than construction of a pantograph and pole
overhead systeml  Modification work could begin this summer."

James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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