[PRCo] Re: Bent Pole

[Phillip Clark Campbell]

> ----- Original Message ----

> From: "fwschneider at comcast.net" <fwschneider at comcast.net>
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 9:09:13 AM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Bent Pole
> 
> 
> Pulling power through a dewired pole arcing along overhead will heat it and
> weaken it too ...  I remember watching one turn from black to orange when
> a motorman stupidly pulled power at Warrington and Beltzhoover while it
> was dewired and bouncing through the special work.


Mr.Schneider;


There must have been extenuating circumstances;  the pole itself carries all the current
when the wheel is on the overhead doesn't it but it never turns orange.  Drawing such
large amounts of power to heat the pole to glowing suggests a short or locked brakes or
wheels when the power is applied.

When the Pirates won the pennant the ticker tape jammed the wheels;  
this brought down the overhead when motormen applied power but 
the trolley poles themselves were fine.


Phil