Re: Trams with poles

[WooF <owlswick@netaxs.com>]

> > There are now very few trams which use poles anywhere in the world
> > despite the growing number of tramway systems.

It's my impression that an early advantage of poles versus pans
is that poles can accommodate more side sway of the (tram)cars on
uneven track without de-wiring, while a pan, if it is swung so
far to one side that it hooks the overhead, will cause major
damage to that overhead.

It's interesting to note that the Sacramento Northern used poles
on its passenger interurban cars but pans on its freight
locomotives. The only reason that Sacramento Northern cars also
had pans is because they went through Oakland under Key System
wires, and Key was pantograph-operated.

George Scithers of owlswick@netaxs.com