Trivia: AC electrification using overhead conductor bars instead of catenary

[D365]

As per Crossrail tunnels

And between St Pancras Int to Farringdon If I'm right? Also didn't Network Rail use it when electrifying one of the tunnels between Edinburgh and Haymarket a few years ago as well?

Sure the Queen Street tunnel uses overhead conductor rail?

And Winchburgh tunnel.

Severn Tunnel can also be added to the list.

 

[snowball]

Trowse swing bridge.

Patchway tunnel.

 

[Malcmal]

Bending the rules here to DC - but Sunderland station has Network Rail owned / operated overhead bar electrification.

 

[najaB]

Cowlairs Tunnel (Glasgow Queen Street)

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The only issue I see is I think that replacement if corroded degraded etc will be more difficult than if wire rather than bar. Hopefully most will have a 50 year life or better but rumours from Severn Tunnel suggest otherwise.

 

[najaB]

The only issue I see is I think that replacement if corroded degraded etc will be more difficult than if wire rather than bar. Hopefully most will have a 50 year life or better but rumours from Severn Tunnel suggest otherwise.

Though, it should be possible to replace short lengths when damaged (e.g. 5m) rather than several hundred meters of wire.

 

[themiller]

Isn’t the Severn tunnel electrification done with conventional wire held by a rigid metallic support system rather than being a rigid bar conductor?

 

[edwin_m]

I think all "rigid bar" conductor is like that. I'm not sure how easy that makes it to replace a section of the bar.

 

[snowball]

Isn’t the Severn tunnel electrification done with conventional wire held by a rigid metallic support system rather than being a rigid bar conductor?

Well, the rigid metallic support system is a conductor too.

https://www.furrerfrey.ch/en/systems/conductor_rail.html

 

[najaB]

Isn’t the Severn tunnel electrification done with conventional wire held by a rigid metallic support system rather than being a rigid bar conductor?

Can't pass comment on the Severn Tunnel but Cowlairs Tunnel looks like it's a solid bar: https://twitter.com/transcotland/status/761544059399892992

 

[snowball]

Go to First Unread

Can't pass comment on the Severn Tunnel but Cowlairs Tunnel looks like it's a solid bar: https://twitter.com/transcotland/status/761544059399892992

The Severn Tunnel is undoubtedly, there were press releases about it when the tunnel was closed for it to be fitted, and much discussion in the GW electrification thread.

 

[Domh245]

Rigid Overhead Conductors (or whatever else you might want to call them) still have a wire as the part that actually makes contact with the pantograph, it is quite small in comparison to the width of the bar so it's difficult to pick out, but this diagram shows it well. They still have to have similar characteristics to conventional OLE in terms of wear (see this image demonstrating the stagger) and electrical properties, the advantages come from reduced encumbrance and improved vertical stiffness (ie it doesn't rise up as much)

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Mound Tunnel - Edinburgh (at least 2 of the tracks)

 

[londonmidland]

St Pancras low level has had it for a while by the looks of it.

 

[swt_passenger]

View attachment 49307 St Pancras low level has had it for a while by the looks of it.

Since around 2013, when we had a thread about it.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/conductor-rail-at-st-pancras-thameslink.82266/#post-1424987
I’m getting a sense of deja vu about this thread as well, the answers seem familiar, although the list is slightly longer this time...

 

[gsnedders]

View attachment 49307 St Pancras low level has had it for a while by the looks of it.

How many other stations have rigid conductor bars? There can't be many!

 

[gingertom]

what's been used for the Carsmuirs tunnels near the Falkirk wheel? Not been there for a look-see for a long time.

 

[InOban]

Carsmuir tunnels no longer exist. It's a cutting bridged by an aquaduct carrying the canal.

 

[Supercoss]

St Pan raps low level to Ki gs Cross Thameslink Disused
St Pan raps low level to Belle Isle portal [canal tunnels]
That also feature an air gap neutral section in rigid section ⚡️

 

[gingertom]

Carsmuir tunnels no longer exist. It's a cutting bridged by an aquaduct carrying the canal.

I know the tunnels were replaced by an aqueduct, still a tunnel to all intents and purposes. The aqueduct is as shallow as it could be so the roof could be higher to allow for electrical clearance. What's been used to wire it up?

 

[snowball]

It appears from this picture that there's plenty of headroom so no reason why it shouldn't be standard wire.

https://www.railengineer.uk/wp-content/uploads/8th-January-online-768x510.jpg

Part of this article
https://www.railengineer.uk/2015/03/31/carmuirs-canal-clearance/

 

[gingertom]

It appears from this picture that there's plenty of headroom so no reason why it shouldn't be standard wire.

https://www.railengineer.uk/wp-content/uploads/8th-January-online-768x510.jpg

Part of this article
https://www.railengineer.uk/2015/03/31/carmuirs-canal-clearance/

thanks for sharing those pics, does look like there's enough room for traditional wires. I feel a visit coming on soon.