Building NSW overhead catenary and stanchions (in HO scale)
The flood of r-t-r electric locomotives, suburban and interurban electric rolling stock to the HO scale modelling scene in recent years has made many of us contemplate how to install overhead catenary stanchions and wires on our layouts.
The simplest and easiest method to produce stanchions is using code 83 rail, such as on Geoff Small’s Mullet Creek layout (now at home in the Australian Modeller store in Seven Hills, NSW): it’s quick to build, very sturdy and it does the job convincingly. It’s a great option, fit for any skill level.
When you look more closely at the prototype, there are variances between overhead stanchions and wiring, even within the same system, and especially in NSW. The methods described in this article relate to building a model of a very specific group of overhead catenary stanchions and wires in use on the main western line in the Blue Mountains between Penrith and Bowenfels, from electrification in the 1950s up to the present day. This option isn’t quick; however, it can be built by anyone with minimal soldering skills and provides a unique model.
The prototype
The overhead catenary in use on the main western line in the Blue Mountains is unique on the NSW network, in that each wiring run is anchored directly
