N&W line poles

[nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org]

Mark,

I don't know specifically about N&W, but I believe that the most common
practices, at least in snow country, were 40 or 52 poles per mile.  52 per
mile, ie, 100ft spacing, was probably common on important main lines.  wider
spacing may have been tolerated on branch lines as an economy measure.  The
old NMRA data sheets have much of this information, and it is about the same
as I remember seeing in old Bell System telephone standards.  I have used
100 ft spacing on my RR and I believe that it looks about right.

Don't forget to alternate the side of the arms on the poles.  For example,
on one pole the arms will be on the east side of the pole, then on the west
side of next pole, then on east side again.  Of course, standards usually
required double bracket arms (arms on both sides of the pole) whenever the
lines crossed a highway, track or other traveled way.  Double bracket arms
were required also when the signal line was broken at the end of a block,
etc.  With model railroads, it you follow rules, you may end up with most of
the poles being double bracket arm because of the density of tracks,
junctions, etc., so some judgement is in order.

The Rix green molded cross arms make beautiful poles (in HO) if you have the
patience to paint them.  the result is green translucent insulators on the
arms.

Ed Sproles
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: <NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2006 4:43 PM
Subject: N&W line poles



> Dear Listers,

>

> I'm going add signal line poles to my model railroad. I am wondering if

> someone on the list knows the (average) distance between the poles, as

> they were on the N&W.

>

> Thank you in advance!

>

> Mark Sullivan

> Columbus, Ohio

>

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