N&W line poles

[nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org]

I measured lineside poles around White Post, Va on the Shenandoah Valley 
line.....roughly 100 feet apart.

On my HO layout, however, I place them the length of a scale ruler if on 
relatively level terrain; up or down hill they get a little closer.  This is 
espcially important if you intend to actually string the poles, as I have 
done.  A lot of work, a lot of time, but looks good.

Jim Brewer
Glenwood MD
www.pocahontasmodels.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: "N and W Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 1:50 PM
Subject: Re: N&W line poles



> 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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