Pantograph protocol

[NW Mailing List]

On the N&W, where each unit had two pantagraphs, the rear one on each 
unit was used. My father said this was to allow the front pantagraph to 
escape damage in the event of a snag. Squareheads had only one per unit, 
and many photos show the front unit with pantagraph down -- but not always.
The EL2B's, on the other hand had two on one unit and only one on the 
other. Photos show no consistent pattern, although the front pantagraph 
is down in many photos, even when both up pantagraphs are on the same 
unit. On the other hand. several photos show the middle one down. So go 
figure.    Jim Nichols
NW Mailing List wrote:


> All,

> Here's a question for which I've not been able to find a

> definative answer. On squareheads and EL2b's, was there any protocol

> for which two pantagraphs were used? Several different suggestions

> have been expressed in other forums, but I was wondering if some of the

> VGN vets, especially west end, would know. A lot of photos show the

> lead pantograph down and it was surmised that this facilitated rescue

> in the event of a catenary snag or as a reacher beyond the end of wire

> on sidings. It was also suggested that this enabled electrics to use

> unpowered crossovers. I don't know if the VGN even had any. Still,

> other photos show the lead pantograph up. After the N&W merger,

> rectifiers were mu'd in three's with the middle pantagraph down.

> If this thread has been through here before, I apologize for

> redundancy, I've never been able to determine what the rules were.

> Thanks for your thoughts. Don Corbin

>

>

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