more Line Poles questions

[NW Mailing List]

Thank you Abram very much!!  For the one paragraph answering my question,
and 4 paragraphs with way more than I ever wanted to know about electric
transmission, yet it is still fascinating and much appreciated!

Two things you didn't answer;

Did other railroads use this offset piece on top of their poles? I haven't
> noticed it in other railroad photos - but then, I wasn't looking for it
> either.


Do you have any better images of the Y shaped wire holders, below the top
of the pole?

Thank you!

Mike Rector












On Wed, Oct 18, 2023 at 11:43 AM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:

> Comrade Milosh Rektorikov ye asketh:
>
> >>>
> Can anyone tell me the use of that top bracket and wire?
> Why isn't it on an insulator? Or is it, and you just can't tell from the
> pic? -- Mike Rector
> <<<
>
> That top wire is the "Static wire." It is up there to catch lightning and
> run it to ground before it did too much damage. The wire was just steel
> cable, but it appears to be heavily galvanized.  You can see the same thing
> up on top of the really big electrical transmission towers, some of which
> are now carrying around 700,000 volts.
>
> And there was no need for an insulator, as they wanted to carry directly
> to ground any current on the Static Arm.  Each pole had a copper wire
> leading from the Static Arm, stapled down the side of the pole and directly
> into the earth.   As I recall, the requirement was to form five circles
> with the ground wire and staple it firmly to the bottom surface of the pole
> before placing it in the ground.  The Static Wire cable was also
> mechanically attached (i.e. bolted) at both ends to a heavy ground rod
> driven deeply into the earth.  All electrical equipment on the railroad was
> grounded: motors, transformers, signal cases, etc.
>
> Some of this has an analog on the electrical distribution system which
> brings power to your home.  I cannot speak for the distribution system in
> your'Hood, but in my 'Hood the top wire (which is bare Copper wire) carries
> the Primary, 7200 volts. Pay attention to a pole sometime. Immediately
> below the Primary is the circuit breaker, and coming out of the bottom of
> the breaker is a wire feeding into the transformer. The tranny has three
> wires coming out of the side near the bottom: two are energized off the
> secondary windings of the tranny at 120v (or perhaps a bit closer to 130v,)
> and the third is the Neurtral. On the pole, but below the tranny, is a
> steel cable serving as the Neutral in the system, and as the "return" side,
> which is ultimately connected back to the main transformer at the
> generating station. The various stuff constituting the bottom collection of
> wires on your neighborhood pole line (and usually attached directly to the
> pole, without the use of a cross arm) is the co
>  mmunications (sometimes called "commie") stuff: telephone and fiberoptic
> cable.
>
> Last week I had a wonderful walk around the neighborhood with my 12 year
> old Grandson. We examined and discussed poles and transformers, and how
> electrical power is delivered to the home. We also discussed expansion
> cracks in sidewalks, and why one should always look up before parking his
> automobile, avoiding dangerously overhanging tree limbs, if possible. We
> also discussed the shape of the branchlets on the Arbor Vitae plant, and
> how a proper gentleman should walk, not ape-like, but in a more refined
> manner, and we finished with a little brush-up on etiquette at the dinner
> table. All of which things no older man ever discussed with me as I was
> growing up. Which is why I so much enjoy being a Grandfather! Then we came
> home and did some Algebra homework.
>
> Stay away from the hot stuff, Mr. Rector... it only takes 1/16th of an amp
> to stop the human heart !
>
> -- abram burnett
> Financial Secretary of the Turnip Cartel
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