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id="toc-Types_of_wires-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tensioning" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tensioning"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Tensioning</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tensioning-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Breaks" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Breaks"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Breaks</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Breaks-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Breaks subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Breaks-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Section_break" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Section_break"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.1</span> <span>Section break</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Section_break-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Neutral_section_(phase_break)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Neutral_section_(phase_break)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.2</span> <span>Neutral section (phase break)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Neutral_section_(phase_break)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Dead_section" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Dead_section"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.3</span> <span>Dead section</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Dead_section-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Gaps" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Gaps"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.4</span> <span>Gaps</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Gaps-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Overhead_conductor_rails" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Overhead_conductor_rails"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Overhead conductor rails</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Overhead_conductor_rails-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Crossings" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Crossings"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Crossings</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Crossings-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Crossings subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Crossings-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Australia" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Australia"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.1</span> <span>Australia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Australia-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Greece" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Greece"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.2</span> <span>Greece</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Greece-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Italy" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Italy"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.3</span> <span>Italy</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Italy-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Multiple_overhead_lines" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Multiple_overhead_lines"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Multiple overhead lines</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Multiple_overhead_lines-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Overhead_catenary" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Overhead_catenary"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>Overhead catenary</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Overhead_catenary-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Overhead catenary subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Overhead_catenary-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Overhead_catenary_systems_in_the_United_States" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Overhead_catenary_systems_in_the_United_States"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.1</span> <span>Overhead catenary systems in the United States</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Overhead_catenary_systems_in_the_United_States-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Height" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Height"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.2</span> <span>Height</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Height-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Problems_with_overhead_equipment" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Problems_with_overhead_equipment"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>Problems with overhead equipment</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Problems_with_overhead_equipment-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-History" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#History"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>History</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-History-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">13</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Further_reading" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Further_reading"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">14</span> <span>Further reading</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Further_reading-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">15</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Overhead line</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 40 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-40" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">40 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%83_%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9" title="أسلاك علوية – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="أسلاك علوية" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontakt_%C5%9F%C9%99b%C9%99k%C9%99si" title="Kontakt şəbəkəsi – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Kontakt şəbəkəsi" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B0" title="Кантактная сетка – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Кантактная сетка" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BC%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B6%D0%B0" title="Контактна мрежа – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Контактна мрежа" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caten%C3%A0ria_(ferrocarril)" title="Catenària (ferrocarril) – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Catenària (ferrocarril)" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolejov%C3%A9_veden%C3%AD" title="Trolejové vedení – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Trolejové vedení" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B8reledning" title="Køreledning – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Køreledning" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberleitung" title="Oberleitung – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Oberleitung" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontaktliin" title="Kontaktliin – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Kontaktliin" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%91%CE%BB%CF%85%CF%83%CE%BF%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%AE%CF%82_%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%BC%CE%AE_%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%AE%CF%82" title="Αλυσοειδής γραμμή επαφής – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Αλυσοειδής γραμμή επαφής" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenaria_(ferrocarril)" title="Catenaria (ferrocarril) – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Catenaria (ferrocarril)" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supertraka_kontakta_lineo" title="Supertraka kontakta lineo – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Supertraka kontakta lineo" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katenaria_(trenbidea)" title="Katenaria (trenbidea) – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Katenaria (trenbidea)" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AE%D8%B7%D9%88%D8%B7_%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%82_%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C" title="خطوط برق هوایی – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="خطوط برق هوایی" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9naire" title="Caténaire – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Caténaire" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gl mw-list-item"><a href="https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenaria_(ferrocarril)" title="Catenaria (ferrocarril) – Galician" lang="gl" hreflang="gl" data-title="Catenaria (ferrocarril)" data-language-autonym="Galego" data-language-local-name="Galician" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Galego</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EA%B0%80%EA%B3%B5_%EC%A0%84%EC%B0%A8%EC%84%A0" title="가공 전차선 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="가공 전차선" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listrik_aliran_atas" title="Listrik aliran atas – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Listrik aliran atas" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linea_aerea_di_contatto" title="Linea aerea di contatto – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Linea aerea di contatto" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lv mw-list-item"><a href="https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontaktt%C4%ABkls" title="Kontakttīkls – Latvian" lang="lv" hreflang="lv" data-title="Kontakttīkls" data-language-autonym="Latviešu" data-language-local-name="Latvian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Latviešu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lb mw-list-item"><a href="https://lb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenaire" title="Catenaire – Luxembourgish" lang="lb" hreflang="lb" data-title="Catenaire" data-language-autonym="Lëtzebuergesch" data-language-local-name="Luxembourgish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lëtzebuergesch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fels%C5%91vezet%C3%A9k" title="Felsővezeték – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Felsővezeték" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talian_atas" title="Talian atas – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Talian atas" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovenleiding" title="Bovenleiding – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Bovenleiding" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9E%B6%E7%A9%BA%E9%9B%BB%E8%BB%8A%E7%B7%9A%E6%96%B9%E5%BC%8F" title="架空電車線方式 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="架空電車線方式" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontaktledning" title="Kontaktledning – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Kontaktledning" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nn mw-list-item"><a href="https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontaktleidning" title="Kontaktleidning – Norwegian Nynorsk" lang="nn" hreflang="nn" data-title="Kontaktleidning" data-language-autonym="Norsk nynorsk" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Nynorsk" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk nynorsk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nds mw-list-item"><a href="https://nds.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fohrwier" title="Fohrwier – Low German" lang="nds" hreflang="nds" data-title="Fohrwier" data-language-autonym="Plattdüütsch" data-language-local-name="Low German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Plattdüütsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Przewody_trakcyjne" title="Przewody trakcyjne – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Przewody trakcyjne" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caten%C3%A1ria_(ferrovia)" title="Catenária (ferrovia) – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Catenária (ferrovia)" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%8C" title="Контактная сеть – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Контактная сеть" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overhead_lines" title="Overhead lines – Simple English" lang="en-simple" 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id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Cable that provides power to electric railways, trams, and trolleybuses</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article is about the transmission of electrical power to road and rail vehicles. For transmission of bulk electrical power to general consumers, see <a href="/wiki/Electric_power_transmission" title="Electric power transmission">Electric power transmission</a>. For powerlines mounted on pylons, see <a href="/wiki/Overhead_power_line" title="Overhead power line">Overhead power line</a>. For lines carrying information, see <a href="/wiki/Overhead_cable" title="Overhead cable">Overhead cable</a>.</div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Electricity_(12308463104).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Electricity_%2812308463104%29.jpg/220px-Electricity_%2812308463104%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="146" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Electricity_%2812308463104%29.jpg/330px-Electricity_%2812308463104%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Electricity_%2812308463104%29.jpg/440px-Electricity_%2812308463104%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5892" data-file-height="3921" /></a><figcaption>Overhead lines</figcaption></figure> <p>An <b>overhead line</b> or <b>overhead wire</b> is an <a href="/wiki/Electrical_cable" title="Electrical cable">electrical cable</a> that is used to transmit <a href="/wiki/Electrical_energy" title="Electrical energy">electrical energy</a> to <a href="/wiki/Electric_locomotive" title="Electric locomotive">electric locomotives</a>, <a href="/wiki/Electric_multiple_unit" title="Electric multiple unit">electric multiple units</a>, <a href="/wiki/Trolleybus" title="Trolleybus">trolleybuses</a> or <a href="/wiki/Tram" title="Tram">trams</a>. The generic term used by the <a href="/wiki/International_Union_of_Railways" title="International Union of Railways">International Union of Railways</a> for the technology is <i>overhead line</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is known variously as <b>overhead catenary</b>, <b>overhead contact line</b> (<b>OCL</b>), <b>overhead contact system</b> (<b>OCS</b>), <b>overhead equipment</b> (<b>OHE</b>), <b>overhead line equipment</b> (<b>OLE</b> or <b>OHLE</b>), <b>overhead lines</b> (<b>OHL</b>), <b>overhead wiring</b> (<b>OHW</b>), <b>traction wire</b>, and <b>trolley wire</b>. </p><p>An overhead line consists of one or more <a href="/wiki/Wire" title="Wire">wires</a> (or <a href="/wiki/Overhead_conductor_rail" class="mw-redirect" title="Overhead conductor rail">rails</a>, particularly in tunnels) situated over <a href="/wiki/Rail_tracks" class="mw-redirect" title="Rail tracks">rail tracks</a>, raised to a high electrical potential by connection to feeder stations at regularly spaced intervals along the track. The feeder stations are usually fed from a <a href="/wiki/High_voltage" title="High voltage">high-voltage</a> <a href="/wiki/Electricity_distribution" class="mw-redirect" title="Electricity distribution">electrical grid</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Overview">Overview</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Overview"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Electric trains that collect their current from overhead lines use a device such as a <a href="/wiki/Pantograph_(transport)" title="Pantograph (transport)">pantograph</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bow_collector" title="Bow collector">bow collector</a> or <a href="/wiki/Trolley_pole" title="Trolley pole">trolley pole</a>. It presses against the underside of the lowest overhead wire, the contact wire. Current collectors are electrically conductive and allow current to flow through to the train or tram and back to the feeder station through the steel wheels on one or both running rails. Non-electric <a href="/wiki/Locomotive" title="Locomotive">locomotives</a> (such as <a href="/wiki/Diesel_locomotive" title="Diesel locomotive">diesels</a>) may pass along these tracks without affecting the overhead line, although there may be difficulties with <a href="/wiki/Structure_gauge" title="Structure gauge">overhead clearance</a>. Alternative electrical power transmission schemes for trains include <a href="/wiki/Third_rail" title="Third rail">third rail</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ground-level_power_supply" title="Ground-level power supply">ground-level power supply</a>, <a href="/wiki/Electric_vehicle_battery" title="Electric vehicle battery">batteries</a> and <a href="/wiki/Electromagnetic_induction" title="Electromagnetic induction">electromagnetic induction</a>. </p><p>Vehicles like buses that have rubber tyres cannot provide a return path for the current through their wheels, and must instead use a pair of overhead wires to provide both the current and its return path. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Construction">Construction</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Construction"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Poci%C4%85g_sieciowy_pod_%C5%81owiczem.jpeg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Poci%C4%85g_sieciowy_pod_%C5%81owiczem.jpeg/170px-Poci%C4%85g_sieciowy_pod_%C5%81owiczem.jpeg" decoding="async" width="170" height="227" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Poci%C4%85g_sieciowy_pod_%C5%81owiczem.jpeg/255px-Poci%C4%85g_sieciowy_pod_%C5%81owiczem.jpeg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Poci%C4%85g_sieciowy_pod_%C5%81owiczem.jpeg/340px-Poci%C4%85g_sieciowy_pod_%C5%81owiczem.jpeg 2x" data-file-width="768" data-file-height="1024" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Lineworker" title="Lineworker">Lineworkers</a> on a <a href="/wiki/Maintenance_of_way" title="Maintenance of way">maintenance of way</a> vehicle repairing overhead lines (Poland)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Overhead_frog_for_pantograph_%26_trolley_pole.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Overhead_frog_for_pantograph_%26_trolley_pole.jpg/220px-Overhead_frog_for_pantograph_%26_trolley_pole.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Overhead_frog_for_pantograph_%26_trolley_pole.jpg/330px-Overhead_frog_for_pantograph_%26_trolley_pole.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Overhead_frog_for_pantograph_%26_trolley_pole.jpg/440px-Overhead_frog_for_pantograph_%26_trolley_pole.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1200" /></a><figcaption>Overhead over a switch in <a href="/wiki/Toronto_Transit_Commission" title="Toronto Transit Commission">Toronto</a>: Two runners for pantographs flank the trolley pole frog.</figcaption></figure> <p>To achieve good high-speed current collection, it is necessary to keep the contact wire geometry within defined limits. This is usually achieved by supporting the contact wire from a second wire known as the <i><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238216509">.mw-parser-output .vanchor>:target~.vanchor-text{background-color:#b1d2ff}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .vanchor>:target~.vanchor-text{background-color:#0f4dc9}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .vanchor>:target~.vanchor-text{background-color:#0f4dc9}}</style><span class="vanchor"><span id="messenger_wire"></span><span class="vanchor-text">messenger wire</span></span></i> or <i>catenary</i>. This wire approximates the natural path of a wire strung between two points, a <a href="/wiki/Catenary" title="Catenary">catenary curve</a>, thus the use of "catenary" to describe this wire or sometimes the whole system. This wire is attached to the contact wire at regular intervals by vertical wires known as "droppers" or "drop wires". It is supported regularly at structures, by a <a href="/wiki/Pulley" title="Pulley">pulley</a>, link or <a href="/wiki/Clamp_(tool)" title="Clamp (tool)">clamp</a>. The whole system is then subjected to mechanical <a href="/wiki/Tension_(physics)" title="Tension (physics)">tension</a>. </p><p>As the pantograph moves along under the contact wire, the carbon insert on top of the pantograph becomes worn with time. On straight track, the contact wire is <a href="/wiki/Zigzag" title="Zigzag">zigzagged</a> slightly to the left and right of the centre from each support to the next so that the insert wears evenly, thus preventing any notches. On curves, the "straight" wire between the supports causes the contact point to cross over the surface of the pantograph as the train travels around the curve. The movement of the contact wire across the head of the pantograph is called the "sweep". </p><p>The zigzagging of the overhead line is not required for trolley poles. For <a href="/wiki/Tram" title="Tram">tramways</a>, a contact wire without a messenger wire is used. </p><p>Depot areas tend to have only a single wire and are known as "simple equipment" or "trolley wire". When overhead line systems were first conceived, good current collection was possible only at low speeds, using a single wire. To enable higher speeds, two additional types of equipment were developed: </p> <ul><li>Stitched equipment uses an additional wire at each support structure, terminated on either side of the messenger/catenary wire.</li> <li>Compound equipment uses a second support wire, known as the "auxiliary", between the messenger/catenary wire and the contact wire. Droppers support the auxiliary from the messenger wire, while additional droppers support the contact wire from the auxiliary. The auxiliary wire can be of a more conductive but less wear-resistant metal, increasing transmission efficiency.</li></ul> <p>Earlier dropper wires provided physical support of the contact wire without joining the catenary and contact wires electrically. Modern systems use current-carrying droppers, eliminating the need for separate wires. </p><p>The present transmission system originated about 100 years ago. A simpler system was proposed in the 1970s by the Pirelli Construction Company, consisting of a single wire embedded at each support for 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) of its length in a clipped, extruded aluminum beam with the wire contact face exposed. A somewhat higher tension than used before clipping the beam yielded a deflected profile for the wire that could be easily handled at 400 km/h (250 mph) by a pneumatic servo pantograph with only 3 <a href="/wiki/Gravity_of_Earth" title="Gravity of Earth">g</a> acceleration.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (September 2017)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Parallel_overhead_lines">Parallel overhead lines</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Parallel overhead lines"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Catenaryswitch.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Catenaryswitch.jpg/220px-Catenaryswitch.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="242" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Catenaryswitch.jpg/330px-Catenaryswitch.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Catenaryswitch.jpg/440px-Catenaryswitch.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1713" data-file-height="1887" /></a><figcaption>A switch in parallel overhead lines</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Trolley3WireSwitch.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Trolley3WireSwitch.jpg/220px-Trolley3WireSwitch.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="106" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Trolley3WireSwitch.jpg/330px-Trolley3WireSwitch.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Trolley3WireSwitch.jpg/440px-Trolley3WireSwitch.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1680" data-file-height="813" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Trolleybus#Wire_switches" title="Trolleybus">Trolleybus wire switch</a></figcaption></figure> <p>An electrical circuit requires at least two conductors. Trams and railways use the overhead line as the positive terminal of the circuit and the steel rails as the negative terminal of the circuit. For a <a href="/wiki/Trolleybus" title="Trolleybus">trolleybus</a> or a <a href="/wiki/Trolleytruck" title="Trolleytruck">trolleytruck</a>, no <a href="/wiki/Rail_profile" title="Rail profile">rails</a> are available for the return current, as the vehicles use rubber tyres on the road surface. Trolleybuses use a second parallel overhead line for the return, and two <a href="/wiki/Trolley_pole" title="Trolley pole">trolley poles</a>, one contacting each overhead wire. (<a href="/wiki/Pantograph_(transport)" title="Pantograph (transport)">Pantographs</a> are generally incompatible with parallel overhead lines.) The circuit is completed by using both wires. Parallel overhead wires are also used on the rare railways with <a href="/wiki/Three-phase_AC_railway_electrification" title="Three-phase AC railway electrification">three-phase AC railway electrification</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Types_of_wires">Types of wires</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Types of wires"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-Expand_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="[icon]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/44px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png" decoding="async" width="44" height="31" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/66px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/88px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="44" data-file-height="31" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>needs expansion</b> with: more details about other types of catenary wire in other countries.. You can help by <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=">adding to it</a>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Relevant discussion may be found on the <a href="/wiki/Talk:Overhead_line#Catenary_wire_in_other_countries" title="Talk:Overhead line">talk page</a>.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">June 2024</span>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a> the following types of wires/cables were used.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> For the contact wire, cold drawn solid copper was used to ensure good <a href="/wiki/Electrical_conductivity" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrical conductivity">conductivity</a>. The wire is not round but has grooves at the sides to allow the hangers to attach to it. Sizes were (in cross-sectional area) 85, 100, or 150 mm<sup>2</sup>. To make the wire stronger, 0.04% tin might be added. The wire must resist the heat generated by arcing and thus such wires should never be spliced by thermal means. </p><p>The messenger (or catenary) wire needs to be both strong and have good conductivity. They used multi-strand wires (or cables) with 19 strands in each cable (or wire). Copper, aluminum, and/or steel were used for the strands. All 19 strands could be made of the same metal or a mix of metals based on the required properties. For example, steel wires were used for strength, while aluminium or copper wires were used for conductivity.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Another type looked like it had all copper wires but inside each wire was a steel core for strength. The steel strands were galvanized but for better corrosion protection they could be coated with an anti-corrosion substance. </p><p>In <a href="/wiki/Slovenia" title="Slovenia">Slovenia</a>, where 3 kV system is in use, standard sizes for contact wire are 100 and 150 mm<sup>2</sup>. The catenary wire is made of copper or copper alloys of 70, 120 or 150 mm<sup>2</sup>. The smaller cross sections are made of 19 strands, whereas the bigger has 37 strands. Two standard configurations for main lines consist of two contact wires of 100 mm<sup>2</sup> and one or two catenary wires of 120 mm<sup>2</sup>, totaling 320 or 440 mm<sup>2</sup>. Only one contact wire is often used for side tracks.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In the <a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">UK</a> and <a href="/wiki/Member_state_of_the_European_Union" title="Member state of the European Union">EU countries</a>, the contact wire is typically made from copper alloyed with other metals. Sizes include cross-sectional areas of 80, 100, 107, 120, and 150 mm<sup>2</sup>. Common materials include normal and high strength copper, copper-silver, copper-cadmium, copper-magnesium, and copper-tin, with each being identifiable by distinct identification grooves along the upper lobe of the contact wire. These grooves vary in number and location on the arc of the upper section.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Copper is chosen for its excellent conductivity, with other metals added to increase tensile strength. The choice of material is chosen based on the needs of the particular system, balancing the need for conductivity and tensile strength. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Tensioning">Tensioning</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Tensioning"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Oberleitung_Radspanner_IMG10010.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Oberleitung_Radspanner_IMG10010.jpg/220px-Oberleitung_Radspanner_IMG10010.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="331" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Oberleitung_Radspanner_IMG10010.jpg/330px-Oberleitung_Radspanner_IMG10010.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Oberleitung_Radspanner_IMG10010.jpg/440px-Oberleitung_Radspanner_IMG10010.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1330" data-file-height="2000" /></a><figcaption>Line tensioning in Germany</figcaption></figure> <p>Catenary wires are kept in mechanical tension because the pantograph causes mechanical <a href="/wiki/Oscillation" title="Oscillation">oscillations</a> in the wire. The <a href="/wiki/Wave" title="Wave">waves</a> must travel faster than the train to avoid producing <a href="/wiki/Standing_wave" title="Standing wave">standing waves</a>, which could break the wire. Tensioning the line makes waves travel faster, and also reduces sag from gravity. </p><p>For medium and high speeds, the wires are generally tensioned by weights or occasionally by hydraulic tensioners. Either method is known as "auto-tensioning" (AT) or "constant tension" and ensures that the tension is virtually independent of temperature. Tensions are typically between 9 and 20 <a href="/wiki/Newton_(unit)" title="Newton (unit)">kN</a> (2,000 and 4,500 <a href="/wiki/Pound_(force)" title="Pound (force)">lbf</a>) per wire. Where weights are used, they slide up and down on a rod or tube attached to the mast, to prevent them from swaying. Recently, spring tensioners have started to be used. These devices contain a torsional spring with a cam arrangement to ensure a constant applied tension (instead of varying proportionally with extension). Some devices also include mechanisms for adjusting the stiffness of the spring for ease of maintenance. </p><p>For low speeds and in tunnels where temperatures are constant, fixed termination (FT) equipment may be used, with the wires terminated directly on structures at each end of the overhead line. The tension is generally about 10 kN (2,200 lbf). This type of equipment sags in hot conditions and is taut in cold conditions. </p><p>With AT, the continuous length of the overhead line is limited due to the change in the height of the weights as the overhead line expands and contracts with temperature changes. This movement is proportional to the distance between anchors. Tension length has a maximum. For most <a href="/wiki/25_kV_AC_railway_electrification" title="25 kV AC railway electrification">25 kV</a> OHL equipment in the UK, the maximum tension length is 1,970 m (6,460 ft).<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>An additional issue with AT equipment is that, if balance weights are attached to both ends, the whole tension length is free to move along the track. To avoid this a midpoint anchor (MPA), close to the centre of the tension length, restricts movement of the messenger/catenary wire by anchoring it; the contact wire and its suspension hangers can move only within the constraints of the MPA. MPAs are sometimes fixed to low bridges, or otherwise anchored to vertical catenary poles or portal catenary supports. A tension length can be seen as a fixed centre point, with the two half-tension lengths expanding and contracting with temperature. </p><p>Most systems include a brake to stop the wires from unravelling completely if a wire breaks or tension is lost. German systems usually use a single large tensioning pulley (basically a <a href="/wiki/Ratchet_(device)" title="Ratchet (device)">ratchet</a> mechanism) with a toothed rim, mounted on an arm hinged to the mast. Normally the downward pull of the weights and the reactive upward pull of the tensioned wires lift the pulley so its teeth are well clear of a stop on the mast. The pulley can turn freely while the weights move up or down as the wires contract or expand. If tension is lost the pulley falls back toward the mast, and one of its teeth jams against the stop. This stops further rotation, limits the damage, and keeps the undamaged part of the wire intact until it can be repaired. Other systems use various braking mechanisms, usually with multiple smaller pulleys in a <a href="/wiki/Block_and_tackle" title="Block and tackle">block and tackle</a> arrangement. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Breaks">Breaks</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Breaks"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Lines are divided into sections to limit the scope of an outage and to allow maintenance. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Section_break">Section break</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Section break"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:SectionInsulator.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/SectionInsulator.png/220px-SectionInsulator.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/SectionInsulator.png/330px-SectionInsulator.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/SectionInsulator.png/440px-SectionInsulator.png 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304" /></a><figcaption>A section insulator at a section break in Amtrak's 12 kV catenary</figcaption></figure> <p>To allow maintenance to the overhead line without having to turn off the entire system, the line is broken into electrically separated portions known as "sections". Sections often correspond with tension lengths. The transition from section to section is known as a "section break" and is set up so that the vehicle's pantograph is in continuous contact with one wire or the other. </p><p>For bow collectors and pantographs, this is done by having two contact wires run side by side over the length between 2 or 4 wire supports. A new one drops down and the old one rises up, allowing the pantograph to smoothly transfer from one to the other. The two wires do not touch (although the bow collector or pantograph is briefly in contact with both wires). In normal service, the two sections are electrically connected; depending on the system this might be an isolator, fixed contact or a Booster Transformer. The isolator allows the current to the section to be interrupted for maintenance. </p><p>On overhead wires designed for trolley poles, this is done by having a neutral section between the wires, requiring an insulator. The driver of the <a href="/wiki/Tram" title="Tram">tram</a> or <a href="/wiki/Trolleybus" title="Trolleybus">trolleybus</a> must temporarily reduce the power draw before the trolley pole passes through, to prevent arc damage to the insulator. </p><p>Pantograph-equipped locomotives must not run through a section break when one side is de-energized. The locomotive would become trapped, but as it passes the section break the pantograph briefly shorts the two catenary lines. If the opposite line is de-energized, this voltage transient may trip supply breakers. If the line is under maintenance, an injury may occur as the catenary is suddenly energized. Even if the catenary is properly grounded to protect the personnel, the <a href="/wiki/Electric_arc" title="Electric arc">arc</a> generated across the pantograph can damage the pantograph, the catenary insulator or both. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Neutral_section_(phase_break)"><span id="Neutral_section_.28phase_break.29"></span>Neutral section (phase break)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Neutral section (phase break)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Neutral_Gap_Sign.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Neutral_Gap_Sign.svg/220px-Neutral_Gap_Sign.svg.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="240" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Neutral_Gap_Sign.svg/330px-Neutral_Gap_Sign.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Neutral_Gap_Sign.svg/440px-Neutral_Gap_Sign.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="529" data-file-height="578" /></a><figcaption>Neutral Section Indication Board used on railways in the <a href="/wiki/UK" class="mw-redirect" title="UK">UK</a>. Six of these would be required at <a href="#Crossings">crossings</a></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><span><video id="mwe_player_0" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm/220px--ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm.jpg" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="220" height="124" data-durationhint="65" data-mwtitle="ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" resource="/wiki/File:ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/c9/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm.480p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="480p.vp9.webm" data-width="854" data-height="480" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/c9/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm.720p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="720p.vp9.webm" data-width="1280" data-height="720" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-width="1280" data-height="720" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/c9/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm.144p.mjpeg.mov" type="video/quicktime" data-transcodekey="144p.mjpeg.mov" data-width="256" data-height="144" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/c9/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="426" data-height="240" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/c9/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/c9/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm/ED9M-pantograph_passing_neutral_section_of_25_kV_catenary.webm.360p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="360p.vp9.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /></video></span><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/Pantograph_(transport)" title="Pantograph (transport)">pantograph</a> of EMU passes neutral section of <a href="/wiki/25_kV_AC_railway_electrification" title="25 kV AC railway electrification">25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead line</a> without lowering but with switching off a circuit breaker</figcaption></figure> <p>Sometimes on a larger electrified railway, tramway or trolleybus system, it is necessary to power different areas of track from different power grids, without guaranteeing synchronisation of the phases. Long lines may be connected to the country's national grid at various points and different phases. (Sometimes the sections are powered with different voltages or frequencies.) The grids may be synchronised on a normal basis, but events may interrupt synchronisation. This is not a problem for <a href="/wiki/Direct_current" title="Direct current">DC</a> systems. <a href="/wiki/Alternating_current" title="Alternating current">AC</a> systems have a particular safety implication in that the railway electrification system would act as a "Backdoor" connection between different parts, resulting in, amongst other things, a section of the grid de-energised for maintenance being re-energised from the railway substation creating danger. </p><p>For these reasons, Neutral sections are placed in the electrification between the sections fed from different points in a national grid, or different phases, or grids that are not synchronized. It is highly undesirable to connect unsynchronized grids. A simple section break is insufficient to guard against this as the pantograph briefly connects both sections.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In countries such as France, South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom, a pair of permanent magnets beside the rails at either side of the neutral section operate a bogie-mounted <a href="/wiki/Transducer" title="Transducer">transducer</a> on the train which causes a large electrical circuit-breaker to open and close when the locomotive or the pantograph vehicle of a multiple unit passes over them.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the United Kingdom equipment similar to <a href="/wiki/Automatic_Warning_System" title="Automatic Warning System">Automatic Warning System</a> (AWS) is used, but with pairs of magnets placed <em>outside</em> the running rails (as opposed to the AWS magnets placed midway between the rails). Lineside signs on the approach to the neutral section warn the driver to shut off traction power and coast through the dead section. </p><p>A neutral section or phase break consists of two insulated breaks back-to-back with a short section of line that belongs to neither grid. Some systems increase the level of safety by the midpoint of the neutral section being earthed. The presence of the earthed section in the middle is to ensure that should the transducer controlled apparatus fail, and the driver also fail to shut off power, the energy in the arc struck by the pantograph as it passes to the neutral section is conducted to earth, operating substation circuit breakers, rather than the arc either bridging the insulators into a section made dead for maintenance, a section fed from a different phase, or setting up a Backdoor connection between different parts of the country's national grid. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Neutral_zone_of_overhead_catenary.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Neutral_zone_of_overhead_catenary.jpg/220px-Neutral_zone_of_overhead_catenary.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Neutral_zone_of_overhead_catenary.jpg/330px-Neutral_zone_of_overhead_catenary.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Neutral_zone_of_overhead_catenary.jpg/440px-Neutral_zone_of_overhead_catenary.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4608" data-file-height="3456" /></a><figcaption>25 kV AC neutral zone in Romania</figcaption></figure> <p>On the <a href="/wiki/Pennsylvania_Railroad" title="Pennsylvania Railroad">Pennsylvania Railroad</a>, phase breaks were indicated by a position light signal face with all eight radial positions with lenses and no center light. When the phase break was active (the catenary sections out of phase), all lights were lit. The position light signal aspect was originally devised by the Pennsylvania Railroad and was continued by <a href="/wiki/Amtrak" title="Amtrak">Amtrak</a> and adopted by <a href="/wiki/Metro-North_Railroad" title="Metro-North Railroad">Metro North</a>. Metal signs were hung from the catenary supports with the letters "PB" created by a pattern of drilled holes. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Dead_section">Dead section</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Dead section"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A special category of phase break was developed in America, primarily by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Since its traction power network was centrally supplied and only segmented by abnormal conditions, normal phase breaks were generally not active. Phase breaks that were always activated were known as "Dead Sections": they were often used to separate power systems (for example, the Hell's Gate Bridge boundary between Amtrak and <a href="/wiki/Metro-North_Railroad" title="Metro-North Railroad">Metro North</a>'s electrifications) that would never be in-phase. Since a dead section is always dead, no special signal aspect was developed to warn drivers of its presence, and a metal sign with "DS" in drilled-hole letters was hung from the catenary supports. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Gaps">Gaps</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Gaps"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spoorbrug_Meppel_-_Buitenvaart,_Jaagpad_-_04.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Spoorbrug_Meppel_-_Buitenvaart%2C_Jaagpad_-_04.JPG/220px-Spoorbrug_Meppel_-_Buitenvaart%2C_Jaagpad_-_04.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Spoorbrug_Meppel_-_Buitenvaart%2C_Jaagpad_-_04.JPG/330px-Spoorbrug_Meppel_-_Buitenvaart%2C_Jaagpad_-_04.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Spoorbrug_Meppel_-_Buitenvaart%2C_Jaagpad_-_04.JPG/440px-Spoorbrug_Meppel_-_Buitenvaart%2C_Jaagpad_-_04.JPG 2x" data-file-width="4272" data-file-height="2848" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/Swing_bridge" title="Swing bridge">swing bridge</a> near <a href="/wiki/Meppel" title="Meppel">Meppel</a>, the Netherlands. There is no overhead line on the bridge; the train coasts through with raised pantograph.</figcaption></figure> <p>Occasionally gaps may be present in the overhead lines, when switching from one voltage to another or to provide clearance for ships at moveable bridges, as a simpler alternative for moveable overhead power rails. Electric trains coast across the gaps. To prevent arcing, power must be switched off before reaching the gap and usually the pantograph would be lowered. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Overhead_conductor_rails">Overhead conductor rails</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Overhead conductor rails"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:B%26O_electrification.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/B%26O_electrification.jpg/220px-B%26O_electrification.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="193" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/B%26O_electrification.jpg/330px-B%26O_electrification.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/B%26O_electrification.jpg/440px-B%26O_electrification.jpg 2x" data-file-width="750" data-file-height="657" /></a><figcaption>B&O's overhead third-rail system at <a href="/wiki/Guilford_Avenue" class="mw-redirect" title="Guilford Avenue">Guilford Avenue</a> in Baltimore, 1901, part of the <a href="/wiki/Baltimore_Belt_Line" title="Baltimore Belt Line">Baltimore Belt Line</a>. The central position of the overhead conductors was dictated by the many tunnels on the line: the <b>∩</b>-shaped rails were located at the highest point in the roof to give the most clearance.<sup id="cite_ref-journal_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-journal-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <p>Given limited <a href="/wiki/Engineering_tolerance#Clearance_(civil_engineering)" title="Engineering tolerance">clearance</a> such as in <a href="/wiki/Tunnel" title="Tunnel">tunnels</a>, the overhead wire may be replaced by a rigid overhead rail. An early example was in the tunnels of the <a href="/wiki/Baltimore_Belt_Line" title="Baltimore Belt Line">Baltimore Belt Line</a>, where a <b>Π</b> section bar (fabricated from three strips of iron and mounted on wood) was used, with the brass contact running inside the groove.<sup id="cite_ref-journal_9-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-journal-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> When the overhead line was raised in the <a href="/wiki/Simplon_Tunnel#Piggyback_transport" title="Simplon Tunnel">Simplon Tunnel</a> to accommodate taller rolling stock, a rail was used. A rigid overhead rail may also be used in places where tensioning the wires is impractical, for example on <a href="/wiki/Moveable_bridges" class="mw-redirect" title="Moveable bridges">moveable bridges</a>. In modern uses, it is very common for underground sections of trams, metros, and mainline railways to use a rigid overhead wire in their tunnels, while using normal overhead wires in their above ground sections. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><span><video id="mwe_player_1" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm/220px--Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm.jpg" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="220" height="124" data-durationhint="202" data-mwtitle="Shaw's_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" resource="/wiki/File:Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b0/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm.480p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="480p.vp9.webm" data-width="854" data-height="480" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b0/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm.720p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="720p.vp9.webm" data-width="1280" data-height="720" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b0/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm.1080p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="1080p.vp9.webm" data-width="1920" data-height="1080" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-width="1920" data-height="1080" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b0/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm.144p.mjpeg.mov" type="video/quicktime" data-transcodekey="144p.mjpeg.mov" data-width="256" data-height="144" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b0/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="426" data-height="240" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b0/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b0/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm/Shaw%27s_Cove_Railroad_Bridge_closing.webm.360p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="360p.vp9.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /></video></span><figcaption>Operation of the overhead conductor rails at Shaw's Cove Railroad Bridge in Connecticut</figcaption></figure> <p>In a movable bridge that uses a rigid overhead rail, there is a need to transition from the catenary wire system into an overhead conductor rail at the bridge portal (the last <a href="/wiki/Traction_current_pylon" title="Traction current pylon">traction current pylon</a> before the movable bridge). For example, the power supply can be done through a catenary wire system near a <a href="/wiki/Swing_bridge" title="Swing bridge">swing bridge</a>. The catenary wire typically comprises messenger wire (also called catenary wire) and a contact wire where it meets the pantograph. The messenger wire is terminated at the portal, while the contact wire runs into the overhead conductor rail profile at the transition end section before it is terminated at the portal. There is a gap between the overhead conductor rail at the transition end section and the overhead conductor rail that runs across the entire span of the swing bridge. The gap is required for the swing bridge to be opened and closed. To connect the conductor rails together when the bridge is closed, there is another conductor rail section called "rotary overlap" that is equipped with a motor. When the bridge is fully closed, the motor of the rotary overlap is operated to turn it from a tilted position into the horizontal position, connecting the conductor rails at the transition end section and the bridge together to supply power.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Short overhead conductor rails are installed at <a href="/wiki/Tram_stop" title="Tram stop">tram stops</a> as for the <a href="/wiki/Combino_Supra#Doha" class="mw-redirect" title="Combino Supra">Combino Supra</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Crossings">Crossings</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Crossings"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tramtrol_029148ed.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Tramtrol_029148ed.jpg/220px-Tramtrol_029148ed.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="144" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Tramtrol_029148ed.jpg/330px-Tramtrol_029148ed.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Tramtrol_029148ed.jpg/440px-Tramtrol_029148ed.jpg 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="394" /></a><figcaption>Tram overhead wire (diagonal) crossing trolleybus wires (horizontal), photographed in Bahnhofplatz, Bern, Switzerland</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tramtrol_029148an.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Tramtrol_029148an.jpg/220px-Tramtrol_029148an.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="144" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Tramtrol_029148an.jpg/330px-Tramtrol_029148an.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Tramtrol_029148an.jpg/440px-Tramtrol_029148an.jpg 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="394" /></a><figcaption>Annotated version of the previous photo, highlighting components <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r981673959">.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}</style><div class="legend"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#0C21EE; color:white;-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; print-color-adjust: exact;"> </span> tram conductor</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><div class="legend"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#089B0C; color:black;-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; print-color-adjust: exact;"> </span> trolley bus wires</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><div class="legend"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#CAFF06; color:black;-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; print-color-adjust: exact;"> </span> insulated trough</div></figcaption></figure> <p><a href="/wiki/Tram" title="Tram">Trams</a> draw their power from a single overhead wire at about 500 to 750 <a href="/wiki/Volts" class="mw-redirect" title="Volts">V</a> DC. <a href="/wiki/Trolleybus" title="Trolleybus">Trolleybuses</a> draw from two overhead wires at a similar voltage, and at least one of the trolleybus wires must be insulated from tram wires. This is usually done by the trolleybus wires running continuously through the crossing, with the tram <a href="/wiki/Electrical_conductor" title="Electrical conductor">conductors</a> a few centimetres lower. Close to the junction on each side, the tram wire turns into a solid bar running parallel to the trolleybus wires for about half a metre. Another bar similarly angled at its ends is hung between the trolleybus wires, electrically connected above to the tram wire. The tram's pantograph bridges the gap between the different conductors, providing it with a continuous pickup. </p><p>Where the tram wire crosses, the trolleybus wires are protected by an inverted trough of <a href="/wiki/Electrical_insulation" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrical insulation">insulating</a> material extending 20 or 30 mm (0.79 or 1.18 in) below. </p><p>Until 1946, a level crossing in <a href="/wiki/Stockholm" title="Stockholm">Stockholm</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sweden" title="Sweden">Sweden</a> connected the <a href="/wiki/Railway" class="mw-redirect" title="Railway">railway</a> south of Stockholm Central Station and a tramway. The tramway operated on 600–700 V DC and the railway on <a href="/wiki/15_kV_AC_railway_electrification" title="15 kV AC railway electrification">15 kV AC</a>. In the Swiss village of <a href="/wiki/Oberentfelden" title="Oberentfelden">Oberentfelden</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Menziken%E2%80%93Aarau%E2%80%93Sch%C3%B6ftland_railway_line" class="mw-redirect" title="Menziken–Aarau–Schöftland railway line">Menziken–Aarau–Schöftland line</a> operating at 750 V DC crosses the <a href="/wiki/Swiss_Federal_Railways" title="Swiss Federal Railways">SBB</a> line at 15 kV AC; there used to be a similar crossing between the two lines at <a href="/wiki/Suhr,_Aargau" title="Suhr, Aargau">Suhr</a> but this was replaced by an underpass in 2010. Some crossings between tramway/light rail and railways are extant in Germany. In <a href="/wiki/Z%C3%BCrich" class="mw-redirect" title="Zürich">Zürich</a>, Switzerland, <a href="/wiki/Verkehrsbetriebe_Z%C3%BCrich" title="Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich">VBZ</a> <a href="/wiki/Trolleybus" title="Trolleybus">trolleybus</a> line 32 has a level crossing with the 1,200 V <a href="/wiki/Direct_current" title="Direct current">DC</a> <a href="/wiki/Uetliberg_railway_line" title="Uetliberg railway line">Uetliberg railway line</a>; at many places, trolleybus lines cross the tramway. In some cities, trolleybuses and trams shared a positive (feed) wire. In such cases, a normal trolleybus frog can be used. </p><p>Alternatively, section breaks can be sited at the crossing point, so that the crossing is electrically dead. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Australia">Australia</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Australia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Many cities had trams and trolleybuses using trolley poles. They used insulated crossovers, which required tram drivers to put the controller into neutral and coast through. Trolleybus drivers had to either lift off the accelerator or switch to auxiliary power. </p><p>In <a href="/wiki/Melbourne" title="Melbourne">Melbourne</a>, Victoria, tram drivers put the controller into neutral and coast through section insulators, indicated by insulator markings between the rails. </p><p>Melbourne has several remaining <a href="/wiki/Level_crossing" title="Level crossing">level crossings</a> between electrified suburban railways and tram lines. They have mechanical switching arrangements (changeover switch) to switch the 1500 V DC overhead of the railway and the 650 V DC of the trams, called a Tram Square.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Several such crossings have been grade separated in recent years as part of the <a href="/wiki/Level_Crossing_Removal_Project" title="Level Crossing Removal Project">Level Crossing Removal Project</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Greece">Greece</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Greece"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Athens" title="Athens">Athens</a> has two crossings of <a href="/wiki/Athens_Tram" title="Athens Tram">tram</a> and trolleybus wires, at Vas. Amalias Avenue and Vas. Olgas Avenue, and at Ardittou Street and Athanasiou Diakou Street. They use the above-mentioned solution. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Italy">Italy</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Italy"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Rome" title="Rome">Rome</a>, at the crossing between Viale Regina Margherita and Via Nomentana, tram and trolleybus lines cross: tram on Viale Regina Margherita and trolleybus on Via Nomentana. The crossing is orthogonal, therefore the typical arrangement was not available. </p><p>In <a href="/wiki/Milan" title="Milan">Milan</a>, most <a href="/wiki/Trams_in_Milan" title="Trams in Milan">tram lines</a> cross <a href="/wiki/Trolleybuses_in_Milan" title="Trolleybuses in Milan">its circular trolleybus line</a> once or twice. Trolleybus and tram wires run parallel in streets such as viale Stelvio, viale Umbria and viale Tibaldi. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Multiple_overhead_lines">Multiple overhead lines</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Multiple overhead lines"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Overhead_conductor_rails.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Overhead_conductor_rails.jpg/220px-Overhead_conductor_rails.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Overhead_conductor_rails.jpg/330px-Overhead_conductor_rails.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Overhead_conductor_rails.jpg/440px-Overhead_conductor_rails.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3456" data-file-height="2304" /></a><figcaption>Two <a href="#Overhead_conductor_rails">overhead conductor rails</a> for the same track. Left, 1,200 V DC for the <a href="/wiki/Sihltal_Z%C3%BCrich_Uetliberg_Bahn" title="Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn">Uetliberg railway</a> (the pantograph is mounted asymmetrically to collect current from this rail); right, 15 kV AC for the Sihltal railway</figcaption></figure> <p>Some railways used two or three overhead lines, usually to carry <a href="/wiki/Three-phase" class="mw-redirect" title="Three-phase">three-phase</a> current. This is used only on the <a href="/wiki/Gornergrat_Railway" title="Gornergrat Railway">Gornergrat Railway</a> and <a href="/wiki/Jungfrau_Railway" title="Jungfrau Railway">Jungfrau Railway</a> in Switzerland, the <a href="/wiki/Petit_train_de_la_Rhune" title="Petit train de la Rhune">Petit train de la Rhune</a> in France, and the <a href="/wiki/Corcovado_Rack_Railway" title="Corcovado Rack Railway">Corcovado Rack Railway</a> in Brazil. Until 1976, it was widely used in Italy. On these railways, the two conductors are used for two different phases of the three-phase AC, while the rail was used for the third phase. The neutral was not used. </p><p>Some three-phase AC railways used three overhead wires. These were an experimental railway line of Siemens in Berlin-Lichtenberg in 1898 (length 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi)), the military railway between Marienfelde and Zossen between 1901 and 1904 (length 23.4 kilometres (14.5 mi)) and an 800-metre (2,600 ft)-long section of a coal railway near Cologne between 1940 and 1949. </p><p>On DC systems, bipolar overhead lines were sometimes used to avoid <a href="/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion" title="Galvanic corrosion">galvanic corrosion</a> of metallic parts near the railway, such as on the <a href="/wiki/Chemin_de_fer_de_la_Mure" class="mw-redirect" title="Chemin de fer de la Mure">Chemin de fer de la Mure</a>. </p><p>All systems with multiple overhead lines have a high risk of short circuits at switches and therefore tend to be impractical in use, especially when high voltages are used or when trains run through the points at high speed. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Sihltal_Z%C3%BCrich_Uetliberg_Bahn" title="Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn">Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn</a> had two lines with different electrification. To be able to use different electric systems on shared tracks, the <a href="/wiki/Sihltal_railway_line" title="Sihltal railway line">Sihltal line</a> had its overhead wire right above the train, whilst the <a href="/wiki/Uetliberg_railway_line" title="Uetliberg railway line">Uetliberg line</a> had its overhead wire off to one side. This configuration was used up until summer 2022, since then the <a href="/wiki/Uetliberg_railway_line" title="Uetliberg railway line">Uetliberg line</a> has been switched to the standard 15kV 16.7 Hz configuration.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Overhead_catenary">Overhead catenary</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Overhead catenary"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Two_images_showing_catenary_and_trolley_wire_systems.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Two_images_showing_catenary_and_trolley_wire_systems.jpg/220px-Two_images_showing_catenary_and_trolley_wire_systems.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="212" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Two_images_showing_catenary_and_trolley_wire_systems.jpg/330px-Two_images_showing_catenary_and_trolley_wire_systems.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Two_images_showing_catenary_and_trolley_wire_systems.jpg/440px-Two_images_showing_catenary_and_trolley_wire_systems.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5149" data-file-height="4960" /></a><figcaption>Catenary (upper photo) is suited to higher-speed rail vehicles. Trolley wire (lower photo) is suited to slower-speed trams (streetcars) and light rail vehicles.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Overhead_rail_P1220601.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Overhead_rail_P1220601.jpg/220px-Overhead_rail_P1220601.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Overhead_rail_P1220601.jpg/330px-Overhead_rail_P1220601.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Overhead_rail_P1220601.jpg/440px-Overhead_rail_P1220601.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2560" data-file-height="1920" /></a><figcaption>Overhead feeding rail on the <a href="/wiki/R%C3%A9seau_Express_R%C3%A9gional" title="Réseau Express Régional">RER</a> <a href="/wiki/RER_C" title="RER C">Line C</a> trenches and tunnels in central Paris</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Overhead_lines_JR_West_001.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Overhead_lines_JR_West_001.JPG/220px-Overhead_lines_JR_West_001.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="146" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Overhead_lines_JR_West_001.JPG/330px-Overhead_lines_JR_West_001.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Overhead_lines_JR_West_001.JPG/440px-Overhead_lines_JR_West_001.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1020" data-file-height="679" /></a><figcaption>Compound catenary equipment of <a href="/wiki/West_Japan_Railway_Company" title="West Japan Railway Company">JR West</a></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:60163_Tornado_7_March_2009_Berwick.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/60163_Tornado_7_March_2009_Berwick.jpg/220px-60163_Tornado_7_March_2009_Berwick.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="141" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/60163_Tornado_7_March_2009_Berwick.jpg/330px-60163_Tornado_7_March_2009_Berwick.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/60163_Tornado_7_March_2009_Berwick.jpg/440px-60163_Tornado_7_March_2009_Berwick.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3063" data-file-height="1970" /></a><figcaption>An older rail bridge in <a href="/wiki/Berwick-upon-Tweed" title="Berwick-upon-Tweed">Berwick-upon-Tweed</a>, retrofitted to include overhead catenary lines</figcaption></figure> <p>A catenary is a system of overhead <a href="/wiki/Wire" title="Wire">wires</a> used to supply <a href="/wiki/Electricity" title="Electricity">electricity</a> to a <a href="/wiki/Locomotive" title="Locomotive">locomotive</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tram" title="Tram">tram</a> (<a href="/wiki/Streetcar" class="mw-redirect" title="Streetcar">streetcar</a>), or <a href="/wiki/Light_rail" title="Light rail">light rail</a> vehicle that is equipped with a <a href="/wiki/Pantograph_(rail)" class="mw-redirect" title="Pantograph (rail)">pantograph</a>. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Overhead_catenary_bridge.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Overhead_catenary_bridge.jpg/220px-Overhead_catenary_bridge.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Overhead_catenary_bridge.jpg/330px-Overhead_catenary_bridge.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Overhead_catenary_bridge.jpg/440px-Overhead_catenary_bridge.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4608" data-file-height="3456" /></a><figcaption>Gantry with old and new suspended equipment at <a href="/wiki/Grivita_railway_station" class="mw-redirect" title="Grivita railway station">Grivita railway station</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bucharest" title="Bucharest">Bucharest</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Unlike simple overhead wires, in which the uninsulated wire is attached by clamps to closely spaced crosswires supported by poles, catenary systems use at least two wires. The catenary or messenger wire is hung at a specific tension between line structures, and a second wire is held in <a href="/wiki/Tension_(mechanics)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tension (mechanics)">tension</a> by the messenger wire, attached to it at frequent intervals by <a href="/wiki/Clamp_(tool)" title="Clamp (tool)">clamps</a> and connecting wires known as <i>droppers</i>. The second wire is straight and level, parallel to the <a href="/wiki/Rail_track" class="mw-redirect" title="Rail track">rail track</a>, suspended over it as the roadway of a <a href="/wiki/Suspension_bridge" title="Suspension bridge">suspension bridge</a> is over water. </p><p>Catenary systems are suited to high-speed operations whereas simple wire systems, which are less expensive to build and maintain, are common on light rail or tram (streetcar) lines, especially on city streets. Such vehicles can be fitted with either a pantograph or <a href="/wiki/Trolley_pole" title="Trolley pole">trolley pole</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Overhead_catenary_systems_in_the_United_States">Overhead catenary systems in the United States</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Overhead catenary systems in the United States"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Northeast_Corridor" title="Northeast Corridor">Northeast Corridor</a> in the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> has catenary over the 600 miles (970 km) between <a href="/wiki/Boston" title="Boston">Boston</a>, <a href="/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a> and <a href="/wiki/Washington,_D.C." title="Washington, D.C.">Washington, D.C.</a>, for <a href="/wiki/Amtrak" title="Amtrak">Amtrak</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Inter-city_rail" title="Inter-city rail">inter-city</a> trains. <a href="/wiki/Commuter_rail" title="Commuter rail">Commuter rail</a> agencies including <a href="/wiki/MARC_Train" title="MARC Train">MARC</a>, <a href="/wiki/SEPTA" title="SEPTA">SEPTA</a>, <a href="/wiki/NJ_Transit_Rail_Operations" title="NJ Transit Rail Operations">NJ Transit</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Metro-North_Railroad" title="Metro-North Railroad">Metro-North Railroad</a> utilize the catenary to provide local service. </p><p>In <a href="/wiki/Cleveland,_Ohio" class="mw-redirect" title="Cleveland, Ohio">Cleveland, Ohio</a>, the <a href="/wiki/RTA_Rapid_Transit" title="RTA Rapid Transit">interurban/light rail</a> lines and the <a href="/wiki/Red_Line_(Cleveland)" class="mw-redirect" title="Red Line (Cleveland)">heavy rail</a> line use the same overhead wires, due to a city ordinance intended to limit air pollution from the large number of steam trains that passed through Cleveland between the east coast and Chicago. Trains switched from steam to electric locomotives at the Collinwood railyards about 10 miles (16 km) east of Downtown and at <a href="/wiki/Linndale" class="mw-redirect" title="Linndale">Linndale</a> on the west side. When Cleveland constructed its rapid transit (heavy rail) line between the airport, downtown, and beyond, it employed a similar catenary, using electrification equipment left over after railroads switched from steam to diesel. Light and heavy rail share trackage for about 3 miles (4.8 km) along the <a href="/wiki/Cleveland_Hopkins_International_Airport" title="Cleveland Hopkins International Airport">Cleveland Hopkins International Airport</a> <a href="/wiki/Red_Line_(Cleveland)" class="mw-redirect" title="Red Line (Cleveland)">Red (heavy rail) line</a>, <a href="/wiki/RTA_Rapid_Transit#Blue,_Green,_and_Waterfront_Lines" title="RTA Rapid Transit">Blue and Green interurban/light rail lines</a> between <a href="/wiki/Cleveland_Union_Terminal" class="mw-redirect" title="Cleveland Union Terminal">Cleveland Union Terminal</a> and just past East 55th Street station, where the lines separate. </p><p>Part of <a href="/wiki/Boston" title="Boston">Boston</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Blue_Line_(MBTA)" title="Blue Line (MBTA)">Blue Line</a> through the northeast suburbs uses overhead lines, as does the Green Line. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Yellow_Line_(CTA)" title="Yellow Line (CTA)">Yellow Line</a> on the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_%22L%22" title="Chicago "L"">Chicago "L"</a> used an overhead catenary system for the west half of the route, transitioning to third rail for the east half. This was discontinued in 2004 when the entire route was converted to third rail. </p><p>On the <a href="/wiki/San_Francisco_peninsula" class="mw-redirect" title="San Francisco peninsula">San Francisco peninsula</a> in <a href="/wiki/California" title="California">California</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Caltrain" title="Caltrain">Caltrain</a> <a href="/wiki/Commuter_rail" title="Commuter rail">commuter rail</a> system completed the installation of an overhead contact system (OCS) in 2023, to prepare for the conversion of its 160-year old <a href="/wiki/San_Francisco" title="San Francisco">San Francisco</a> to <a href="/wiki/San_Jose,_California" title="San Jose, California">San José</a> Peninsula Corridor to fully-electrified revenue service in September 2024. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Height">Height</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Height"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The height of the overhead line can create hazards at <a href="/wiki/Level_crossing" title="Level crossing">level crossings</a>, where it may be struck by road vehicles. Warning signs are placed on the approaches, advising drivers of the maximum safe height. </p><p>The wiring in most countries is too low to allow <a href="/wiki/Double-stack_rail_transport" title="Double-stack rail transport">double stack container</a> trains. The <a href="/wiki/Channel_Tunnel" title="Channel Tunnel">Channel Tunnel</a> has an extended height overhead line to accommodate double-height car and truck transporters. <a href="/wiki/China" title="China">China</a> and <a href="/wiki/Rail_transport_in_India" title="Rail transport in India">India</a> operate lines electrified with extra height wiring and pantographs to allow for double stack container trains.<sup id="cite_ref-spotlight_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-spotlight-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Problems_with_overhead_equipment">Problems with overhead equipment</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Problems with overhead equipment"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Overhead lines may be adversely affected by strong winds causing wires to swing.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Power storms can knock the power out with <a href="/wiki/Lightning" title="Lightning">lightning</a> strikes on systems<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> with overhead wires, stopping trains following a <a href="/wiki/Voltage_spike" title="Voltage spike">power surge</a>. </p><p>During cold or frosty weather, ice may coat overhead lines. This can result in poor electrical contact between the collector and the overhead line, resulting in electrical arcing and power surges.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Ice coatings also add extra weight, as well as increase their surface area exposed to wind, consequently increasing the load on the wires and their supports. </p><p>Lines may sag during hot weather and if a pantograph gets entangled, this can result in a dewirement. Similarly, in very cold weather they may contract and snap. </p><p>The installation of overhead lines may require reconstruction of bridges to provide safe electrical clearance.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Overhead lines, like most electrified systems, require a greater <a href="/wiki/Capital_expenditure" title="Capital expenditure">capital expenditure</a> when building the system than an equivalent non-electric system. While a unelectrified railway line requires only the grade, ballast, ties and rails, an overhead system also requires a complex system of support structures, lines, insulators, power-control systems and power lines, all of which require maintenance. This makes non-electrical systems more attractive in the short term, although electrical systems can pay for themselves eventually. Also, the added construction and maintenance cost-per-mile makes overhead systems less attractive on already existing long-distance railways, such as those found in North America, where the distances between cities are typically far greater than in Europe. Such long lines require enormous investment in overhead line equipment, which private rail companies are unlikely to be interested in, and major difficulties confront energizing long portions of overhead wire on a permanent basis, especially in areas where energy demand already outstrips supply. </p><p>Many people consider overhead lines to be "<a href="/wiki/Visual_pollution" title="Visual pollution">visual pollution</a>", due to the many support structures and complicated system of wires and cables that fill the air. Such considerations have driven the move towards replacing overhead power and communications lines with buried cables where possible. The issue came to a head in the UK with the <a href="/wiki/Great_Western_Main_Line" title="Great Western Main Line">Great Western Main Line</a> electrification scheme, especially through the <a href="/wiki/Goring_Gap" title="Goring Gap">Goring Gap</a>. A protest group with their own website has been formed.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The valuable copper conductor can also be subject to theft, as for example the <a href="/wiki/Pakistan_Railways#Electrification" title="Pakistan Railways">Lahore-Khanewal line in Pakistan</a> and the <a href="/wiki/National_Railways_of_Zimbabwe#Operations" title="National Railways of Zimbabwe">Gweru-Harare section of line in Zimbabwe</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The first tram with overhead lines was presented by <a href="/wiki/Werner_von_Siemens" title="Werner von Siemens">Werner von Siemens</a> at the <a href="/wiki/International_Exposition_of_Electricity" title="International Exposition of Electricity">1881 International Exposition of Electricity</a> in <a href="/wiki/Paris" title="Paris">Paris</a>: the installation was removed after that event. In October 1883, the first permanent tram service with overhead lines was on the <a href="/wiki/M%C3%B6dling_and_Hinterbr%C3%BChl_Tram" title="Mödling and Hinterbrühl Tram">Mödling and Hinterbrühl Tram</a> in Austria. The trams had bipolar overhead lines, consisting of two U-pipes, in which the pantographs hung and ran like shuttles. From April to June 1882, Siemens had tested a similar system on his <a href="/wiki/Electromote" title="Electromote">Electromote</a>, an early precursor of the <a href="/wiki/Trolleybus" title="Trolleybus">trolleybus</a>. </p><p>Much simpler and more functional was an overhead wire in combination with a pantograph borne by the vehicle and pressed at the line from below. This system, for rail traffic with a unipolar line, was invented by <a href="/wiki/Frank_J._Sprague" title="Frank J. Sprague">Frank J. Sprague</a> in 1888. From 1889 it was used at the <a href="/wiki/Richmond_Union_Passenger_Railway" title="Richmond Union Passenger Railway">Richmond Union Passenger Railway</a> in <a href="/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia" title="Richmond, Virginia">Richmond, Virginia</a>, pioneering electric traction. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col" style="column-width: 23em;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Catenary_maintenance_vehicle" title="Catenary maintenance vehicle">Catenary maintenance vehicle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electro-diesel_locomotive" title="Electro-diesel locomotive">Electro-diesel locomotive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gantry_(transport)#Railway_use" title="Gantry (transport)">Gantry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Insulator_(electricity)" title="Insulator (electricity)">Insulator (electricity)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lineworker" title="Lineworker">Lineworker</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_railway_electrification_systems" title="List of railway electrification systems">List of railway electrification systems</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification" title="Railway electrification">Railway electrification</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Traction_current_pylon" title="Traction current pylon">Traction current pylon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Utility_pole" title="Utility pole">Utility pole</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">UIC English/French/German Thesaurus.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Исаев, И. П.; Фрайфельд, А. В.; "Беседы об электрической железной дороге" (Discussions about the electric railway) Москва, "Транспорт", 1989. pp, 186-7</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">See previous reference and Ботц Ю. В., Чекулаев, В. Е., Контактная сеть. Москва "Транспорт" 1976 p. 54</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation report cs1 cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.uradni-list.si/glasilo-uradni-list-rs/vsebina/2003-01-2787/pravilnik-o-projektiranju-gradnji-in-vzdrzevanju-stabilnih-naprav-elektricne-vleke-enosmernega-sistema-3-kv">Pravilnik o projektiranju, gradnji in vzdrževanju stabilnih naprav električne vleke enosmernega sistema 3 kV</a> [Rules on the design, construction and maintenance of stable 3 kV DC traction devices] (2610-5/2003/3-0503) (in Slovenian). May 23, 2003.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=report&rft.btitle=Pravilnik+o+projektiranju%2C+gradnji+in+vzdr%C5%BEevanju+stabilnih+naprav+elektri%C4%8Dne+vleke+enosmernega+sistema+3+kV&rft.date=2003-05-23&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uradni-list.si%2Fglasilo-uradni-list-rs%2Fvsebina%2F2003-01-2787%2Fpravilnik-o-projektiranju-gradnji-in-vzdrzevanju-stabilnih-naprav-elektricne-vleke-enosmernega-sistema-3-kv&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">BE EN 50149:2012, Railway applications - Fixed installations - Electric traction - Copper and copper alloy grooved contact wires, BSI Standards Publications</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/103249/1/Overheadline_paper_ICE_accepted_version.pdf">"OHLE Modelling"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=OHLE+Modelling&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Feprints.whiterose.ac.uk%2F103249%2F1%2FOverheadline_paper_ICE_accepted_version.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMoraisMartins2022" class="citation journal cs1">Morais, Vítor A.; Martins, António P. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2020-07-01</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=ResearchGate&rft.atitle=Aerodynamic+Effects+Caused+by+Trains+Entering+Tunnels&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Fpublication%2F245307012&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1 cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ing.dk/artikel/kamerasystem-skal-advare-lokofoerere-mod-svingende-koereledninger-paa-storebaelt-163994">"Kamerasystem skal advare lokoførere mod svingende køreledninger på Storebælt"</a> (in Danish). 5 November 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">25 June</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Kamerasystem+skal+advare+lokof%C3%B8rere+mod+svingende+k%C3%B8reledninger+p%C3%A5+Storeb%C3%A6lt&rft.date=2013-11-05&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fing.dk%2Fartikel%2Fkamerasystem-skal-advare-lokofoerere-mod-svingende-koereledninger-paa-storebaelt-163994&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ocs4rail.com/author/admin/">"Garry Keenor – Overhead Line Electrification for Railways"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2019-02-05</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Garry+Keenor+%E2%80%93+Overhead+Line+Electrification+for+Railways&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocs4rail.com%2Fauthor%2Fadmin%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFStewart2012" class="citation news cs1">Stewart, Matt (21 May 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6956618/Matangi-trains-more-susceptible-to-frost">"Matangi trains 'more susceptible' to frost"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Dominion_Post_(Wellington)" class="mw-redirect" title="The Dominion Post (Wellington)">The Dominion Post</a></i>. Wellington<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2 September</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Dominion+Post&rft.atitle=Matangi+trains+%27more+susceptible%27+to+frost&rft.date=2012-05-21&rft.aulast=Stewart&rft.aufirst=Matt&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stuff.co.nz%2Fdominion-post%2Fnews%2F6956618%2FMatangi-trains-more-susceptible-to-frost&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKeenor2014" class="citation book cs1">Keenor, Garry (2014). "Series 1: A User's Perspective [railway electrification]". <i>Railway Electrification</i>. pp. 6 (7 .). <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1049%2Fic.2014.0056">10.1049/ic.2014.0056</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781849199803" title="Special:BookSources/9781849199803"><bdi>9781849199803</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Series+1%3A+A+User%27s+Perspective+%26%2391%3Brailway+electrification%26%2393%3B&rft.btitle=Railway+Electrification&rft.pages=6+%287+.%29&rft.date=2014&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1049%2Fic.2014.0056&rft.isbn=9781849199803&rft.aulast=Keenor&rft.aufirst=Garry&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.savegoringgap.org.uk/">"Save the Goring Gap"</a>. <i>Save the Goring Gap</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2019-02-05</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Save+the+Goring+Gap&rft.atitle=Save+the+Goring+Gap&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.savegoringgap.org.uk%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCooper1982" class="citation magazine cs1">Cooper, B.K. (February–March 1982). "Catenaries and Contact Wires". <i><a href="/wiki/RAIL_(magazine)" class="mw-redirect" title="RAIL (magazine)">Rail Enthusiast</a></i>. EMAP National Publications. pp. <span class="nowrap">14–</span>16. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0262-561X">0262-561X</a>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/49957965">49957965</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Rail+Enthusiast&rft.atitle=Catenaries+and+Contact+Wires&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E14-%3C%2Fspan%3E16&rft.date=1982-02%2F1982-03&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F49957965&rft.issn=0262-561X&rft.aulast=Cooper&rft.aufirst=B.K.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ocs4rail.com/author/admin/">"Garry Keenor – Overhead Line Electrification for Railways"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2019-02-05</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Garry+Keenor+%E2%80%93+Overhead+Line+Electrification+for+Railways&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocs4rail.com%2Fauthor%2Fadmin%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200716230504/https://cdn.generalcable.com/getmedia/a535a5f6-535f-4347-8e0c-74a13146835d/46337_TransPowrGuide_LR">"Trans Power Guide"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://cdn.generalcable.com/getmedia/a535a5f6-535f-4347-8e0c-74a13146835d/46337_TransPowrGuide_LR">the original</a> on 2020-07-16<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2019-03-06</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Trans+Power+Guide&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.generalcable.com%2Fgetmedia%2Fa535a5f6-535f-4347-8e0c-74a13146835d%2F46337_TransPowrGuide_LR&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLiudvinavičiusDailydka2016" class="citation journal cs1">Liudvinavičius, Lionginas; Dailydka, Stasys (1 January 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.proeng.2016.01.007">"The Aspects of Catenary Maintenance of Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC)"</a>. <i>Procedia Engineering</i>. <b>134</b>: <span class="nowrap">268–</span>275. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<span class="id-lock-free" title="Freely accessible"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.proeng.2016.01.007">10.1016/j.proeng.2016.01.007</a></span>. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1877-7058">1877-7058</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Procedia+Engineering&rft.atitle=The+Aspects+of+Catenary+Maintenance+of+Direct+Current+%28DC%29+and+Alternating+Current+%28AC%29&rft.volume=134&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E268-%3C%2Fspan%3E275&rft.date=2016-01-01&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1016%2Fj.proeng.2016.01.007&rft.issn=1877-7058&rft.aulast=Liudvinavi%C4%8Dius&rft.aufirst=Lionginas&rft.au=Dailydka%2C+Stasys&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1016%252Fj.proeng.2016.01.007&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AOverhead+line" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Overhead_line&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></a></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; 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.navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Railway_electrification108" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Railway_electrification" title="Template:Railway electrification"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Railway_electrification" title="Template talk:Railway electrification"><abbr title="Discuss this 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title="Current collector">Contact shoe</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Power delivery</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification" title="Railway electrification">Railway electrification</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Overhead line</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Third_rail" title="Third rail">Third rail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification#Fourth_rail" title="Railway electrification">Fourth rail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ground-level_power_supply" title="Ground-level power supply">Ground-level power supply</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Stud_contact_system" title="Stud contact system">Stud contact system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conduit_current_collection" title="Conduit current collection">Conduit current collection</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Rolling_stock" title="Rolling stock">Rolling stock</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electric_traction" title="Railway electric traction">Railway electric traction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_car" title="Power car">Power car</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_locomotive" title="Electric locomotive">Electric locomotive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_multiple_unit" title="Electric multiple unit">Electric multiple unit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electro-diesel_locomotive" title="Electro-diesel locomotive">Electro-diesel locomotive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electro-diesel_multiple_unit" title="Electro-diesel multiple unit">Electro-diesel multiple unit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Multi-system_(rail)" title="Multi-system (rail)">Multi-system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rubber-tyred_metro" title="Rubber-tyred metro">Rubber-tyred metro</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Power network</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Traction_power_network" title="Traction power network">Traction power network</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Traction_substation" title="Traction substation">Traction substation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Traction_powerstation" title="Traction powerstation">Traction powerstation</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">By country</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Australia" title="Railway electrification in Australia">Australia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_installations_for_15_kV_AC_railway_electrification_in_Germany,_Austria_and_Switzerland#Austria" title="List of installations for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Germany, Austria and Switzerland">Austria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union#Estonia" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Estonia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_France" title="Railway electrification in France">France</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_installations_for_15_kV_AC_railway_electrification_in_Germany,_Austria_and_Switzerland#Germany" title="List of installations for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Germany, Austria and Switzerland">Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Central_Organisation_for_Railway_Electrification" title="Central Organisation for Railway Electrification">India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Iran" title="Railway electrification in Iran">Iran</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Japan" title="Railway electrification in Japan">Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union#Latvia" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Latvia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union#Lithuania" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Lithuania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Malaysia" title="Railway electrification in Malaysia">Malaysia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_New_Zealand" title="Railway electrification in New Zealand">New Zealand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Norway" title="Railway electrification in Norway">Norway</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_railway_electrification_in_Norway" title="Timeline of railway electrification in Norway">timeline</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Poland" title="Railway electrification in Poland">Poland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union#Russia" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Russia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Former USSR</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_installations_for_15_kV_AC_railway_electrification_in_Sweden" title="List of installations for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Sweden">Sweden</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_installations_for_15_kV_AC_railway_electrification_in_Germany,_Austria_and_Switzerland#Switzerland" title="List of installations for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Germany, Austria and Switzerland">Switzerland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Turkey" class="mw-redirect" title="Railway electrification in Turkey">Turkey</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union#Ukraine" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Ukraine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Great_Britain" title="Railway electrification in Great Britain">United Kingdom</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railroad_electrification_in_the_United_States" title="Railroad electrification in the United States">United States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Lists</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_railway_electrification_systems" title="List of railway electrification systems">Railway electrification systems</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_tram_systems_by_gauge_and_electrification" title="List of tram systems by gauge and electrification">Tram electrification systems</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Rail_infrastructure212" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Rail_tracks" title="Template:Rail tracks"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Rail_tracks" title="Template talk:Rail tracks"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Rail_tracks" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Rail tracks"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Rail_infrastructure212" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Rail <a href="/wiki/Infrastructure#Transport_infrastructure" title="Infrastructure">infrastructure</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Railway_track" title="Railway track">Tracks</a><small> <a href="/wiki/Permanent_way_(history)" class="mw-redirect" title="Permanent way (history)">(history)</a> </small></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axe_ties" class="mw-redirect" title="Axe ties">Axe ties</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Track_ballast" title="Track ballast">Ballast</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baulk_road" title="Baulk road">Baulk road</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Breather_switch" title="Breather switch">Breather switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cant_(road/rail)" class="mw-redirect" title="Cant (road/rail)">Cant</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Clip_and_scotch" title="Clip and scotch">Clip and scotch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Date_nail" title="Date nail">Date nail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rail_fastening_system" title="Rail fastening system">Fastening system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fishplate" title="Fishplate">Fishplate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ladder_track" title="Ladder track">Ladder track</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Minimum_railway_curve_radius" title="Minimum railway curve radius">Minimum radius</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rail_profile" title="Rail profile">Profile</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railroad_tie" title="Railroad tie">Tie/Sleeper</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Track_transition_curve" title="Track transition curve">Transition curve</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Trackwork</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Balloon_loop" title="Balloon loop">Balloon loop</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Classification_yard" title="Classification yard">Classification yard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Headshunt" title="Headshunt">Headshunt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pocket_track" title="Pocket track">Pocket track</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Junction_(rail)" title="Junction (rail)">Junction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gauntlet_track" title="Gauntlet track">Gauntlet track</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Guide_bar" title="Guide bar">Guide bar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Passing_loop" title="Passing loop">Passing loop</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Track_gauge" title="Track gauge">Track gauge</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dual_gauge" title="Dual gauge">dual gauge</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Track_(rail_transport)" class="mw-redirect" title="Track (rail transport)">Rail track</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tramway_track" title="Tramway track">tramway track</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rail_yard" title="Rail yard">Rail yard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification" title="Railway electrification">Railway electrification</a> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">overhead lines</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Third_rail" title="Third rail">third rail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ground-level_power_supply" title="Ground-level power supply">ground-level power supply</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_turntable" title="Railway turntable">Railway turntable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transfer_table" title="Transfer table">Transfer table (traverser)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Roll_way" title="Roll way">Roll way</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Siding_(rail)" title="Siding (rail)">Siding</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Refuge_siding" title="Refuge siding">refuge siding</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railroad_switch" title="Railroad switch">Switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Track_geometry" title="Track geometry">Track geometry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Water_crane" title="Water crane">Water crane</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Water_trough" title="Water trough">Water trough</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wye_(rail)" title="Wye (rail)">Wye</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Railway_signalling" title="Railway signalling">Signalling</a><br />and safety</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anti-trespass_panels" title="Anti-trespass panels">Anti-trespass panels</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Block_post" title="Block post">Block post</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Buffer_stop" title="Buffer stop">Buffer stop</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Catch_points" title="Catch points">Catch points</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Defect_detector" title="Defect detector">Defect detector</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Derail" title="Derail">Derailer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Guard_rail_(railroad)" class="mw-redirect" title="Guard rail (railroad)">Guard rail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interlocking" title="Interlocking">Interlocking</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Level_crossing" title="Level crossing">Level crossing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Loading_gauge" title="Loading gauge">Loading gauge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Platform_screen_doors" title="Platform screen doors">Platform screen doors</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_signal" title="Railway signal">Railway signal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Signalling_control" title="Signalling control">Signalling control</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Structure_gauge" title="Structure gauge">Structure gauge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railroad_signal_bridge" class="mw-redirect" title="Railroad signal bridge">Signal bridge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tell-tale_(bridges)" title="Tell-tale (bridges)">Tell-tale</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Train_stop" title="Train stop">Train stop</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wayside_horn" title="Wayside horn">Wayside horn</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Structures</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Coaling_tower" title="Coaling tower">Coaling tower</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Motive_power_depot" title="Motive power depot">Motive power depot</a>/<a href="/wiki/Railway_workshop" title="Railway workshop">Railway workshop</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_platform" title="Railway platform">Platform</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_roundhouse" title="Railway roundhouse">Roundhouse</a></li> <li>Shed <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Train_shed" title="Train shed">for trains</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Goods_shed" title="Goods shed">for goods</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Train_station" title="Train station">Station</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Station_building" title="Station building">building</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Station_clock" title="Station clock">clock</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ghost_station" title="Ghost station">ghost</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_railway_stations" title="List of railway stations">list</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Water_stop" title="Water stop">Water stop</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Types</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Industrial_railway" title="Industrial railway">Industrial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_railways" title="Military railways">Military</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Private_railway" title="Private railway">Private</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Private_railway_station" title="Private railway station">station</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_private_railway_stations" title="List of private railway stations">list</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1038841319">.mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}</style><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1038841319"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox authority-control" aria-label="Navbox803" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Help:Authority_control" title="Help:Authority control">Authority control databases</a>: National <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a 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