by chnhrr
I came across this, which maybe of interest. The New Haven back in 1910 was thinking of using the experimental arched catenary system installed at Glenbrook for the Harlem River Branch. The arched system seemed satisfactory, but by 1912 the railroad decided to use the present tapered leg catenary bridge instead. I don’t know if the change in plan was due to cost, scheduling or engineering concerns. I include a snippet from an article and some pictures as reference.
PROPOSED CATENARY CONSTRUCTION FOR HARLEM RIVER BRANCH OF NEW YORK NEW HAVEN & HARTFORD RAILROAD (Electric Railway Journal 1910)
A 6000 ft experimental section of catenary trolley construction of a novel type was built last fall by the New York New Haven & Hartford Railroad eastward from the end of its electric zone at Stamford Conn The object in erecting this experimental section was to observe the results of electric locomotive operation under an overhead construction much lighter more elastic and less costly to erect and maintain than the catenary construction with double messenger wires and triangular hangers which was used on the initial electric zone between Woodlawn and Stamford The results have been so satisfactory that it has been decided to adopt this new construction with some modifications for the electric equipment of the six track Harlem River branch between New Rochelle and Harlem River 12.13 miles The details of the experimental four track section as built are shown in the accompanying engravings from photographs and the details of the six track construction as modified for the Harlem River branch are shown in the line engravings.
PROPOSED CATENARY CONSTRUCTION FOR HARLEM RIVER BRANCH OF NEW YORK NEW HAVEN & HARTFORD RAILROAD (Electric Railway Journal 1910)
A 6000 ft experimental section of catenary trolley construction of a novel type was built last fall by the New York New Haven & Hartford Railroad eastward from the end of its electric zone at Stamford Conn The object in erecting this experimental section was to observe the results of electric locomotive operation under an overhead construction much lighter more elastic and less costly to erect and maintain than the catenary construction with double messenger wires and triangular hangers which was used on the initial electric zone between Woodlawn and Stamford The results have been so satisfactory that it has been decided to adopt this new construction with some modifications for the electric equipment of the six track Harlem River branch between New Rochelle and Harlem River 12.13 miles The details of the experimental four track section as built are shown in the accompanying engravings from photographs and the details of the six track construction as modified for the Harlem River branch are shown in the line engravings.