Abridgment of railway inclined catenary standardized design

A description is given of a new method of overhead contact design, the “ideal inclined catenary”. This is based on an originally discovered tension and weight relation formula. A proof of the formula is given and other characteristics of the design are mathematically analyzed. A number of railroads now using inclined catenary is listed and data on the weights and tensions of their overhead constructions are given for comparison purposes with the “ideal.” The necessity of making a definite selection of a proper contact wire tension in any inclined catenary design is indicated and that this, together with the use of the design formula, leads to standardization of overhead systems is pointed out.