tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074654920193695267.post6774578234906892427..comments2023-12-24T12:05:31.362+11:00Comments on BYLONG: In real life wires sag - a philosophical discussionRay Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16624865987062727847noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074654920193695267.post-62492788427659022412013-11-23T19:19:56.769+11:002013-11-23T19:19:56.769+11:00Ray
In addition to what Ian has said, something e...Ray<br /><br />In addition to what Ian has said, something else to consider in this is where, & the locality you are actually modelling when considering the various poles & wires to string.<br /><br />Using the Ardglen photo as an example, the sagging set of lines are the public or PMG/electricity wiring, which in many (not all) circumstances followed the railway lines.<br /><br />The set on the other side of the station are the railway service lines which carried the railways own telephone service lines, as well as the common open party type lines for the use of control & train running. Other lines included power for the electric staff & general instrument working in the signal boxes.<br /><br />The further away from the major main lines & into secondary line territory you got, the fewer lines were found on the railway poles, & they usually were only around 4 in areas of staff & ticket working, as only the control phone was used.<br /><br />The basis of the sag was dependant on the extremities of the weather, certainly sagging occurred in the hot summers & somewhat worse further out, but in the winter some sag existed when ice formed on the wires weighing the wires down, otherwise only minimal sag was noticed certainly they were not taunt on the poles.<br /><br />The other aspect is that depending on age & weather conditions in the poles ground setting can cause problems as well, after rain the pole may also start to fall, & I have seen several that were burnt at the base after firebreaks burnt into them meaning the wires actually held them up.<br /><br />The other thing often seen out west & when I was at Parkes the run the Ivanhoe of 231 miles of boring terrain meant some strange ways to keep alert, & one of them was to count the poles per mile, then how many masts, then insulators, on them, add them up per mile. <br /><br />I remember doing well until I noticed many insulators totally missing, some with the top knob section missing, then there were the white porcelain types also the clear, brown & green glass insulators that were often mixed on the masts, & many broken on the ground under the masts.<br /><br />How far can you go, or really want to in order to be completely accurate for the prototype? <br /><br />I think having the poles & masts with some wiring with mininmal droop would be more than enough to show a representation of what actually existed, also I would not be personally having any more than 2 horizontal rows of masts, as my layout is a basically a bit further out somewhere in NSW than Ardglen is.Colin Husseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10166476334786660482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074654920193695267.post-35133150063129498562013-11-23T19:13:21.758+11:002013-11-23T19:13:21.758+11:00Hi Ray,
Another thing to consider is movement in ...Hi Ray,<br /><br />Another thing to consider is movement in the wires. It isn't an issue with still photography however if you are preparing video of your layout then any transfer vibrations etc could become visible in close up photography. A comparison of this is evident in the excellent 'weathering artist' series produced by Model Railroad hobbyist. The diorama is shot outside so wind is an issue however this may help you make a call for taut or slack wires one way or another. <br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsG9Wqhhhkg<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />EvanEWKnaggs1976https://www.blogger.com/profile/03663210309532421703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074654920193695267.post-22358419711149740072013-11-23T17:55:23.736+11:002013-11-23T17:55:23.736+11:00Ray,
Further to my previous comment, I also shoul...Ray,<br /><br />Further to my previous comment, I also should have made the point that communications line construction are obviously designed to have a certain amount of sag as well, just not as much as electricity wires.<br /><br />As with anything we model, observing the prototype will aid in recreating it in model form.<br /><br />IanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074654920193695267.post-75875948550634307582013-11-23T17:52:01.478+11:002013-11-23T17:52:01.478+11:00Hi Ray,
Could I offer some comments on wires and ...Hi Ray,<br /><br />Could I offer some comments on wires and sag.<br /><br />In regards to your first photo at Ardglen, it's probably the telephoto lens that has accentuated the sag.<br /><br />Being in the electricity distribution industry for nearly 30 years, I can safely say that electricity lines are built to different standards than communications type wires (Telecom and railways).<br /><br />Firstly, you'll find that electricity poles are generally spaced much further apart than those carrying communications wires.<br /><br />Also, electricity wires are designed to have a certain amount of sag between poles. This is calculated from a number of factors including the type of conductor, the amount of load (current) they are designed to carry, effects of wind on the wires along with other characteristics.<br /><br />Now, not being experienced with communications line design, I would think that because the poles generally carried many wires, and not just 2, 3 or 4 as in electricity, and not being at such a high voltage, they could get away with less separation between conductors.<br /><br />You will probably find that keeping communications wires taut and electricity wires with a small amount of sag will look more realistic and help tell the difference between the two.<br /><br />I hope this helps.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />IanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com