The East Penn Traction Club
Introduction to Trolley Modeling
By Chuck Crouse
Ding, Ding! The gong sounds twice as the trolley
starts up, bearing a crowd of happy passengers. Come along! Discover
the fun of model traction. "Traction?" That's a term from the turn of
the 20th century, covering many forms of electric rail transportation.
And it still does: streetcars, country trolleys, interurbans, rapid
transit and today's light rail. As with the prototype, model traction
embraces many forms, nostalgic and contemporary. And it includes all
scales, from tiny N scale through the dominant HO scale and detail-rich O
scale, to hefty half-inch scale and even larger. This trolley has room
for all!
Who's included: Although fewer in number than modelers
of steam and diesel railroads, trolley modelers find enjoyment in many
ways. Some build sprawling basement layouts including cities, villages
and open country. Some find room for compact layouts in a spare corner,
running only one or two trolleys at a time. Others build
easily-portable modules that bolt to modules built by other modelers, to
form large but temporary layouts open to the public. Depending on
their interests, modelers of all ages may specialize in old-time
trolleys, stately interurbans, state-of-the-art light rail, big-city
elevated lines or even trolley freight. Some pursue their hobby alone,
while others enjoy the company of like-minded modelers in clubs or
informal groups. Does one of these sound like you?
Availability of trolley models: Because of the
prohibitive economics of small production runs, there are very few
ready-to-run trolley models. Some do exist, and are the quickest way to
get into the hobby. More common are kits and limited-run unpowered
bodies, with trucks and other details purchased separately and installed
by the modeler. Experienced modelers build cars from scratch or
convert existing kits and bodies to match their favorite prototypes.
There are excellent custom builders for those with deep pockets. And
since most well-built models last for decades, there's an active trade
in pre-owned models.
Layouts vs. Modules: Trolley layouts are usually
permanent, and located in the basement, attic, spare room or garage.
Because trolleys operate on sharp curves, and don't require trains of
cars, layouts require less space than do steam or diesel layouts - or
allow more operation in a given amount of space. Scale is a factor,
since it's easier to find space for an N or HO scale layout than for one
in O scale. A layout is always in place, so you can operate for a few
minutes whenever the mood strikes. Modules, on the other hand, are
pieces of a layout, built to standards shared by others, and assembled
into layouts. A typical module, regardless of scale, is four feet long,
allowing for easy transportation. Modules need only minimal storage
space, making them well suited to apartment dwellers. And modular
layouts involve a higher degree of social interaction. Some modelers
enjoy the best of both worlds by integrating a module into a permanent
layout in such a way that it can easily be removed.
Overhead: The overhead power wires are what make the
difference between electric traction and conventional railroads. In
both prototype and model, power flows from the overhead wire through the
trolley pole (or pantograph) to the traction motors geared to the
axles, and then to ground via the rails. Most common is
direct-suspension trolley wire, in which the contact wire is suspended
directly from bracket arms attached to single line poles, or from span
wires strung between pairs of line poles. Catenary, in which the power
contact wire is suspended from a curving support wire called a
messenger, is for heavy duty service. It was rare in the past, except
on main line electrics and a few major commuter rail systems. It is now
becoming more common on light rail systems. With models, overhead
power delivery is fun to watch, but many find it challenging to build.
It requires a steady hand, moderate soldering skills and lots of
patience, but is generally considered worth the effort, producing great
satisfaction. However, it is optional, and some modelers (and virtually
all those in N scale) skip it and run two-rail. Trackside third rail
is used for rapid transit in both prototype and models. Tinplate (toy
train) modelers simply use the center third rail.
Additional Resources:
Trolley FAQ
Trolley Glossary
Sources of Information
