OHE Ski Delivery System

As construction continues, I am having to solve certain issues along the way in order to progress, one of these issues is what to do with the overhead wires as they approach the covered sections of the layout. It was agreed that there was no point running wires over some of the covered tracks as it would be a waste of Dapol masts and wires, however we couldn't simply let the pantographs run off the wires onto nothing as we risked damage to them, so a solution needed to be found.

In the end the Ski Delivery System was thought up...

The purpose and aim of it is quite simple, to guide the pantograph gently off the wires and to allow it to extend upright fully gradually to avoid snagging or damage. The board height has been raised slightly to allow the pantographs to run freely in their upright position until they meet the return Ski at the other end to return them back onto the wires.

I am making use of some stiff copper wire to help construct the special gantries I need which will lift the wire up and allow the pantograph to run free. My wife Joan is on soldering duties adapting a short section of Dapol Catenary Wire by attaching it to a single wire section which in turn will attach to the Ski Gantry.

The Ski Gantry supports will be wooden blocks which will in turn also provide additional support to the upper board.

I have provided a sketch here for you to see roughly what I mean...