Hi Guys

Inspired by this thread, I was wondering how those of you, who run with the pantographs in the up position, deal with the panto hitting the outrigger?

I set up my overhead line so that it "zig zags" over the track. Like this:

1. At the first mast the line is in the inner position
2. At the second mast the line is in the middle position
3. At the third mast line is in the outer position
4. Middle position
5. Inner position
etc.

Every so often when a train passes a mast with the line in the outer position, the panto hits the outrigger holding the line. Just barely, but enough to have me worried.

What can I do about it?

On a Märklin outrigger you have a middle position. You can skip it, but I think using it between the two outer positions gives the overhead line a nice "flow".

Anyway; After I wrote the post, I did try and bend the outrigger a bit downward, and it seemed to help. I wast just under the impression that I could use the masts "as is" and not having to modify them.

Actually, I looked it up on the Märklin page. There was no instructions with the products that I bought (I hope this is a mistake), but there is an old "catenary starter set" which has a booklet (#70000), that describes this problem exactly. I downloaded the manual as pdf, and adjusted some of my masts according to the instructions. I wish I would not have had to look up deprecated product pages to find it.

Now with the Catenary Handbook out of production, and the manual (#70000) not included with anything. I wonder how people are supposed to have a fun day of setting up catenary.

Anyway, I can still buy the Catenary Handbook from the factory (as long as supply lasts). Does anyone have it, and can you recommend it? I have the Viessmann handbook and I find it really good.