I thank the honorable member for his question,
I'm only from a few modelers who have installed a prototypical catenary (except the thickness of the wires).
My intention to install an overhead system started right from the beginning when I've decided to build a layout, although I started with Märklin catenary.
It has been said by dealers and manufacturers don't install a catenary when operating a digital layout, my experience over 30 years has been the contrary, I've never had any problems with it, back in the days of the analog system eventually along came the digital system and somewhere in that time frame Sommerfeldt.de came to the rescue.
there are also other remarks associated with: its to awkward to handle locos /carriages with an overhead system, I've found when you get used to it its not a problem at all and the reason for it its so rigid you can't really break anything. I've bumped several masts in the past (on the edge of the layout) and will do so most probably again in the future but I've reinforced these particular masts so they can withstand another bump.
As Kimball already mentioned its not cheap, easy and it takes patience and to go for the long haul.
Märklin/HAG has the best overhead pantographs with Roco diminishing its quality and reliability, Piko I don't think has ever been a contender using their electric locos with an operating catenary system.,
another factor is most if not all manufacturers these days have no electrical contacts anymore between pantograph and the loco's electrical contact.
I have many videos displaying the uninterrupted and save operation of electric locos on my layout and it is a pleasure watching it.
there is another benefit running locos via the catenary on a Märklin 3 rail system, you don't have to be dependent on 3 rail locos you can also buy or run DC locos without the pick up shoe.
What this means you can get away from Märklin locos and buy any DC loco from another manufacturer and as it always has been in my case when buying 3 rail locos from other manufacturers then Märklin, 1 axle was always none powered whereas 2 rail all axles are powered. this gave me an advantage to increase the rubber tyres on locos as well so these days all my locos have 4 rubber tyres ( 1 axle on each bogie) and with Co-Co locos I can increase it to 2 axles per bogie.
I have 1 Märklin loco left which I've used in the early days of operating electric locos via the pantograph (Märklin overhead system) and I've noticed the pantopraph had been excessively used in the middle of the wiper which of course doesn't happen with a prototypical setup.
Also in the early analog days you were able to run your diesel and steam locos from the track and your electric locos independent from the overhead wires.
the next question is or was how do I install braking sections and also contact sections (switching tracks) I've tried one design but decided it wasn't reliable so my next adventure was the design of the opto coupler , it is activated via the slider from steam & diesel locos and a silver strip under the loco from electric locos. braking sections are made the same way one would do them for steam and diesel locos (activating section, braking section and stop section).
one option we haven't contemplated and this is a hidden fiddle yard with an overhead system, my layout hasn't got any hidden yards (thanks God) but this I could see as a problem getting access to it
another thing had to be included when running consists so the activating section is long enough for 2 locos., isolating wires from a crossbeam section or diagonally crossing wires., outer arms had also be isolated from cross beam masts.
the question of course is : is it all worth it ? with everything you shuffle in your brain forwards and backwards its the individual final decision to go for it or leave it for another day/year, and when you make the decision to go ahead there is no turning back unless you've lost the will to live, your hands are shaking, your eye side has diminished or your concentration has left you years ago.
John
