Trolley Museum Electrification

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Electrification at the Trolley Museum of New York

Since the Museum moved to Kingston in 1983, electrification of the line has always been "next year's project." Gradually, it is actually getting underway!

In 2007, the City of Kingston on behalf of the museum has hired HDR Inc. to assess track condition and design the power system to support electrification of the line. More information here. The study project is funded by a New York Department of State grant.

A 800KW rectifier has been purchased and delivered to the museum:

Poles have been set in the yard to carry the overhead electric wires:

Rail joints are being bonded. This is necessary in order for the rails to carry current. Mike Hanna demonstrates the procedure for attaching a rail bond:

'Dress' the rail.

Position bond and jig; fill with thermite powder.

Ignite thermite. Let cool. Remove jig.

Presto. Rail bonded for electric operation.

The process takes about 10 minutes for each bond.

There is a lot to do before we can run our first car 'under wire' even just in the yard. See the "Top Ten List" for what remains to be done.

[ Top Ten ]