Are the Overhead Distribution Costs Retarding Railroad Electrification?

If terminals, suburban lines, and open-pit mining developments are excepted, the electrification of heavy haulage on the North American continent has progressed rather slowly for the past 15 years. In the meantime, and particularly postwar, European countries definitely have announced their decision to make extensive additions to their electrified railroads. Similar decisions have issued from other countries. No doubt, there is a satisfactory reason for this slowing down of electrification in North America. Based on the thorough and efficient operating methods followed by the railroads of North America, it may be concluded that economics may play some part in this ``slowdown.'' Possibly the first cost of electrification is too high; if so, how can this first cost be reduced, or be made comparable to installations involving other motive power? It cannot be said that the high first cost of electrification is entirely due to the cost of the overhead distribution system. But, it can be said that the overhead system, as a part of the electrification plant, may contribute to high costs. It is not conceded that unfavorable first costs of electrification are the deciding factor in favor of some other mode of transportation, but a reduction in the first cost of electrification certainly will place the electric locomotive in a more favorable place. This paper describes some of the new overhead equipment, also system and structure designs, that have been developed in very recent years.