In 2019 Altron were approached by Irish Rail to supply trolley head poles in grade 316 stainless steel, for level crossings in the Dublin area. There were significant safety concerns due to the operating environment, so it was a requirement that cameras were able to be maintained safely, at ground level as a one-man operation.

                

 

Altron trolley head poles feature unique and patented features and our DDA (Drop Down Arm) option, for accessing cameras at ground level, in their upright position, was identified as a perfect solution to meet Irish Rail's specific safety needs.

    

 

There was also a project requirement to locate the DDA in any one of four positions around the trolley head, so that it could be installed in the optimum position depending on the specific needs of each site. We adapted the DDA design to meet this requirement

Our LTH poles feature a very reliable and well proven operating mechanism, using our transferable DW/DO drill winding device and dual cable winch with a 90:1 gear ratio. This high gear ratio means that in the unlikely event (which we have never to date experienced) that the winch mechanism should fail, the run-away trolley head falls at no more than 0.15m per second. These are further features that make our trolley head poles ideal for trackside locations.
 

The AW1545/LTH cabinet base version was chosen so that equipment can be mounted within the base of the pole, therefore removing the requirement for a separate equipment cabinet.

Grade 316 stainless steel was chosen for its longevity and low/no maintenance requirements and an architectural brushed finish was preferred, over a less aesthetic industrial ‘mill’ finish.

        

The first batch of 24 poles was supplied in 2019 with a further batch of 10 poles supplied in 2022.

After successful initial installations in the Dublin area, Altron has now been contracted to supply these unique Trolley Head poles extensively for level crossings throughout the whole of the Republic of Ireland, in heights of 4 to 10 metres.