General Order 64 (Rule 61)

General Order 64

Section VI

Detail Construction Requirements For Supply Lines

61 Poles

(a) Clearance: Where poles or other supporting structures area set in proximity to railroad tracks the minimum clearance to the face of pole or other supporting structure shall be as follows: (see Appendix E, Fig. 14.)

Item No.	Class of Track	Between center line of track and face of pole		Between side of widest car and face of pole
		(See Note 1)
		Poles supporting trolley contact conductors	All other poles	Poles supporting trolley contact conductors	All other poles
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
1.	Standard gauge main tracks	8 ft.	† 8 ½ ft.	36 in.	† 42 in.
2.	Standard gauge yard and industrial tracks	8 ½ ft.	† 8 ½ ft.	42 in.	† 42 in.
3.	Narrow gauge main tracks	*	*	30 in.	† 42 in.
4.	Narrow gauge double main tracks with center pole construction	*	*	42 in.	† 42 in.
5.	Standard gauge double main tracks with center pole construction	7 ½ ft.	#	30 in.	#
6.	Narrow gauge double main tracks with center pole construction	*	#	30 in.	#

Note 1. Use Columns 3 and 4 except where such use violates columns 5 and 6, respectively.

Note 2. Items 5 and 6 apply only to poles used solely or partly for the support of trolley contact conductors.

Note 3. Columns 3 and 5 apply to poles or other supporting structures used solely or partly for the support of trolley contact conductors.

* Use Columns 5 and 6

# Does not apply

† This clearance shall be increase 1 foot when the poles are adjacent to curved tracks.

(b) Poles shall have sufficient strength to withstand with the factor of safety specified in Section V, the maximum stresses to which they are subjected, under the loading assumptions set forth in said section. Certain poles are subject to special stresses due to angles in the line, dead ending of conductors or other attachments, which stresses must be included in computing the loading and safety factor. Poles subject to these special stresses may sometimes require the use of guys, in which case the pole shall be considered merely as a strut, the guy taking all lateral stresses.

(c) Dimensions and Settings: Wood poles in Grades “A”, “B” and “C” construction shall be of selected timber, free from defects that would decrease their strength and durability, and shall have no less nominal top diameter than six inches, except for Grade “A”, which shall have not less than eight inches.

The character of the soil to a large extent determines the depth of pole setting and the following depths are considered applicable for good firm soil. Where the soil is not firm, special methods of pole setting must be resorted to. Where poles are set subject to heavy strain or at corners and curves, a greater depth should be used. In rock the minimum depth shall be 3 feet.

Table 4
Total length of Pole, feet	Depth in ground. feet
30	5.0
35	5.0
40	5.5
45	6.0
50	6.5
55	7.0
60	7.0
65	7.5
70	7.5
75	8.0
80	8.0

(d) Steel and Concrete Poles: Steel poles shall be designed and constructed to withstand the loading given in Section V, with safety factors specified. The material for steel poles shall conform to Rule 72.

Reinforced concrete poles, together with the foundations, shall be such material and dimensions as will withstand the loads given in Section V, with safety factors as give. The ultimate strength of materials, assumed in making the pole calculations, shall not exceed values commonly adopted as good practice.

(e) Stepping: The lowest step on any stepped pole shall be not less than 7 feet 6 inches from the ground line. (See Appendix E, Fig. 38.)