Numerical and CAD techniques applied to overhead equipment for electric railways

The use of computers by a company specialising in the engineering and installation of overhead equipment is described. Two engineering processes using mainframe computers are described: selection of overhead systems for particular duties on an electrified railway, and the allocation of overhead equipment designs for a particular section of route. Reference is also made to other programs written for mainframe computers and, more recently, microcomputers, for special overhead equipment design purposes.