A folding, spring-loaded or pneumatically raised mechanical linkage mounted on the roof of an electric locomotive or multiple unit. It presses a carbon or copper contact shoe against the overhead catenary wire to draw high-voltage power. The Z-shaped or diamond-shaped frame automatically adjusts its height to keep constant upward pressure against the wire regardless of track elevation.
Heard on the job
We caught a branch in the catenary and it tore the rear pantograph clean off the roof.
Also heard as
- pan