ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Overhead conductor rail

Overhead conductor rail is like a really long, skinny tube that carries electricity to trains and trams so they can run properly. Think about how you have to plug in your toy train track to make it work. This is kind of like that, but the power is coming from above rather than through a plug.

The tube is made out of metal and is very strong so it can support the weight of the wires inside. These wires are what carry the electricity to the train, and they are covered in a special coating that keeps them safe from the weather and from people who might touch them.

The overhead conductor rail is installed high up, usually above the street where cars and people walk. This way, it doesn't get in the way of cars or block sidewalks, and no one can accidentally touch it or get hurt by it.

When a train or tram needs to use the electricity from the overhead conductor rail, it has a special gadget on the top of it that connects to the wires inside the tube. This gadget is called a pantograph, and it looks kind of like a robot arm. Once the pantograph is connected to the wires, the electricity flows from the rail into the train or tram, powering it up and making it go.

So, overhead conductor rail is like a long straw that carries electricity above the street so trains and trams can get the power they need to move. It's strong, safe, and helps keep transportation running smoothly!