Specific functions

anchor pylons (or strainer pylons) or terminal towers utilize tension insulators and occur at the endpoints of conductors.

pine pylon — an electricity pylon for two circuits of three-phase AC current, a which the conductors are arranged in three levels. In pine pylons the lowest crossbar has a wider span than that in the middle and this one a larger span than that on the top.

Transposing pylons are anchor or terminal pylons at which the conductors are "transposed" so that they exchange sides of the pylon.

long-distance anchor pylon

branch pylon

anchor portal

termination pylon 

Anchor pylon

Anchor pylons or strainer pylons utilize horizontal insulators and occur at the endpoints of conductors. Such endpoints are necessary when interfacing with other modes of power transmission (see image) and, due to the inflexibility of the conductors, when significantly altering the direction of the pylon chain. Anchor pylons are also employed at branch points as branch pylons and must occur at a maximum interval of 5 km, due to technical limitations on conductor length. Conductors are connected at such pylons by a short conductor cable "strained" between both ends. They often require anchor cables to compensate for the asymmetric attachment of the conductors. Therefore, anchor pylons tend to be more stably built than a support pylon and are often used, particularly in older construction, when the power line must cross a large gap, such as a railway line, river, or valley.

A special kind of an anchor pylon is a termination pylon. It is used for the transition of an overhead powerline to an underground cable. A termination pylon, at which the powerline runs further as well as overhead line and as underground cable is a branch pylon for a cable branch. For voltages below 30 kV also pylon transformers are used.

Transposition pylons are anchor or tension or terminal pylons at which the conductors are "transposed" so that they exchange sides of the pylon.

Anchor pylons may also have a circuit breaker attached to their crossbeam. These so called switch pylons are operated from the ground by the use of long sticks. The attachment of circuit breakers to pylons is only practical when voltages are less than 50 kV.