Abstract: A method for monitoring a pantograph. The method includes acquiring an impulse response of the pantograph, extracting a natural frequency and a damping coefficient of the pantograph from the impulse response, obtaining a similarity factor of a plurality of similarity factors, and detecting a fault in the pantograph from the plurality of fault types based on the plurality of the similarity factors. Acquiring an impulse response of the pantograph includes generating the impulse response by tapping the head of the pantograph and recording the impulse response utilizing a recording equipment.