- Trams Downunder

RE: Leaves on Melbourne tracks
Noel Reed

Richard Youl wrote -- Nevertheless those composition brake should would very slowly grind away minor flats, but not during just one shift.
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The Victorian blue ‘Harris’ EMU trains had composition brake shoes when first introduced. Unlike the ‘iron on steel’ action of regular brake shoes on the old Tait trains, the composition brake shoes gradually gave the wheel treads a smooth ‘mirror-like’ surface.

This adversely affected the wheel to rail adhesion and consequently the stopping power of the trains, particularly on the trailer cars which were lighter.

After these events, there was a signal engineers’ meeting in Melbourne at which the problem was explained by a VR engineer.

Noel Reed.

From:TramsDownUnder@... [mailto:TramsDownUnder@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 23 May 2017 2:35 PM
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] Leaves on Melbourne tracks

A friend whose grandfather worked at ?Waverley Depot in Sydney said that this is a job he did.

South Melbourne depot around 1990 got a batch of 'Ferrodo' brake shoes with a layer of carborundum glued to the face of the shoes.

The experiment can't have been a success because no more were seen.

Nevertheless those composition brake should would very slowly grind away minor flats, but not during just one shift.

Regards,

On 23 May 2017, at 2:16 pm, 'Noel Reed'noelreed10@... [TramsDownUnder] TramsDownUnder@...> wrote:

Would several runs with abrasive brake shoes solve the ‘wheel flat’ problem without needing the wheel lathe ?

Noel Reed.

From:TramsDownUnder@... [mailto:TramsDownUnder@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 23 May 2017 11:18 AM
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] Leaves on Melbourne tracks

On 23/05/2017 7:48 AM, Richard Youltressteleg@... [TramsDownUnder] wrote:

It is interesting, Mal, that you mention wheel corrugations. It is something I have never heard anyone else mention before but have long believed that it occurs.

My reference to 'wheel corrugations' was tongue in cheek!

The D2s have a major problem with the wheels of the unpowered centre truck locking up on the disc brakes just before the tram stops.
This leads to multiple small 'flats' and makes them very noisy - until they are put over the wheel lathe.

I thought that the problem had been solved, but recent observations (noisy trams in Sydney Rd) indicate that this is not the case.

Mal Rowe - in B class country

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