Re: A puzzle for you ?
  brian_weedon

Dean,

I can think of two technical differences. First, the track centres were wider, to allow for possible electric tram operation. Second, the rope was initially operated by the St Kilda Road engine house. When the trackwork at Swanston Street was re-arranged in late 1925, due to the conversion of St Kilda Road to electric trams, the rope was then operated by the Fitzroy engine house. In that conversion, the grips of west bound cars swapped from having the rope on the left side to having the rope on the right side. Therefore the pulleys would have needed to reversed.

You could also argue that the track across Swanston Street was the last section of cable track built. It was constructed in late December 1925, 20 months after the the new trackwork west of Swanston Street.

Brian Weedon