On 20/08/2017 11:43 AM, 'Roger Greenwood'efftech@... [TramsDownUnder] wrote:
>

> I’ve studied all of the images Mal has posted so far to discern if any of them draw attention to the fact that the Geelong running wire was significantly higher than elsewhere in  Victoria. I’m not sure just how much higher, maybe 1 or 2 feet in the old money.

>


Hi Roger,

I have pasted together a couple of views of maximum traction cars taken from a similar angle.
The one at right is from Dr Radcliffe's pic of Geelong 36 - See: http://tdu.to/244757/1/36_easternparkline_geelong_11jan1956_johnradcliffe.jpg
The second is one of my pics of Bendigo 5.

Here's the comparison:
http://tdu.to/Bendigo_Geelong_TWheight.jpg

A very rough estimate is that the Geelong trolley wire is about 18" or 45cm higher.
That's based on the trolley base of a maximum traction car being about 10' 7" (3.2m) above rail level.

The extra length of the pole on the Geelong cars is also illustrated in another of John's pics at:
http://tdu.to/243517/1/bogie-at-north_1nov1956_johnradcliffe.jpg
The amount of pole sticking out beyond the trolley hook (as mentioned by Graham Jordan) is quite striking.

Mal Rowe - assuring readers that his method is truly rough!