I agree with you Alan. A cart wheel too close to the tram would rub along the rail and not damage the body of the tram. Sydney's steam motors had them as well as the cable trailers, C and D class cars and the saloons of the F and G cars. In Sydney the rubbing rail was edged with "D" iron strip which provided a bit more protection to the timber rub rail.

Bob M


----- Original Message -----
From: Alan
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 11:25 AM
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] Re: Curved sides yet again

Hi Mal & all
My understanding is that the rubbing strake or rub rail as we call it was to prevent side damage to the body. It was the sacrificial bit in a side on glancing collision.

Alan Roi

SNIP

> B: The 'beam' above the concave section is known as a 'rubbing strake' -

> a term more familiar in shipping.

> It's not structural.

> In fact, Ballarat trams often had it removed. (See attached)

> http://tdu.to/31_Dec21_1967.jpg

>

>

> Mal Rowe - surprised at what he remembers!

>