5a PCC 980 at East Brunswick Blyth St terminus, March 1965.

While most of the other 'odd' trams were located by chance, I was well aware of the significance of 980 and often sought it out.

I don't recall whether it was on this trip that I first encountered Inspector Sam Serman checking headways in Bourke St at Swanston St, but he usually knew exactly where it was. Or more importantly, if it was not running at all at that time.

Over a period of time I heard various stories about this unique car. One was that it had a 'secret' notch on the hand controller which looked much like an RC type, but was radically different inside. Anyway there was a pencil line on the controller top where the 'secret' notch was said to be, and it was said to give greater speed. While many ridiculed this notch, one explanation was that there was a contact which closed here, giving a weak field effect that was intended to soften the acceleration but if maintained gave greater speed.

Another point on PCC cars is that there were two styles of truck - one style had a low maximum speed, the trams just tootling along. This was noticeable on the Ashmont-Mattapan shuttle in Boston. However 980 had the faster variety, and for all its years of existence was the fastest tram in Melbourne..

Regards,