G’day Grumpy & All,
You have hit the nail firmly and directly on the head.
There are a lot of other issues, which would only become apparent after you overcome your issues.
Regards
Kevin
From: Graham Hocking
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 3:11 PM
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] MMTB Birney 217
Tony,
I think to say that pole equipped cars are 'stranded' at Hawthorn depot might be straining things just a bit. Put quite bluntly, 'Yarra Trams' as the managing franchisee have not, will not, and never intend to, allow any running of vintage or preserved trams on 'their' tracks. and we thoight it was our system, and that the citizens and taxpayers of Victoria owned it, - now just how mislead can you be?
Whilst there are undoubtedly more than enough retired or currently qualified tram drivers who would willingly volunteer to run special trams to and fro between Wattle Park and the city on weekends, and whilst this would very obviously be a wonderful thing for tourism for Melbourne and source of income for preservation and rebuilding of older vehicles, get this into your head - it ain't not never going to happen - and that's for sure.
Why? No reason, it's just company policy, why should we allow silly people to play trams on our lines? Why do you think the overhead has been disconnected from Hawthorn Depot - for fun? No, to prevent any movement of any cars therein for good and proper, and that's that, end of discussion.
Like it or lump it, - simple.
Grumpy
frustrated dreamer that he is.
I would dearly like the privilege of riding out to Wattle Park on a Sunday afternoon on the toastrack car driven by Barry George perhaps? To be able to listen to the Tramways Brass Band with Peter Cohen playing on his euphonium, but it is denied to me for all time and i resent it the powerlessness of it, - hate it!
On 14/01/2014 1:21 PM,arg@... wrote:
Hi Dave,
I was referring to the present situation where pan-only overhead has replaced the dual-use design that allows both pans and poles - something that Blackpool and San Francisco can manage, and strands the pole equipped heritage cars at Hawthorn depot.
Tony G
----- Original Message -----
From:
TramsDownUnder@...
To:
mailto:TramsDownUnder@yahoogroups.com
Cc:
Sent:
Mon, 13 Jan 2014 14:08:00 -0000
Subject:
Re: [TramsDownUnder] MMTB Birney 217
Tony.
There was no lack of compatibility with 217.
A switch of poles between 217 & works car 8 was carried out in Malvern Depot & the reverse on the return.
Dave Menzies.
----- Original Message -----
From:arg@...
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2014 2:41 AM
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] MMTB Birney 217
And stranded, due to the lack of pole compatible overhead.
Shame.
Tony G
----- Original Message -----
From:
TramsDownUnder@...
To:
TramsDownUnder@...>
Cc:
Sent:
11 Jan 2014 12:14:08 -0800
Subject:
[TramsDownUnder] MMTB Birney 217
Tomorrow, 13 January 2014, is 40 years since preserved Melbourne Birney 217 ventured out on the streets for an enthusiast tour. It was a short trip fromn Malvern Depot, along Dandenong Road, to the Chapel Street crossover where pictures were taken. The run was on the Sunday morning. Melbourne Sundays mornings were quieter 40 years ago with 30 minute tram frequencies and a "shuttle" operating on route 5 so there weren't many regular movements on route 64.
Perhaps Mal has some photographs to share; mine are in storage.
I was living in Sydney at the time and remember going to the AETA meeting on the Friday evening, catching the South Mail to Wagga Wagga, the rail motor to Tumbarumba and return and then the Intercapital Daylight to Melbourne. I probably returned to Sydney on the Spirit of Progress on the Sunday night.
Birney 217 is now part of the collection at the Hawthorn Tram Museum.