The railway style points on the IWLR have built-up flangeways on the V crossings, making them unsuitable for railway profile wheels.
When Blackpool was reconstructed they pre-installed a paved junction for a planned extension - does it have tramway or railway points ?
With 1700 at Seashore, the small Sydney flanges and tyres have to deal with point work built more to railway standards to accommodate rapid transit and interurban cars, and a lot of US “tramway” point work takes larger flanges and tyres than Australian and British tramways used. The Blackpool car at Seashore has the same problem.
Tony G
On 15 Jul 2014, at 5:50 pm, 'C. B.'brill21e@... [TramsDownUnder] TramsDownUnder@...> wrote:
>
> Re Dudley's comment about some new tramway systems in Britain using railway style points/switches. I think you will find that they all use this design.
> It seems to be "the way to go" -- even Blackpool, as a result of its pretty well complete relay, seems to have abandoned "traditional pointwork.
>
> There appear to be advantages in using these designs: 1. Quiet, smooth operation as there are no joints with castings. 2. Less expensive materials used in manufacture -- i.e. manganese steel used in special work castings is more expensive than regular rail, and the business of making castings is costly as well. I wonder if these savings are passed down to the end-user (the tramway)?
>
> On the down side, Replacing a casting with unequal wear is not really difficult, try fixing heavily worn parts of a "new style" point/switch/turnout -- it becomes specialist work, therefore easier to replace the whole thing (hurrah for the manufacturers and of course the contractors!)
>
> The other fairly recent change is the loss of a built up flangeway in crossings. Plenty has been written about that!
>
> To me, the advantages do not outweigh the disadvantages, except of course to the suppliers, contractors, designers and all the other hangers-on who seem to tell the tramway people how to do their job. Of course, all the tramway people who knew the job inside out, have retired and are consigned to the rubbish bin so that the 'new boys' can make their fortunes reinventing everything in sight.
>
> Chas
>
>
> On 15 July 2014 02:23, 'Dudley Horscroft'transitconsult@... [TramsDownUnder] TramsDownUnder@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> "It almost didn't make the parade - this year's event staged all the cars in the "back" barns and yards, where it does not venture - the overseas wheel profile does not like some of the "American" switch points back there."
>
> So how do the "American" switch points differ from normal tramway practice? I am aware that some of the newer tramway systems in the UK use heavy rail style switches - which may lead to derailments when the trams have tramway style wheel flanges, but even the Toronto Yonge Street Subway used tramway type switch blades.
>
> Regards
>
> Dudley Horscroft
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeff Bennettoctr202@... [TramsDownUnder]" TramsDownUnder@...>
> To: "tramsdownunder" TramsDownUnder@...>
> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 6:34 AM
> Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] Re: Trolley parade - Seashore Trolley Museum 75th Anniversary
>
> Well, I didn't think I'd likely show up in a photo on this list, but looks
> like Tony caught me. I'm the fellow in the black shirt and hat changing
> ends on 1700, as I ended up being the operator for it in the parade. It
> almost didn't make the parade - this year's event staged all the cars in
> the "back" barns and yards, where it does not venture - the overseas wheel
> profile does not like some of the "American" switch points back there. Due
> to a couple other cars being ruled out on mechanical grounds at the last
> minute, on Friday we developed a parade plan to work it back in, but
> entering the "stage" from the opposite direction. I was quite glad to see
> one of my favorite cars worked back in.
>
> The event involved a huge amount of preparation (there were several of us
> who spent our July 4th holiday getting soaked by rain from Tropical Storm
> Arthur to position cars!) but looked very good when it all went off. Our
> biggest challenge was the sheer number of cars (including a subway train
> and an electric locomotive) overloading the power station a couple times!
>
> To answer Mr. Reed's question, we have automatic block signals on the first
> roughly 1/3 of a mile of the 1 3/4 mile line - through most of the curves..
> Work is underway to extend it 1/8 mile or so past the last of the curves
> before the long straight in the middle.
>
> 1700 has been in and out of service of late, although at this point I think
> it just did not get serviced for operation in 2014 due to the work on the
> three cars returned to service this summer. It has had a lot of work done
> on it as time permits, including major work to the roof, as well as some of
> the interior sections. It gets attention as time and funds permit. But
> yes, the outside color is badly faded. I'm sure that once it gets a full
> exterior repaint, the new colors will hold up better. The paint technology
> as well as the skills of the staff applying it keep improving.
>
> -Jeff Bennett
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 13, 2014 at 4:04 AM, Richard Youltressteleg@...
> [TramsDownUnder] TramsDownUnder@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > It was repainted over 20 years ago, but the colour matched to the faded
> > colour to which this shade of green transformed.
> >
> > They were subsequently supplied with samples of the correct colour but
> > clearly other cars were more in need of fresh paint.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > On 13 Jul 2014, at 1:07 pm, "prescottt@ymail.com [TramsDownUnder]" <
> >TramsDownUnder@...> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > That's a lovely sight. But P1700 really needs to get its Sydney colour
> > scheme back - it's starting to look a little "inauthentic"!
> >
> > Tony P
> >
> >
> > ---InTramsDownUnder@..., <typefive@...> wrote :
> >
> > On July 5th, Seashore Trolley Museum (New England Electric Railway
> > Historical Society) celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a day and evening
> > filled with festivities. One of the highlights was a
> > narrated trolley “Parade” where everything that could operate was run by
> > the assembled spectators. Dignitaries from Canada and Quebec and the
> > Canadian Consul from Boston were on hand
> > for the unveiling of suitably bedecked Montreal sightseeing car, No.2,
> > which had not seen service for many years. Of course Sydney 1700 was part
> > of the party. Here is a picture as the operators
> > changed ends for return to the carhouse. A few others are attached as
> > well. No 31 of the Biddeford & Saco Railroad took pride of place all day
> > as the “mother” car of the museum - it was the car
> > rescued by several enthusiasts for $150. and placed in a field in
> > Kennebunkport 75 years ago. The day was filled with nostalgia and a full
> > load of passengers enjoyed riding a Boston Type 5 car
> > in full series and, for a few minutes, full parallel.
> >
> > Enjoy!
> > T
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>