Thanks Richard,
Do the W class trams also have batteries and an electric motor to raise the pantograph ? How is power derived for all the electrical equipment on the Colonial Restaurant W class trams ?
How were the 24 volt batteries on the Melbourne trams charged from the 600 volt DC trolley wire ? Did they have motor- generators similar to the old Sydney trains which had a MG under each power car to charge auxiliary batteries (for MU controls and emergency lights) ?
Did the old Melbourne ‘Doggie’ and ‘Tait’ trains have MG sets or were the MU controls by 1500v DC through the inter car jumper cables ?
The Sydney ‘O’ and ‘P’ trams would have had 600v DC MU controls via the jumper cables. Were the Adelaide ‘H’ trams similarly wired ?
This could raise the question of power leakage or short circuits in wet weather between the studs of the adjoining Tomlinson couplers which on the ‘H’ cars were much lower than the Sydney ‘P’ cars.
Noel Reed.
From:TramsDownUnder@... [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Saturday, 14 March 2015 10:44 PM
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] Once a year
On the A and B class with which I was familiar, and I suspect for uniformity all other trams, a 24v motor winched on or released tension on the far end of the spring which held the pantograph against the trolley wire.
Even if the tram had a sick battery there was usually enough life left in it to open the tram door to gain access and then raise the pantograph which allowed the charging of the battery to take place.
After the 5 week tram dispute around 1990, some of the modern trams dumped in the city for the duration had flat batteries and they had to be jump started from 24 volts of battery loaded on a small hand trolley.
And a follow up to yesterday, at times the NRMA had to be called to Richmond station on a cold morning to jump start the 600 or 620 class railcars whose batteries were not up to the task of starting the train. This information came from a driver of those trains.
Regards,
On 14 Mar 2015, at 9:11 pm, 'Noel Reed'noelreed10@... [TramsDownUnder] TramsDownUnder@...> wrote:
Relative to the recent discussion on raising the pantographs of MU trains, how are the pantographs on the various old (W class) and newer (Z, A, B, C, D, and E classes) raised after the tram has been out of regular service for either a short (several hours) or long (several days or longer) period ?
Noel Reed. Asking -- If trolley wires are considered ugly, what about all the other wires above ?
From:TramsDownUnder@... [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Saturday, 14 March 2015 9:25 PM
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] Once a year [2 Attachments]
On 14/03/2015 8:57 PM, 'Brian Blunt'bblunt@... [TramsDownUnder] wrote:
Get your GP tram photos while you can. Before it moves to Sydney,
Our dumb premier is preparing to stuff up our harbour crossing and CBD for a few days, when Melbourne’s contract expires.
Yes, please - I have enough pics.
Well, almost enough.
Trams stored in the rarely used Mills St terminus.
http://tdu.to/MillsSt_GP-trams_14Mar2015.JPG
.... and the now rare sight of a non-low-floor tram on 96.
http://tdu.to/2058_EastBrunswick_14Mar2015.JPG
Mal Rowe - who can see how ugly trolley wires are in the usual Aussie urban environment
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