RE: R/R1 and P/O capacity and tie rods, was: Couplers and Moonee Ponds
  Noel Reed

Dudley H wrote -

Would it be possible to arrange a trial at Loftus to see what would have
been (a) the
comfortable, and (b) the absolute, capacity of the R and P/O classes?
................

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Could a museum trial be arranged to determine the motor-trailer capacity of
a complete four motor tram and another tram without traction equipment [i.e.
a trailer only]. This type of operation is regularly done on railways when a
fully operative locomotive is coupled to one or more locomotives which have
the engines shut down because the gradients such as west of the NSW Blue
Mountains don't require extra front-end power.

In a tramway museum environment with stub terminals, 'running around' would
not be needed. A tram and trailer could have the trailer attached to the
next arriving tram for the return journey.

This type of operation was done on Sydney's Richmond line with 48 class
diesel locomotives hauling MU trains to and from Clarendon during air shows
at the Richmond air base in pre-electrification years. I believe that the
same was done in Victoria with T class locos for special events at
Rupertswood on the Bendigo line.

Noel Reed.