Presumably to make Z class and newer trams conform with the latest classes, some modifications are progressively being made with some new control buttons added. A few patches have been added onto the cab console for mounting these new button. The first patch can clearly be seen.

Photo 1 shows a new innovation, an RTS button. This sets the tram to be ready to go in a new direction of travel and initialise some functions. Why trams need this to be done when it was never necessary in the past, I don’t know. Maybe this button synchronises several previous buttons.

Photo 2. Some bright spark put the pantograph Raise/Lower label on the side of the switch protection cover where it cannot readily be seen, but of course one would expect the driver to know where it is.

3, 4, and 5 show the three points-changing buttons. These replace the simpler right-twist/left-twist switch. Note that there are now 3 possibilities for the Linebreaker Reset button, two options simultaneously showing two different buttons. Astonishingly confusion.

Once when descending Bourke St with a good load aboard, the Regen brake tripped the Linebreaker leaving me with no electric brakes. Very quickly I restored the LB and stopped only a couple of metres into the pedestrian crossing. That was certainly a situation where no confusion was essential.

Thanks to the photographer who sent me these and the next batch of photos.

Regards,