On 12/12/2018 15:35, 'llllmikellll' via TramsDownUnder wrote:
> Mal, what does this mean; (in pedant mode) 956 is an SW6, ?


The subject of this email describes it as a W7 - that classification
applied to trams 1001 to 1040

The SW6 classification applied to trams 850 to 969.

The main difference was the drop centre seating arrangement.

>

> If the original rails were spaced to standard gauge, then I presume

> the cable tramway used the same rail as for the electric?

>

Correct, but the track centres were different - electric trams tracks
were spaced at 11' (3352mm) where as cable tram tracks were spaced at 9'
(2743mm).

This meant that electric trams could not pass on cable tram tracks -
which only mattered when they were towed over the cable tram tracks in
the dead of night in the days before the electric systems were
interconnected.

Mal Rowe - remembering that Brisbane stuck with 9' track centres when
converting to electric.