Hi Dean,

The As are to be part of the East Preston life extension program.

Based on the LED lights visible in your pic of 250, I would guess that it could have been through that program.

However, as far as I know no As have been done yet.  It may be that 250 is the car that Preston is doing bit by bit to set the criteria for the A class refurbs.

The finish around the new door release hatch looks a little less than elegant!

Mal Rowe - who must call in at East Preston again soon

On 24/04/2019 20:32, Tram Gunzle wrote:
> Perhaps a question for Mal & Co. ?

> - Is there a program to convert the A1 class trams to A2 ?

>

> The attached photos were taken during earlier this week; originally, the main [visual] differences between the two batches of trams were that 231 to 258 were built with trolley poles, and had a different type of door mechanism to the Z3 trams (similar to PCC 1041 ?) that allowed the passenger doors to be forced open in an emergency (or by random school kids and fare evaders).

> Cars 259 to 300 had pantographs from new, and the type of door that could not be forced open, but with an access hatch above that could be opened, revealing a lever which released the doors once it was raised (similar to Z3 trams).

> Riding on A1 class 250 the other day, I noticed that there was a crude hatch cut-in above each door, and the trolley rope guard around the destination boxes had been removed. Of course, the trolley poles have longsince been replaced by pantographs for the whole class.

> Also, the apron was flat - even those on A2 trams still had the trolley retriever mounts moulded-in.

>