I was fortunate to have undertaken an inspection whilst the facility was still in operation. Regretfully, I did not view (and thus not photograph) the control room.

Hunslet

From:tramsdownunder@... [mailto:tramsdownunder@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Ofbillbolt...@...
Sent: Tuesday, 21 March 2023 10:28 AM
To: TramsDownUnder tramsdownunder@...>
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] Re: Controllers

They are basically the same technology as tramway controllers but lack a reversing/lock drum, as what they powered only ever turned in the same direction. The Ball Head coal loader basically used a cable haulage system which circulated wagons on a 20" narrow gauge track between the loading ganty on the jetty and the coal bins, through a tunnel under the bins.

Trolley Wire, December 1975 describes it this way....

"The heart of the system is located in the 26 ft x 21ft winding house which stands near the shore end of the jetty under the elevated section of the railway. Within this house stands a large 125 hp 450 volt D.C. electric motor which drives the winding gear at 600 rpm. The motor is a General Electric of Schenectady, U.S.A. product (Type RG—39, No. 1157990, 213 amp - compound) and the winding gear train reduces the speed in the ratio of 40:1. In more recent years the motor has been arranged to work at 660 rpm, thus speeding the cable winding drums from 15 rpm to 16.5 rpm. This produces a traction cable speed of 3 mph which means that each wagon can traverse the 0.6 mile round trip 5 times each hour."

On Monday, 20 March 2023 at 21:42:43 UTC+11bblun...@... mailto:bblun...@yahoo.com wrote:

I went on a tour through the former Balls Head Coal Loader in Sydney last weekend.

Some remnants of the former electric "railway" in the tunnels have been preserved.

Think some people here might be interested in the controllers.

Brian