Today I took photos of the curve between Nerang St and Scarborough St in Southport, outside the Cecil Hotel. This I believe is the sharpest curve on the system, at least one that is accessible. The shots were taken on the east-west pedestrian crossing.

Photo 1 is the sharpest radius rail, the inside of the curve. It’s unclear whether the back of flanges is touching the check rail but if so, they are barely touching.

Photo 2 is the corresponding running rail, second sharpest.

Photo 3 is the outermost rail. I could not readily see the wear (cloudy day) so felt the wear with my little finger, and estimate that around 15mm at the most has been chewed away over the last 10+ years (includes test running before opening). No trace of lubricant was left on my finger.

So it is apparent that not all ‘2 rooms and a bath’ trams chew the life out of curves. The big question is whether it is something about different tram designs or the flange shape.

Richard