Here is a different perspective, showing how the traverser fitted into the
operational plan. The rear two trams were showing 'Vermont' and 'Mitcham'.
Again, Sun.21.9.97.

The trams were quite short, and on only four wheels (ie a short wheelbase).
The extra metalwork is for the automated operation: sensors and locks.
In photo 17 (which I posted first), you can see the sideways-mounted wheels,
and also horizontal guide wheels, which carry the traverser along the two
L-shaped girders. The tram arrived over the metalwork on the traverser,
which stopped it from overshooting, and also from rolling back. This then
triggered the motor driving the chain (visible) which pulled it sideways to
the departing track. I suspect that this triggered the lowering of the
lock, and the spring pushed the tram off the traverser, and onto the
departure track, where it picked up the third-rail current supply again (the
centre pipe). There may also have been some gravity to help. The whole
track was inaccessible, so there would be no trouble with electrocution.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor rodsmith@...