It was a pass on to the next driver a staff.
Andrew C.
----- Original Message -----
From: Noel Reed
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 9:17 PM
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] Tram Signals
From Noel Reed ----
Nice photo of 923 and 469 at the Wattle Park loop.
I remember the Forest City signals on the Wattle Park line, also on a single line section north of the city (Coburg ?). I also remember them in use over the bridge across the railway near Preston Workshops when it was single line (as seen in the closing scene of the film "Malcolm".
I am not certain whether they were of the counting type (as in Brisbane) or non counting type (as in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo) which were much smaller. The circuit posted by Chris appears to be of the non counting type. Possibly non-counting signals would be suited for comparatively short and straight single lines where visibility was good. Counting types would be better suited to sections with a number of corners between loops. Brisbane used the latter type but Hobart also had sections with curves (eg West Hobart and Sandy Bay). Is there any information re the Hobart signals ?
The signals over the bridge at Preston were replaced by a locally made installation some time in the 60's and I think they used lamps of conventional road traffic signal type (although I would stand correction). I was once shown the control box (mounted near the workshops fence) by a M&MTB engineer and was told that if the section was occupied, a second tram (in either direction) would put in a "claim" by passing under a preliminary contactor on the trolley wire and then waiting at the Red signal. When the first tram cleared the single line, the signal for the waiting tram would change to Green and then revert to Red as that tram entered the section.
As I understood it, if there were no trams about, the signals at both ends of the section remained at Red and then the signal for an approaching tram would change immediately to Green as that tram passed under the preliminary contactor.
I do not know whether this improved signalling system was installed on any other Melbourne single line tramways then existing but I would be interested to find out.
PS -- Re Hobart -- They used Staff and Ticket working on at least the North Hobart line. I saw and photographed a NSWGT type cast iron staff box on a span pole at the junction near the railway station.
PPS -- Re Carnegie route - Melbourne -- From my memory, the end of the Carnegie tram route was along a road with a continuous curve to the terminus. Is this section still single track and was/is there a signal system to protect against opposing trams entering the section ?
Noel Reed.
----- Original Message -----
From: Mal Rowe
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2006 9:40 PM
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] Tram Signals
Chris Gordon wrote:
> Attached is an MMTB plan for car operated tramway signals for a section of single line.
> I am unsure where the MMTB used such signals,
> I suspect there was a trial or use on the Wattle Park line.
I think you may be right about Wattle Park Chris.
The attached pic shows a cotactor in the overhead at the right spot on
the loop ...
469 was on a TMSV tour.
http://tdu.to/Wattle_Park_loop_12_April_1970.jpg
--
Mal Rowe in Melbourne
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