Thanks guys I now get the idea. Something like the days when CityRails'
predecessors used to have a couple of spare 8 car sets and crews in
Prince Alfred Sidings near Central Station and would bring one out when
needed and "transpose" it onto the time and run number of the late
running inbound train. The main difference being that it was a lot
harder to get the driver and guard onto the set that had been transposed
to their number.
Incidentally Mick Duncan took time out from his technical work at SPER
to-day to give me a very comprehensive explanation on Block Cars also.
Thanks Mick. Incidentally he also demonstrated at the same time that he
can drive Sydney trams with back the front (to Melbournians) brake
valves
--- InTramsDownUnder@..., "Kevin Sewell" <kevin.sewell@...>
wrote:
>
> Well, yes, its not that it doesn't makes sense. Its just that it's a
rather
> unheard of concept here in the Premier State where the daily
monumental
> traffic hold-ups mean that every bus, car, truck, or bicycle is rooted
and
> no attempt made to ameliorate any inconvenience. I'm sure it works in
Mexico
> but caring whether your customers are late or not, or inconvenienced
or not,
> will never catch on up here.
>
>
> <> > Pardon a poor NSW question but in simple words what is a block
car. I
> <> > think I can guess but am not sure
> <>
> <> Ok, here's the best I can do in simple terms:
> <>
> <> Let's say a route is buggered due to excessive traffic. Everything
is
> <> running late.
> <>
> <> An additional tram (or maybe multiple ones) may run out from the
depot
> <> and go into service on that route. We'll assume Rt 78 in this case,
> <> as that is what we've been discussing.
> <>
> <> The tram runs to North Richmond terminus. It leaves at a time
> <> dictated by the running schedules, and usually to the time of the
tram
> <> that is running late. So, we'll assume that the tram is to leave at
> <> 15.10, but the actual tram that is supposed to leave at that time
is
> <> running very late and is still halfway along the route. So, the
block
> <> car leaves at that time, and runs to that table.
> <>
> <> The driver of the block car will be told to look out for a certain
> <> tram number, which will be the one that is running late. The two
> <> drivers will swap, so the driver that was supposed to be in the
15.10
> <> tram from North Richmond is now in the the tram that DID leave at
> <> 15.10, thus being more or less back on schedule. The other tram
> <> becomes the block car, and follows instructions from FOC as to
which
> <> tram to block next or which times to run to.
> <>
> <> Blocking may also happen after a lengthy delay, especially when a
> <> driver is due for a meal break. The driver who is due for a break
> <> will swap trams with a driver who still has a trip or two to
operate,
> <> meaning he will get back to the depot quicker. The other driver may
> <> become later, but will probably be adjusted later to be placed back
on
> <> time or may be blocked again with another driver to maintain
> <> schedules.
> <>
> <> One purpose of blocking is to ensure that "late meals" don't occur,
> <> whereby a driver is so late back to the depot his meal is extended
> <> into the time he would normally be back on the road.
> <>
> <> In the case of Swanston St, the block car merely leaves the
University
> <> at a designated time, meets the late tram, and the two swap when
they
> <> cross. This saves any short shunting, and thus lost OPRs (as any
> <> short shunt means a non-completed trip x 2).
> <>
> <> I hope that all made sense.
> <>
> <>
> <> Andy
> <>
> <>
> <> ------------------------------------
> <>
> <> Yahoo! Groups Links
> <>
> <>
> <>
> <>
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