Re: [SFMuniHistory] Re: Driving trams

I'm with you on that, Bob. Nothing about self-lapping that I can't handle, but
I much prefer straight air.

At 03:11 PM 3/4/02 , you wrote:

I got lots more practice with Birneys in Bendigo, Peter.
 
I guess the big debate among good motormen down here is between manual lap
and self-lapping brake valves. I prefer manual lap and on most normal

service

stops would defy people to tell me when the wheels stopped turning.
 
As for Peter B. saying he was a bit rough on acceleration at first, the
problem is that with the Melbourne W-class trams, you're often leaving a

near

side tram stop and need to get out and occupy that intersection on a yellow
light. So you have to push through the series notches to get the beast
underway quickly. It's the same driving a PCC or any Public Service Vehicle
(to use a British term). You have to establish your presence in that
intersection before some other SOB on the cross street jumps the light and
cuts you off.
 
The W-class had four 40hp motors, the PCC four 55 hp motors, but the same
traffic scenario. So the pressure was on to get through the notches and get
that sucker moving. When you push through like that the motors don't get a
chance to run up to the power available on each step. It's especially
noticeable going from series to parallel if you're still pushing it through
as you would well know Peter E, though Peter B says that W-2 you use in SF
was a particularly good one.
 
I don't know what Peter Winspur (was a real good guy and a real pro on

trams)

showed Peter B but what I started doing was running it up through the

notches

to the top of series, then letting the motor rpm and tram speed catch up. In
other words take my time going into parallel. The die was already cast by

the

time I got to the top of series. That made a huge difference to my
smoothness. It's OK to be in a hurry in series, but then let the tram gather
itself. It's almost like going from low to high range in a Roadranger truck
gearbox. It just takes a bit longer and it's not worth hurrying it through.
 
Having drawn a comparison between a K-35 and a Roadranger, I'd better stop
here.
 
Except to say I love driving old air-brake equipment, but there was nothing
like a good 1100 PCC, or even a good "Baby 1000" (maybe). Give me an air
brake car that could do 50mph on the street in San Francisco and stop as
quickly as a PCC I might have a rethink.
 
RT Murphy

[zap]
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Obfuscation specialist


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