Re: Block cars

Good one David. I agree. The good thing about this list is that we
are able to share stories, experiences, impressions, comments, etc.,
about aspects of trams other than the engineering or "severe gen"
(i.e number crunching, rivet counting and the like!).
There are so many stories to be told about our hobby too. Some good.
Others not so good.
But is does seem there must be more enthusiasts who would be
interested in the list. Perhaps we should spread the word.
I note that people such as the world's greatest tram driver doesn't
seem to be a contributor. He has a wonderful collection of stories
about life on the trams over the past 20 years. Stories that portray
the glamour of life on the trams in Melbourne. Some of the other old
timers might be able to tell about the less glamourous side of life
working for the MMTB in the 1950s and 1960s etc.
We all must have people we know that we could introduce to
TramsDownUnder.
We need to write a lot of this down so it is not lost forever.
Let us not forget about the other interesting dialogue like confusing
our American friends with Texans. But we must not disappoint those of
our friends in the greatest country on earth who believe the trams in
Collins Street have to pull up suddenly every so often to avoid the
kangaroos! I saw one yesterday.
Paul in Melbourne

--- In TramsDownUnder@y..., David Langley <del@a...> wrote:

Great stuff Barry, all you old (not age but status) trammies should

keep

these stories coming for us non-tram employee people.

David.

rosterclerk1971 wrote:

I have vivid memories of Chapel St when I was a driver at

Glenhuntly

from 1968 to 1971.

Back then the two notorious days of the year were "Black Thursday"
(Easter Eve) and Christmas Eve, particularly if Christmas Day was

a

Thursday and Boxing Day on the Friday. Easter was far worse as

most

of the shops were closed until Easter Tuesday, and the Banks until
the next day.

I was unfortunate to work Chapel Street during the PM peak on both
Black Thurdays whilst at Glenhuntly. Incidently back in those days
Glenhuntly ran route 77, and Kew 78/79.

What happened on both occasions was a Block car operated from

Prahran

from about 1100am until whenever. The Inspector on duty in the

signal

box at Batman Avenue when things started to deteriorate would

pull a

service car off the road and operate it as Block Car, usually

until

the time of the crews last trip about 600pm or after.

On the first occasion this was me, and I distinctly remember on

one

trip I got as far as Toorak Road, (about a 15 minute trip) before
seeing the first City bound car. I then had a proccssion behind me
all the way back to Batman Avenue. It took six trams to run the PM
peak service, and I think on that occasion it really required more
than one Block car.

When I returned to the Depot I found that on that trip in

particular

all 12 77's and 78's were between Toorak Road and Dandenong Road.

The second time I was doing the usual 3 round trips, and apart

from

the first and last trips to and from Prahran I never saw Batman
Avenue or Prahran at all.

Happy good old days.

Barry George




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