RE: P&MTT Rusden St Substation

Brent Efford
Sunday, September 1, 2002 8:25 PM

Very interesting, Kevin. Christchurch Tramways used a peak-lopping Tudor battery bank for a while, but it was replaced by a rotary converter after about 10 years use in the early 1920s.

These days flywheel systems for the same purpose are being installed on the London underground and are being considered elsewhere. I saw an experimental flywheel installation as part of the Hong Kong trolleybus trial last December.

Brent Efford

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Taig [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, 1 September 2002 10:57 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] P&MTT Rusden St Substation

Jeff,

Your comments caused me to go rummaging through my Piccky Pile

The attached photo were taken in the mid 90's and show the most interesting construction of the substation.

I was later able to examine the interior and was told by Julian, the then owner, that it was actually a battery house.

If this was the case, then the batteries would be charged during the off-peak periods using MG sets equipped with boosters and the battery allowed to float on the line during the peak periods, thereby boosting the voltages at the end of the line.

This off-peak period may have even been overnight.

The construction of the roof seemed to bear this out as the windows in the skylight were at one time openable as well as the ventilators. The 4 tunnel insulators in the wall below the P&MTT sign are the only ones existing

The internal construction may have accommodated 2 batteries (rooms). Its location at the extremity of the system would suggest an excellent place for such an installation.

I am not sure what happened after the battery(ies) expired. There were no apparent signs of Rotary Converters or their fittings and Mercury Arc rectifiers, if used, may not have left such heavy footprints.

The St Kilda-Brighton Electric Street Railway generated their own power about this period and the Electric Suburban system was yet to arrive. Both these installations eventually derived their power from Newport 'A' at 25~ from approx. 1919. So local electricity supply in the area may have been a bit tenuous at the time.

Last report I heard was that the area was to be redeveloped, the building and adjacent blocks converted to units, can anybody confirm this has happened, as this was probably about 3-4 years ago.

Can anybody confirm the above or even add a bit more

Regards

Kevin

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