RE: Re: Panto on SW5.856

I agree. Although I have been in the tram museum movement as long as many on
this list (40 yrs) I am primarily interested in expanding the use of
trams/light rail in the future. Technological adaptation is necessary to do
this, and Melbourne's great value is as a showcase for a system which has
not only survived but modernised and expanded.

On my last visit (Aug 2001) I met two senior Yarra Trams executives at
Southbank. They confirmed that it was the intention to go all-pantograph. I
also met the Australian rep of the Kummler and Matter overhead company which
renewed the wiring for the downtown part of Wellington's trolleybus system
(not all of it being entirely successful - the origin of our meeting). He
provided a lot of technical info which made clear the considerable problems
and costs involved in running poles and pants together. It isn't just the
adaptations for the frogs.

Given the already large taxpayer support required for the tram system, it
would hardly be reasonable not to make use of a technological advance which
will reduce maintenance costs and promote greater operating efficiency and
safety.

Have a great Christmas, everyone!

Cheers,

Brent Efford

-----Original Message-----
From: David Langley [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, 22 December 2002 12:00 a.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] Re: Panto on SW5.856


As I said elsewhere, I like the poles but we have to move with the times
and a W class with a panto is still a W class.

cheers

David.

"citadis " wrote:

W Classes and Pantos, we tried this once before and it failed,

why all

of

a sudden do they think it will work again.,

No idea. I'm disappointed really, because W's are pole trams.

They always

have been, and always should be. The arguments against poles are

driver

convenience (ie lazy drivers) and overhead alignment.

The W's have been modified so heavily over the last 5-10 years they

are

beginning to lose their charm.

Sorry Andy,

But I take offence to the "Lazy Drivers" comment, I train people on
these cars every day and, you obviously have not had to try and
retrieve a damaged pole with a broken rope in the middle of a city
intersection, it's not about being lazy, it's downright dangerous and
it really screws up the service! It was mentioned it was tried before
and didn't work, rubbish, it was tried on car 891 and the union nuked
it because of the way the pan was raised and lowered, the pan worked
fine.

As for their character, as an enthusiast, I too like poles on the
cars but, we have a system that is 95% panto and need to have the
overhead modified to better suit the pans to stop expensive damage
and excessive wear being caused by frogs and the like.

Until the 70's, Milan's cars were all pole and looked lovely now,
with pantos, they still look lovely, you just get used to it, the
charater of the car is more than just the poles, it is the only way
we will keep them in service.

And please, don't sink to blaming driver's for this, it has nothing
to do with them at all!

Citadis



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