Re: trams riding on flanges

[Chris Brownbill <cbrnbill@enternet.com.au>]

There was mention in Keith Kings' book "The Ballarat Tramways" of unbroken main
line crossing frogs at the Sturt St / Drummond St intersection.  So how would
that have worked - surely a risk of derailment if the Drummond St tram had to
ride up over the railhead of the Sturt Street line on its flanges!

Chris wrote:
> 
> I was wondering if the practice of Melbourne trams bearing the full
> weight of the tram on it flanges as it goes across crossings and points
> is safe?
> 
> It seams to me, as I drive my trams along (I work for Swanston trams),
> say St Kilda Rd that all the crossings have been built up so that the
> tread of the wheel does not touch the track. In fact if you look at the
> rails at certain places they are in fact rusty, despite beign heavily
> used.
> 
> I can only guess this is being done to avoid wear on the rails. But I
> was wondering if the trams them selves were designed so that the flange
> can bear the full weight of the tram or is this a cheap way of getting
> around the fact that the rail compnents should be strong enough to
> sustain heavy traffic with out wearing out so quickly.
> 
> CNS