Re: Sydney Light Rail

[matthew@mail.usyd.edu.au (Matthew Geier)]

In article <3ad03f78$0$25466$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au>,
Gail Bennett <valleyfm@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

>Whilst at Jubilee Park I remembered a story re the old Rozelle Tram
>shed....are any Sydney heritage trams still stored in there? (I couldnt see
>any). Also, I believe their power supply is different to the light
>rail...are there any plans to convert the heritage vehicles to the correct
>power?

 You can see into the old depot from a foot path that runs down between the
fence and the car park that is still the ABB works depot. There is one window
at path height that allows you to see into the depot. The trams (are/were) on
the far side and partially blocked from view by the internal walls, but enough
could be seen to work out what they are.

 The said trams have no electrical equipment (the R class being 'restored'
by the tram museum for the city council is the same - stripped), thus to be
returned to service they need new electrical gear.

 Since they will need pantographs to run on the SLR tracks anyway, I would
expect they would not so much 'restored' as 'rebuilt' and get at the minimum
chopper power control, or even AC drives built into 'imitation' bogies.
Even if they did obtain 'genuine' power gear, since they will only be running
with Pans on SLR track, suitable ajustments could be made for 750V operation.

 They will only ever run again if the SLR gets its city loop and/or the Rocks
area tourist tramway ever happens.

 Trolley Wire mentioned a proposal for a 'stage 1' city loop for the SLR that
ran only as far as Park St. Except for one or 2 lines in Trolley wire some time
back, I have heard nothing more.
 The EIS examined having 2 turn back points on the CBD loop, one being Park
St, so the EIS is already done for that option if it ever happens.