>Kate & Andrew <Morphet@access.net.au> wrote in article
><01bd6470$093317a0$cb7438cb@katrinaa>...
>> I cannot see why this is a problem as Tram Drivers cannot take their
>hands
>> off the steering wheel (or controller) when the tram is moving! Has
>> anybody ever been in a tram when the driver has to speak on the phone
>with
>> their operations centre, the tram stops first....it has to or else the
>> emergency break will engage...
I believe it is the law in Victoria that radios etc must not be used whist the
vehicle is in motion.
As far as W class trams are concerned, in addition to the City Circle trams,
about 50 other cars were modified the same way. The driver cannot take his
hand off the brake handle, otherwise the emergency brakes will be applied.
A start has been made in fitting TVMs and validators in to W class trams. No
928 is the first trams so fitted.
The City Circle trams are now driver only. There may be a CSO on the trams
occasionally, but not normally.
>The W class trams did not have any 'deadman' features as originally fitted,
>the theory apparently being that as they were two person operated the
>conductor could stop the tram in an emergency.
>When some of the W trams were refurbished for the City Circle services they
>were fitted with a deadman device on the controller, operation similar to
>that on a traditional electric train, in that the handle had to be pressed
>down while in operation, otherwise the power would automatically cut off
>and the brakes apply. It was intended to use these trams one person
>operated, but this hasn't eventuated, although no fares are collected an
>attendant rides these trams. As far as I know most of the W's, except the
>Circle Line fleet and some additional ones kept in reserve for the Circle
>Line, still don't have deadman facilities, so the driver could easily take
>his hands off the controller and the tram would keep going.
See above.
>Sydney experimented many years ago with a deadman device on its trams, but
>it only cut off power and didn't apply the brakes - not much use going
>downhill!!
>Brisbane had emergency brake valves in the passenger saloons - passengers
>or conductors could thereby stop the tram (but not cut off power).
>David Bennetts
>Canberra
John McCallum