MELBOURNE TRAMS - ROUTE RESTRICTIONS

["Ron BEST" <ronbest@bigpond.com>]

Apart from the question of overhead being set for trolley-pole and/or panto
operation, are there any other restrictions as to what cars can go where?

When all-over advertising began, some Ws were fitted with lamps sticking out
horizontally all around the edge of the roof. Such cars were banned from
operating into the terminal area in Batman Avenue, because the lamps would
foul the overhanging awning. I've always wondered if they found out the hard
way! (BTW, these cars gave trouble at auto points contactors - the extra
lamps drew so much current, the points would throw for the branch whether
the driver had power on or off! In fact, IIRC, they were  banned from routes
69 and 79 because the driver would have to get out in the middle of the
Carlisle St/Kilda Rd junction to reset the points by hand - a dangerous
operation before the points were relocated!)

--
Rgds

Ron BEST