Re: 80th anniversary of suburban electrification

[pcc@ocean.com.au (Les Brown)]

David Bromage <dbromage@omni.com.au> wrote in aus.rail:

>David Langley wrote:
>> 
>> John Dennis wrote:
>> 
>> > On 24 May 1999 08:28:36 GMT, "Roderick Smith" <rodsmith@werple.net.au>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> > >On Sat.29.5 Melbourne (Victoria, Australia) is celebrating the 80th
>> > >anniversary of the introduction of suburban electric services.
>> >
>> > Not according to all of us.  David Bromage insists that the tram from
>> > St Kilda to Brighton was a railway,
>> 
>> Please refer to it as an Electric Street Railway, its correct title.
>
>There is a distinct legal difference between a railway and a tramway. A
>"tramway" is not responsible for anything beyond the extremities of the
>sleepers, but a "railway" is responsible for everything between the fencelines.
>
>I'm not sure how a "street railway" is legally defined. This would
>include some parts of Whycheproof (not the centre reservation, but at
>each end of the main street), and shared road/rail bridges.
>
When  is a railway not a railway?
When is a tramway not a tramway?
When is a Tangara not a Tangara?
When is an emu not an emu?
When is a horse not a horse, of course, of course.......

What's in a name?

Les Brown