Sunday we had the 'Carols by candlelight' at the lake, so, as usual, we had a shuttle service to/from the event. This has become a regular thing; if there's an event in town, and we go past it, we run a passenger service (which we call a shuttle service). So I conducted Sunday evening/night.
So, I worked with one of our drivers who has driven trams in Melbourne, and I have to say, I was really great having a driver who respects the timetable! Some of our drivers are happy to leave a bit early; I'm not. And the conductor is in charge of keeping time, just as the driver is. So, if we get to a stop early, and the lights turn green/white - stiff shit, we leave on time, not early. So my driver on Sunday is now my favourite.
We ran a 24-min service, but with no depot stopover, the round trip was rated for 48 mins instead of the usual 72 (talking tram service trip is 72 mins). Even with that, the timetable was really flexible, we could have shaved maybe 6 or so mins off that if we tried. so next time, we might end up with a 20-min service, who knows. As it was, there was a reasonable amount of passengers, and quite a few commented that we should run a passenger service more regularly - they really enjoyed not having to drive. We get comments like that quite often, but from out of town visitors, it means little. When locals are saying it however, it means something. So who knows what might happen...
If anything does happen though, it'll be a long time 'till we see anything though, it's not gonna happen yet.
Running trams at night was a new experience for me; every time we went over a section insulator, all the lights blink. Just enough to really muck with your head too, as you're plunged into complete darkness, and before your brain can handle this new input, the light comes back on. It was very disorienting, but you get used to it.
For the day it was though, I'm glad I brought an energy drink with me. Definitely had fun though.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Another completely un-boring weekend
Last weekend was an interesting one.
The Saturday was fairly usual, standard 72 minute service, blah blah blah. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to drive a couple of trips, which gives me a bit of practice with the tour tape, and we were running trams 808, which is a SW5 class ex-Melb (think it's a SW5), and 18, which is a maximum traction bogie car (built 1914). Driving with the tape can be quite stressful, as you have to keep an eye on the traffic, and pay attention to the running commentary to make sure you're where the tape says you are.
Anyway, we were running another tram as well on a Christmas service, and mid-afternoon, our tram starts running like a complete slug. The lights were also quite dim. At that stage, we were on tram 18, which has a reputation for being a bit of a slug, but when we looked at the lights, and heard the air compressor running really freaking slow, we very quickly worked out that there was an issue with the power. At first, we thought it was the other tram (369, ex-Adelaide H class), as it can be a power hog, then we realised that couldn't be, as it had been running all day with no problems. When we got back to the depot (the tour stops over at the depot), we discovered that the substation had blown a fuse, and that we were running on partial power only (3-phase in, one phase blown for the tech-heads).
So, with this knowledge, we continued the tour as normal, and we took 808, as scheduled. Big mistake. 808 needs the substation to be fully operational; a while back I was told about this, and now I know why. We kept popping the linebreaker (not dissimilar to a circuit breaker), which normally drops when you notch off or if you draw too much current. With the reduced voltage, it was not holding the linebreaker in, and we kept losing power to the motors. I drove the first leg from the depot to North Bendigo, and I was amazed we managed to get the tram up Thunder St hill.
From there, I swapped back to conducting, and our driver got stuck at a couple of hills, to the point where we rolled backwards a couple of times. Now this guy is no rookie; he'd been driving for many years, and knew his stuff. So I really can't say I'd have done any better. We eventually got to the end of the line, about 10 mins late, which no-one seemed to mind, and as that was thankfully the last run, went back to the depot.
It was easier driving with motors cut-out when I was in training than it was to drive with a blown phase.
The Saturday was fairly usual, standard 72 minute service, blah blah blah. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to drive a couple of trips, which gives me a bit of practice with the tour tape, and we were running trams 808, which is a SW5 class ex-Melb (think it's a SW5), and 18, which is a maximum traction bogie car (built 1914). Driving with the tape can be quite stressful, as you have to keep an eye on the traffic, and pay attention to the running commentary to make sure you're where the tape says you are.
Anyway, we were running another tram as well on a Christmas service, and mid-afternoon, our tram starts running like a complete slug. The lights were also quite dim. At that stage, we were on tram 18, which has a reputation for being a bit of a slug, but when we looked at the lights, and heard the air compressor running really freaking slow, we very quickly worked out that there was an issue with the power. At first, we thought it was the other tram (369, ex-Adelaide H class), as it can be a power hog, then we realised that couldn't be, as it had been running all day with no problems. When we got back to the depot (the tour stops over at the depot), we discovered that the substation had blown a fuse, and that we were running on partial power only (3-phase in, one phase blown for the tech-heads).
So, with this knowledge, we continued the tour as normal, and we took 808, as scheduled. Big mistake. 808 needs the substation to be fully operational; a while back I was told about this, and now I know why. We kept popping the linebreaker (not dissimilar to a circuit breaker), which normally drops when you notch off or if you draw too much current. With the reduced voltage, it was not holding the linebreaker in, and we kept losing power to the motors. I drove the first leg from the depot to North Bendigo, and I was amazed we managed to get the tram up Thunder St hill.
From there, I swapped back to conducting, and our driver got stuck at a couple of hills, to the point where we rolled backwards a couple of times. Now this guy is no rookie; he'd been driving for many years, and knew his stuff. So I really can't say I'd have done any better. We eventually got to the end of the line, about 10 mins late, which no-one seemed to mind, and as that was thankfully the last run, went back to the depot.
It was easier driving with motors cut-out when I was in training than it was to drive with a blown phase.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
A varied Saturday
On Saturdays I conduct on the service tram. It's usually a pretty cruisey job; stand around and look pretty, make sure no-one's sticking arms/legs/heads out of the tram (unfortunately, natural survival has been overridden =P ), sell tickets, et al. The Saturday just gone, however, was quite interesting.
When the 1st tram goes out, another tram precedes it, to sit around at the gold mine as a display tram. Well, as I am now a driver, I was tasked with the display tram, and I was also tasked with a charter service later in the afternoon. I also had a trainee conductor on for the morning as well. So it was going to be a busy day.
The night before, I was doing some training on the restaraunt tram, so I needed an extra kick - so I started with an extra strength coffee (I had no intention of being only half-awake on the road with 17+ tons of awesome), and when I got to the depot, it turned out that the tram that was on service had got swapped for the one on display - which meant that there was a tram in my way at the depot when I was supposed to leave 1st...
Did my usual start-up checks, power, foot pedals, lifetray, low-speed brake test. When I used to spend my afternoons at South Melbourne depot after school, I would always remember the lifetray test. The 2 wooden slats at the front are a catch mechanism that upon impact, will drop an attachment onto the rails, which will scoop up whoever fell in front of the trigger. Hence lifetray. It always made quite a clang.
After we headed out, we switched around at the gold mine, so as to park the display tram where it needed to go, and to leave room for the restaurant tram to arrive later that day. Headed out on the service car, where I proceeded to sit on my arse all morning. With the trainee, I was told to 'sit and observe' so i did. Easiest morning shift to date.
After lunch, did some actual conducting, and had an old mate from my Melbourne days visit me on the tram, and he seemed to really enjoy the trip. He couldn't wipe the smile off his face, seeing me at my dream job. So that was really cool too.
Then I flicked some switches on the restaurant tram, and started up the display tram for the charter. Thankfully there are volume controls in the drivers' cabs, because Christmas carols are not my favourite. Not even close. The bulkheads are also quite thick, so I really couldn't hear the tape at all.
Everyone arrived for what a co-worked dubbed 'the ankle-biter tour', and we headed off, 10mins late. Drove off nice and cruisy, as we would have to wait for the service car to pass us, and if i drove fast, we'd just have a longer wait. Also, everyone had partypies and the like, so making all the kids spill their food would not have been good. Service car passed (5mins late), and we headed up north to meet Santa. The kids hopped out and had a ball, and then we headed back to the gold mine to drop everyone off and clean up the tram.
When I did the restaurant tram the night before, even after unloading everyone and all the food, you still have a lot of wine glasses on board, so you still have to take it nice and gentle. I was doing that with this tram as well, until I realised that there was nothing fragile on board - so i fanged it back to the depot.
Being able to drive fast on a tram is awesome.
When the 1st tram goes out, another tram precedes it, to sit around at the gold mine as a display tram. Well, as I am now a driver, I was tasked with the display tram, and I was also tasked with a charter service later in the afternoon. I also had a trainee conductor on for the morning as well. So it was going to be a busy day.
The night before, I was doing some training on the restaraunt tram, so I needed an extra kick - so I started with an extra strength coffee (I had no intention of being only half-awake on the road with 17+ tons of awesome), and when I got to the depot, it turned out that the tram that was on service had got swapped for the one on display - which meant that there was a tram in my way at the depot when I was supposed to leave 1st...
Did my usual start-up checks, power, foot pedals, lifetray, low-speed brake test. When I used to spend my afternoons at South Melbourne depot after school, I would always remember the lifetray test. The 2 wooden slats at the front are a catch mechanism that upon impact, will drop an attachment onto the rails, which will scoop up whoever fell in front of the trigger. Hence lifetray. It always made quite a clang.
After we headed out, we switched around at the gold mine, so as to park the display tram where it needed to go, and to leave room for the restaurant tram to arrive later that day. Headed out on the service car, where I proceeded to sit on my arse all morning. With the trainee, I was told to 'sit and observe' so i did. Easiest morning shift to date.
After lunch, did some actual conducting, and had an old mate from my Melbourne days visit me on the tram, and he seemed to really enjoy the trip. He couldn't wipe the smile off his face, seeing me at my dream job. So that was really cool too.
Then I flicked some switches on the restaurant tram, and started up the display tram for the charter. Thankfully there are volume controls in the drivers' cabs, because Christmas carols are not my favourite. Not even close. The bulkheads are also quite thick, so I really couldn't hear the tape at all.
Everyone arrived for what a co-worked dubbed 'the ankle-biter tour', and we headed off, 10mins late. Drove off nice and cruisy, as we would have to wait for the service car to pass us, and if i drove fast, we'd just have a longer wait. Also, everyone had partypies and the like, so making all the kids spill their food would not have been good. Service car passed (5mins late), and we headed up north to meet Santa. The kids hopped out and had a ball, and then we headed back to the gold mine to drop everyone off and clean up the tram.
When I did the restaurant tram the night before, even after unloading everyone and all the food, you still have a lot of wine glasses on board, so you still have to take it nice and gentle. I was doing that with this tram as well, until I realised that there was nothing fragile on board - so i fanged it back to the depot.
Being able to drive fast on a tram is awesome.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
My first solo drive
So, I got my basic tram driver qualification as of yesterday. Today was the first day I took a tram out all by myself... I got to drive the Y1 class tram, number 610. Only 4 were ever built, and we'd only just finished restoring it last week. So it's a good thing I didn't break it =P
It was a really good ride, and the driver's area isn't as claustrophobic as some (although thankfully that isn't a problem for me), it handled quite well - it was really cushy!
Oh, and because 610 doesn't have a sound system, I didn't do the tour tape - I just drove. It was, um, actually it was very therapeutic. Kinda serene, in its way. I could say it was rad, it was awesome, all that, and it would be true, but those words don't sum it up. there are moments, when everything is perfect, when you have reached that which you have wanted and strived for, when you are living the dream. That is what the drive was today.
Oh, and friends of mine who live next to the tram line brought me a cold drink and some biccies to say congrats too. That was funny, and really sweet.
After all, they'd seen my with the tram L plates on for a while, and they noticed that the L's had gone. I thought that was really sweet. So to the Prince family, thankyou =)
And yes, for the most part, I am very purposely leaving names out of this, because for that most part, I don't think putting names in would be proper.
Oh, and a good friend who is also a tramways member joined me for one trip, which was good too - it was nice to have someone there to share my first drive with.
It was a really good ride, and the driver's area isn't as claustrophobic as some (although thankfully that isn't a problem for me), it handled quite well - it was really cushy!
Oh, and because 610 doesn't have a sound system, I didn't do the tour tape - I just drove. It was, um, actually it was very therapeutic. Kinda serene, in its way. I could say it was rad, it was awesome, all that, and it would be true, but those words don't sum it up. there are moments, when everything is perfect, when you have reached that which you have wanted and strived for, when you are living the dream. That is what the drive was today.
Oh, and friends of mine who live next to the tram line brought me a cold drink and some biccies to say congrats too. That was funny, and really sweet.
After all, they'd seen my with the tram L plates on for a while, and they noticed that the L's had gone. I thought that was really sweet. So to the Prince family, thankyou =)
And yes, for the most part, I am very purposely leaving names out of this, because for that most part, I don't think putting names in would be proper.
Oh, and a good friend who is also a tramways member joined me for one trip, which was good too - it was nice to have someone there to share my first drive with.
Driver testing
So, yesterday was an interesting day.
On Saturday, I became aware that the tramways was intending to have me tested for tram driving on Tuesday, so I started hitting the books, to make sure I knew everything I needed to. Unlike a driver's test, which goes for about 20-30mins, the tram driving test went for about 2 to 3 hours, including the theory portion. It's more an exam than a test.
So, after a couple of hours of driving, hitting the emergency brakes a few times, and driving over huge piles of sand (most from another driver trainee), we headed back to the depot, and my assessor dissapeared for a bit, which meant I had nothing to do but wait. And worry whether I passed or not. Eventually he came out of the office, and formally congratulated me on passing - I am now officially a tram driver!
By the way, I reckon that's something that's amiss in our society. Being laid back and casual is a great thing in general, but when someone gives you a bit of 'old school' recognition - someone whom you respect says congratulations and shakes your hand - it means something.
Ever since I was a kid, this is something that I have wanted to do. I was made fun of for it a lot in school, the grownups (teachers, etc) just didn't get it; at one camp, we were at Lake Wendouree in Ballarat, and I went to the fenceline to have a look at the tram going by. Stupid carers told me I could do that down Clarendon st back home... they really didn't get it. Though I have to say the overhead work caught my attention; there were about 3 or 4 overhead lines over the one track...
A few years back, in 2005 I believe, we heard on the news about some kid who got arrested for 'borrowing' a tram, and going for a drive. He apparently had a uniform and all, and even picked up passengers! The tram was halted when they managed to shut down the overhead power. We couldn't help but laugh at the news report, especially with me being the tram fanatic that I am, and once we'd stopped laughing ourselves stupid, I stated that if I was to ever drive trams, I'd go about it the right way, not least of all to avoid getting arrested =P
When I was getting serious about wanting to drive trams, on occasion I'd do a little bit of shunting at the depot - under instruction and supervision. On occasion, when we were shunting, someone would hand me the tram keys (to put into the appropriate tram), knowing full well I knew how to use them. And it'd always throw me, because I wanted to drive, but I wanted to do the right thing - because if I did anything stupid, it would be the last time I'd get to look at a tram. Once the boss handed me the keys and said "now don't drive off with them..." and I told him, flat out, that I would never do that, because I'd prefer to drive more than once.
Earlier on in this year (2007), I met up with an old friend from my Melbourne days - hadn't seen him in years, and it turned out he has relatives in Bendigo! So we had a good old yarn, and when I mentioned that I was working at the tramways here, he mentioned the story about the kid in Melbourne - and how he thought that it was me who'd stolen the tram! Pissed myself laughing at that, it was the funniest thing I'd heard in a long while.
So yea, basically everyone who's known me for any extended period of time knows that trams is one of my big passions. I've been a tram conductor for a few months, and now I am also a friggin' tram driver! w00t!
More importantly, I really did manage to get there, and do it the right way.
On Saturday, I became aware that the tramways was intending to have me tested for tram driving on Tuesday, so I started hitting the books, to make sure I knew everything I needed to. Unlike a driver's test, which goes for about 20-30mins, the tram driving test went for about 2 to 3 hours, including the theory portion. It's more an exam than a test.
So, after a couple of hours of driving, hitting the emergency brakes a few times, and driving over huge piles of sand (most from another driver trainee), we headed back to the depot, and my assessor dissapeared for a bit, which meant I had nothing to do but wait. And worry whether I passed or not. Eventually he came out of the office, and formally congratulated me on passing - I am now officially a tram driver!
By the way, I reckon that's something that's amiss in our society. Being laid back and casual is a great thing in general, but when someone gives you a bit of 'old school' recognition - someone whom you respect says congratulations and shakes your hand - it means something.
Ever since I was a kid, this is something that I have wanted to do. I was made fun of for it a lot in school, the grownups (teachers, etc) just didn't get it; at one camp, we were at Lake Wendouree in Ballarat, and I went to the fenceline to have a look at the tram going by. Stupid carers told me I could do that down Clarendon st back home... they really didn't get it. Though I have to say the overhead work caught my attention; there were about 3 or 4 overhead lines over the one track...
A few years back, in 2005 I believe, we heard on the news about some kid who got arrested for 'borrowing' a tram, and going for a drive. He apparently had a uniform and all, and even picked up passengers! The tram was halted when they managed to shut down the overhead power. We couldn't help but laugh at the news report, especially with me being the tram fanatic that I am, and once we'd stopped laughing ourselves stupid, I stated that if I was to ever drive trams, I'd go about it the right way, not least of all to avoid getting arrested =P
When I was getting serious about wanting to drive trams, on occasion I'd do a little bit of shunting at the depot - under instruction and supervision. On occasion, when we were shunting, someone would hand me the tram keys (to put into the appropriate tram), knowing full well I knew how to use them. And it'd always throw me, because I wanted to drive, but I wanted to do the right thing - because if I did anything stupid, it would be the last time I'd get to look at a tram. Once the boss handed me the keys and said "now don't drive off with them..." and I told him, flat out, that I would never do that, because I'd prefer to drive more than once.
Earlier on in this year (2007), I met up with an old friend from my Melbourne days - hadn't seen him in years, and it turned out he has relatives in Bendigo! So we had a good old yarn, and when I mentioned that I was working at the tramways here, he mentioned the story about the kid in Melbourne - and how he thought that it was me who'd stolen the tram! Pissed myself laughing at that, it was the funniest thing I'd heard in a long while.
So yea, basically everyone who's known me for any extended period of time knows that trams is one of my big passions. I've been a tram conductor for a few months, and now I am also a friggin' tram driver! w00t!
More importantly, I really did manage to get there, and do it the right way.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Welcome to my tram freak blog!
Hi there! My name's Rob, and since this is my first post, I should probably introduce myself. I have been a tram & rail enthusiast for as I can remember - probably since I first watched Thomas the tank engine at the ripe old age of 6(ish). I grew up in inner Melbourne, home to one of the largest tram networks in the world. When I was in primary school, I would go to the local tram depot after school, and watch the trams. Sometimes, i would go in the pits to see all the bits and pieces under them, sometimes I would get to watch the drivers as they set up the trams for their afternoon runs. I still remember the clang of the lifetrays as they finished off their mental checklist - something I'll get back to later - and of course, the noise of the compressors charging up the air cylinders. Wow, it seems like a lifetime ago...
Of course, that was in the days when the W class trams still reigned supreme in Melbourne (would have been the early 1990's), even after the Z class trams had been brought in, and the A & B class were starting to make their mark. South Melbourne depot had a few B's, but the W's took up most of the space.
Since then, the depot shifted to a new location, I grew up (or so they tell me), and I moved to another city, to Bendigo in regional Victoria. I missed quite a few things from my old hometown at first, all my old friends of course, but most of all, I missed the trams. We have a tourist tramway here, from the days of public transport in this city, but no huge network like I was used to.
At one stage, I was getting started in constructing a model tramway at home (and by getting started, read 'endless research'), and decided to go to the local tram depot to gain some information. By the time I had left, I had received more information than my brain could handle, I had met a fellow tram enthusiast that I had met in years long past (who had built his own model trams and was my original point of inspiration for doing the same), and a foot in the door with my skills as an engineering student! So my first experience with the Bendigo Tramways definitely left me with a smile on my face.
I dropped by not long after that, and was asked to help out on a project, which I gladly accepted, and after that, became a volunteer member of the Tramways. I spent the first half-year (on-and-off) helping out in the workshop, and gained much knowledge of how the vehicles work - even helping in the restoration of tram #44, which would have been built in the 1910's.
During the 2nd half of the year, I started tram conducting, and started spending a lot more time at the Tramways instead of at university (not just for the obvious reason, other factors were involved there), and started working towards tram driving.
That's the half of it - not the short version of the story, but not the full story. As I post, I'll add more tidbits from my tramming past, memories of what was, stories of what is, and whatever else I decide is worth adding.
At this point, I'll throw in the usual disclaimer: I am a volunteer employee of the Bendigo Tramways, but anything stated in this blog is my opinion and my opinion alone, and does not necessarily reflect the position of the Bendigo Tramways. If anything I state in this blog is taken out of context in such a way as to reflect on other persons / organisations, including Bendigo Tramways, you hereby surrender the right to sue me, quote me, speak to me, or exist. You also are hereby understood to agree to thiese terms, even if you haven't read them - I'm not placing a stupid disclaimer on the end of every post.
Oh, and I think it's sad that we live in a society where I feel that I have to put a legal disclaimer of my ramblings.
Of course, that was in the days when the W class trams still reigned supreme in Melbourne (would have been the early 1990's), even after the Z class trams had been brought in, and the A & B class were starting to make their mark. South Melbourne depot had a few B's, but the W's took up most of the space.
Since then, the depot shifted to a new location, I grew up (or so they tell me), and I moved to another city, to Bendigo in regional Victoria. I missed quite a few things from my old hometown at first, all my old friends of course, but most of all, I missed the trams. We have a tourist tramway here, from the days of public transport in this city, but no huge network like I was used to.
At one stage, I was getting started in constructing a model tramway at home (and by getting started, read 'endless research'), and decided to go to the local tram depot to gain some information. By the time I had left, I had received more information than my brain could handle, I had met a fellow tram enthusiast that I had met in years long past (who had built his own model trams and was my original point of inspiration for doing the same), and a foot in the door with my skills as an engineering student! So my first experience with the Bendigo Tramways definitely left me with a smile on my face.
I dropped by not long after that, and was asked to help out on a project, which I gladly accepted, and after that, became a volunteer member of the Tramways. I spent the first half-year (on-and-off) helping out in the workshop, and gained much knowledge of how the vehicles work - even helping in the restoration of tram #44, which would have been built in the 1910's.
During the 2nd half of the year, I started tram conducting, and started spending a lot more time at the Tramways instead of at university (not just for the obvious reason, other factors were involved there), and started working towards tram driving.
That's the half of it - not the short version of the story, but not the full story. As I post, I'll add more tidbits from my tramming past, memories of what was, stories of what is, and whatever else I decide is worth adding.
At this point, I'll throw in the usual disclaimer: I am a volunteer employee of the Bendigo Tramways, but anything stated in this blog is my opinion and my opinion alone, and does not necessarily reflect the position of the Bendigo Tramways. If anything I state in this blog is taken out of context in such a way as to reflect on other persons / organisations, including Bendigo Tramways, you hereby surrender the right to sue me, quote me, speak to me, or exist. You also are hereby understood to agree to thiese terms, even if you haven't read them - I'm not placing a stupid disclaimer on the end of every post.
Oh, and I think it's sad that we live in a society where I feel that I have to put a legal disclaimer of my ramblings.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Tramways 35th anniversary
(this post was delayed by a few days, post dated when it should have been written up)
Ok, today was the busiest time of year for the tramways. Our anniversary.
The public transport tramways shut down in 1972, and on Sat. 9th December of that same year, tourist operations started operating. So on the closest Saturday, we celebrate that, by hauling out as many of the Bendigo heritage fleet as possible, and some other trams as well, and we run a flat-out timetable. Or at least, that's what we did this year. I wasn't around this time last year (I started at the tramways in January), but from the photos I saw, it seems that's the usual arrangement.
Anyway, I formally requested driver training a couple of months ago, when I had completed the requirements, hoping to be able to drive on the day. i knew it was going to be a tight squeeze, but in the end, it wasn't going to happen. In a way, I'm glad - because it was absolute mayhem. I was rostered for conducting on the day, of which I was very glad - I still got to be involved, but didn't need to stress about everything. As the conductor, My main concerns are the safety of passengers & the collection of fares.
We were set to run a 12-minute schedule that day. Now, normally, we run either a 72 or 36 minute service (meaning that at any given stop, that's how long the wait between trams is), and with the trackworks done over the year, a 12 minute timetable was possible. Just.
Now, at this point, a bit of background would probably help. Our tram system is one line, from the former North Bendigo tram terminus, to the Central Deborah Goldmine, and a lot of it is single track running. In Melbourne, EVERYTHING is double-track (i.e. 2 lanes, one for each direction). We have a section of double track, but most of it is single-track, and if a tram is heading north along a section, and you're heading south, you have to wait at a passing loop, or you're going to get in each-other's way. So, around the middle of the year, we restored the former passing loop on the northern section of the track in Bridge st. - before that, the entire northern section past the depot track had no passing loops.
The Bridge st. loop had been left disconnected and unused for 42 years, from the public transport era, when the points were desperately needed for another section of track. Not too long after that the PT system closed permanently. When the track was renewed for the heritage tramway operations, the remaning track was scaled back - the double track from town to the depot was scaled back, and 1 or 2 passing loops were removed. The remaining track from Bridge st. was left alone, only the points had been removed, so in cannibalising the points from Bridge st. loop, the former operator actually saved the loop.
So, we had this 12 minute timetable, which was a wonderful idea; the problem was that any holdup ends up delaying the next tram, which then holds up the next, and so on. Our table started at 9:31 to leave the depot (I think), and pass a tram at every loop/passing point. Well, by the time we had run from the depot, to north, back though town, to the gold mine, we had been held up by 2 different trams, by 5 minutes. Now, that doesn't sounds like a lot, but remember, we were running a 12-minute service that day (at least for the morning), so we were out of our timetable slot by so much that we were nearly in the next slot - and we had the regular service tram as well! By late morning, we were so incredibly out of timetable that we were given orders to short-shunt - which for those uninitiated means to terminate at a location short of the line's terminus. This is something that happens here & there in Melbourne, but in my whole time in Bendigo Tramways, we have NEVER had to short-shunt a scheduled service! At least, not to my knowledge.
After lunch, the timetable was back on track (with some amazing organisational skills from our people on the ground), and we headed out again. the timetable was shifting to a 24-minute service (and yes, this was scheduled). Part of the problem with running a 12-min service was there were very few points on the track you could make up time. Also, the trip from the fountain to the goldmine (town to southern terminus) takes 5-6 mins each way (depending on the traffic lights), and there's no passsing loop for that entire section.
But it was good. there were lots of trams buzzing around, which is good local exposure; there were hiccups, which is good to learn from; and there was cake. And the cake was not a lie! When I was first informed about the cake, I was told where pieces of it were, and went to grab some - and of course it wasn't there. So I told my fiancee that "the cake is a lie!" until I finally found it, much to her amusement (she too is familiar with portal).
Hopefully next year we have a couple of contingencies in place for late trams. or run a 15-minute service or something. Or just randomly smack another passing loop in the middle of High st.
Ok, today was the busiest time of year for the tramways. Our anniversary.
The public transport tramways shut down in 1972, and on Sat. 9th December of that same year, tourist operations started operating. So on the closest Saturday, we celebrate that, by hauling out as many of the Bendigo heritage fleet as possible, and some other trams as well, and we run a flat-out timetable. Or at least, that's what we did this year. I wasn't around this time last year (I started at the tramways in January), but from the photos I saw, it seems that's the usual arrangement.
Anyway, I formally requested driver training a couple of months ago, when I had completed the requirements, hoping to be able to drive on the day. i knew it was going to be a tight squeeze, but in the end, it wasn't going to happen. In a way, I'm glad - because it was absolute mayhem. I was rostered for conducting on the day, of which I was very glad - I still got to be involved, but didn't need to stress about everything. As the conductor, My main concerns are the safety of passengers & the collection of fares.
We were set to run a 12-minute schedule that day. Now, normally, we run either a 72 or 36 minute service (meaning that at any given stop, that's how long the wait between trams is), and with the trackworks done over the year, a 12 minute timetable was possible. Just.
Now, at this point, a bit of background would probably help. Our tram system is one line, from the former North Bendigo tram terminus, to the Central Deborah Goldmine, and a lot of it is single track running. In Melbourne, EVERYTHING is double-track (i.e. 2 lanes, one for each direction). We have a section of double track, but most of it is single-track, and if a tram is heading north along a section, and you're heading south, you have to wait at a passing loop, or you're going to get in each-other's way. So, around the middle of the year, we restored the former passing loop on the northern section of the track in Bridge st. - before that, the entire northern section past the depot track had no passing loops.
The Bridge st. loop had been left disconnected and unused for 42 years, from the public transport era, when the points were desperately needed for another section of track. Not too long after that the PT system closed permanently. When the track was renewed for the heritage tramway operations, the remaning track was scaled back - the double track from town to the depot was scaled back, and 1 or 2 passing loops were removed. The remaining track from Bridge st. was left alone, only the points had been removed, so in cannibalising the points from Bridge st. loop, the former operator actually saved the loop.
So, we had this 12 minute timetable, which was a wonderful idea; the problem was that any holdup ends up delaying the next tram, which then holds up the next, and so on. Our table started at 9:31 to leave the depot (I think), and pass a tram at every loop/passing point. Well, by the time we had run from the depot, to north, back though town, to the gold mine, we had been held up by 2 different trams, by 5 minutes. Now, that doesn't sounds like a lot, but remember, we were running a 12-minute service that day (at least for the morning), so we were out of our timetable slot by so much that we were nearly in the next slot - and we had the regular service tram as well! By late morning, we were so incredibly out of timetable that we were given orders to short-shunt - which for those uninitiated means to terminate at a location short of the line's terminus. This is something that happens here & there in Melbourne, but in my whole time in Bendigo Tramways, we have NEVER had to short-shunt a scheduled service! At least, not to my knowledge.
After lunch, the timetable was back on track (with some amazing organisational skills from our people on the ground), and we headed out again. the timetable was shifting to a 24-minute service (and yes, this was scheduled). Part of the problem with running a 12-min service was there were very few points on the track you could make up time. Also, the trip from the fountain to the goldmine (town to southern terminus) takes 5-6 mins each way (depending on the traffic lights), and there's no passsing loop for that entire section.
But it was good. there were lots of trams buzzing around, which is good local exposure; there were hiccups, which is good to learn from; and there was cake. And the cake was not a lie! When I was first informed about the cake, I was told where pieces of it were, and went to grab some - and of course it wasn't there. So I told my fiancee that "the cake is a lie!" until I finally found it, much to her amusement (she too is familiar with portal).
Hopefully next year we have a couple of contingencies in place for late trams. or run a 15-minute service or something. Or just randomly smack another passing loop in the middle of High st.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)