A couple of tram questions

[AntonyVW]

1. What speed do trams normally travel at?
2. Anyone know what poles (catenery?) I should use to hold up the wires? (UK design please). I cant seem to find any that are specific to trams but that may be because I dont know what to call them

Thanks
Antony

 

[H222]

1. It depends entirely, anything from the road speed to 80km/h (50mph)

2. Look up 'Paulzmay' on the DLS

Jamie

 

[cascaderailroad]

I would suggest slowly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdI2ZaWPihY&feature=endscreen&NR=1

 

[rjhowie]

It looks at first thought the tram driver was wrong as the traffic lights were against him judging by the other traffic stopped neside him and the red light we can see.

 

[Vern]

I think traditional street tramways travel quite slowly. From watching the Blackpool Princess Alice top-deck ride, maximum speed on the promenade is around 12 MPH with a top speed of 30 MPH permitted on reserved track sections which are fenced. All road crossings on the latter are 4 MPH, some with an additional "stop and proceed" requirement.

I'm not sure if these speeds may have been relaxed for the Flexity trams which (presumably) have better braking capability but that is offset by no visible lifeguard to stop anyone knocked down going under the wheels (ouch).

I can't say for certain whether more modern tram systems such as Croydon, Nottingham or Manchester have higher speeds on their reserved track, some of which was originally heavy rail line.

And yes, Paulzmay has a superb collection of tram items on the DLS including wire supports in all manner of shapes, sizes and colours.

 

[teddytoot]

Trams could travel easily up to the UK town speed limit (30mph). I can well remember as a child riding on trams travelling down The Avenue in Southampton that got up to such a speed.

 

[Vern]

Thanks John. Of course Blackpool may be a special case owing to the unique nature of the promenade operation - i.e. lots of tourists and kiddies running around maybe not used to tram operations, so they have to keep speed down a bit.

If there's any real tram drivers (Blackpool or otherwise) on here it would be interesting to hear their views.

 

[ray_whiley]

A lot depends, I would suggest, on the tram, its age and the location. For example, on reserved track (eg. along the Bristol Road in Birmingham in the 1950s) speeds would be appreciably higher than along Navigation Street in the city centre. But at all times local speed limits - normally 30mph then in built-up areas with track along ordinary streets - would have to be observed. Nowadays, with some areas having 20mph limits, this would also apply to trams, however modern. Other factors (in the good old days when there were 'proper' trams) would be the gauge (standard or narrow), gradients, sharpness of curves, etc. And it must be remembered that in city centres, trams stopped frequently for passengers, so the opportunity to build up speed would be limited.

To my mind, trams look 'right' travelling (in city centres) at about 15 to 20 mph.

Ray

 

[JCitron]

There are other factors as well including curves and junctions, shared traffic, stations, number of other vehicles running at the same time, etc. The Boston MBTA Green Line has three kinds of operations. There is the traditional, on the street, kind running in Brighton and Brookline where the trams (trolleys or now LRVs over here) operate at traffic speed which is about 30 mph. There is also an extensive route in a median through out Beacon Street from Kenmore Square and then on to Boston College. The trams along this section operate a 35-40 mph with stops scheduled at specific places. There are no buzzer-type stops that I am aware of along this portion of the line.

Then there are two other sections which consist of tunnels and a former Boston and Albany ROW. The tunnel section has some rather quick sections, particularly on the line that heads out of the tunnel to Heath Street. I've seen trolleys move at 50 mph along this portion from Prudential to Northeastern University (Symphony). In other sections of the tunnel, in particular around Boylston and Tremont Street where the original tunnel is located, there are some 5 mph curves. These are among the tightest curves on any system in existence and require a full stop before proceeding. There are also greaser units to slop up the tracks in the tunnel as well at this point. The final section, most recently built in the 1950s, is on the former Boston and Albany Newton Loop. Here the old PCCs used to run as fast as 50mph plus as this was a mainline-type route out to Riverside in Newton with few stops in between.

John

 

[ray_whiley]

John - yes, of course operation and speeds in the USA would be different from the UK. I was thinking back to my own journeys on trams in the UK in the 1950s (mainly) in Birmingham (narrow gauge, 3' 6") and Sheffield (standard gauge). The modern trams in Sheffield are very different, probably more like the lines running today in the USA with stations, etc. rather than stops where the waiting passengers had to venture into the roadway to board or alight.

Ray

 

[AntonyVW]

I did not expect so much interest but I'm really gratefull for the input from everyone. The only time I have been on a tram was when IVisited Blackpool as a child. However my wife and I are planing a trip to Seaton in July, and we plan to go on the trams there. I think it will provide me with an excellent opportunity to get some first hand knowledge and photos. Thanks everyone so far.