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Metrolink's American Trams.

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northernrail

northernrail

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Hi,
I know that Metrolink Shipped 2 of San Francisco's retired trams over to England in early 2000's, and one went to Queens Road while the other went to Derby, but did the one in Manchester ever leave Queens Road, i read somewhere it derailed witch is why it wasn't used, was it scrapped on site at Queens Road?
Is the one at Derby still alive?
Anyone got pictures of them?
 
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Jordy

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I have no idea, it was repainted fairly recently (maybe 1, 2 years ago?) and had some adverts placed on it! Graffiti is back now though
 
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Freel07

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northernrail said:
Hi,
I know that Metrolink Shipped 2 of San Francisco's retired trams over to England in early 2000's, and one went to Queens Road while the other went to Derby, but did the one in Manchester ever leave Queens Road, i read somewhere it derailed witch is why it wasn't used, was it scrapped on site at Queens Road?
Is the one at Derby still alive?
Anyone got pictures of them?
Click to expand...

The one that went to Queens Road was cut up on site around 2007/8 having been offered to the preservation movement.

It wasn't that it derailed so much as the fact the amount of work needed to bring them to the required standards was just too much once the investigations got under way over here. The shipping costs were considered less than sending a team of people over to the States to do the investigative work.
 
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Freel07

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northernrail said:
Did It Ever Leave Queens Road?
Click to expand...

Yes it did a trip to Eccles and back towed by the diesel loco. that was when the potential derailment risk was identified. The narrower tramway wheel tread was the problem. Metrolink uses a modified railway wheel profile with a fairly wide tread and of course at the time of the trial the San Fran tram still had its American tramway tyres.
 
northernrail

northernrail

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Freel07 said:
Yes it did a trip to Eccles and back towed by the diesel loco. that was when the potential derailment risk was identified. The narrower tramway wheel tread was the problem. Metrolink uses a modified railway wheel profile with a fairly wide tread and of course at the time of the trial the San Fran tram still had its American tramway tyres.
Click to expand...

How would it have been towed to Eccles, what was on the other end for the journey back, is the loco even Eccles line passed?
 
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Freel07

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northernrail said:
How would it have been towed to Eccles, what was on the other end for the journey back, is the loco even Eccles line passed?
Click to expand...

It was propelled one way and towed the other. When propelled there would be a 'driver' in the front cab to operate the trams brakes if necessary.

Yes the diesel is passed for use on the Eccles Line, it is regularly used for OLE maintenance across the system.
 
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