UK Tram Systems

[SeanG]

Personally I compare the T&W Metro more to the London Underground than a tram system.

Ie a self contained railway system

 

[Busaholic]

Personally I compare the T&W Metro more to the London Underground than a tram system.

Ie a self contained railway system

The Docklands Light Railway too, but certainly the sub-surface Metropolitan and District Lines, which run alongside Network Rail lines in many places. The 'tubes' though are a breed apart.

 

[37038]

and some quite ridiculous gradients! Build flat until you just about get to the motorway then up and over!!

 

[Jonny]

Metrolink t68 trams were as heavy as a pacer 45 tonnes. In comparison to there current 39 tonne M5000.

Ah, but the T68s had two more axles (hence only 2/3 the axle loading and thus pressure on the track).
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I remember seeing (quite late at night) an 08 taking an load of engineering wagons right through the centre of Manchester (circa 2006/7) - on the Peter's Square to Market Street leg - presumably for work to the Metrolink system somewhere. I heard that they adapted the 08 by putting rubber on the wheels or something like that?

That does sound plausible - I did spot some 08s on the Metrolink tracks around that time. However, the bends around Market Street are pretty tight and then there is the problem of the late-night drunks. I would have thought that the movements would have been over heavy rail - as there is a choice of combined routes across the city.

 

[edwin_m]

Ah, but the T68s had two more axles (hence only 2/3 the axle loading and thus pressure on the track).

But the M5000 has the same number of axles as the T68 and the previous poster states it is several tonnes lighter.

That does sound plausible - I did spot some 08s on the Metrolink tracks around that time. However, the bends around Market Street are pretty tight and then there is the problem of the late-night drunks. I would have thought that the movements would have been over heavy rail - as there is a choice of combined routes across the city.

There were 08s (with cut-down cabs for a limited-clearance railway in south Wales) used on the track works on the Bury and Altrincham lines about 2009. However I don't believe they could have got into the city centre street track as their railway wheel profiles would have derailed on the grooved rail or points. Nor have I ever heard any previous indication that this ever happened, which would surely have become public knowledge if it had.

 

[Proud Salopian]

However I don't believe they could have got into the city centre street track as their railway wheel profiles would have derailed on the grooved rail or points. Nor have I ever heard any previous indication that this ever happened, which would surely have become public knowledge if it had.

Pretty sure it was an 08 I saw rumbling through!

And afterwards I asked someone who's "in the know" in the area and he suggested the shunter's wheels had been adapted somehow.

 

[Chris125]

Pretty sure it was an 08 I saw rumbling through!

You must be mistaken then, as a 50 ton loco with an 11ft6in wheelbase through there would not have gone unnoticed.

Chris

 

[edwin_m]

Scroll down this page for a pic of Metrolink's diesel locomotive. Which presumably is able to run on street sections.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=584932&page=1371

 

[work-traveller]

Manchester Metrolink, East Didsbury terminus during construction: