[PRCo] Re: Milano

[John F Bromley]

Don't hold back, Greg, say how you really feel about the Milano.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg King" <tramway at alphalink.com.au>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 10:00 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Milano


>
> Hi Roger,
>
> What can I say, best time I have had since I last did fan trips in the
80's,
> they have been banned for years in historic cars and, part of this deal
is,
> if it works, historic cars could be allowed to be used again, a lot of
> reponsibility.
>
> Reading the comments about Lisbon, I agree, those folks are super motormen
> but, I had a taste of it yesterday, the Milano car has an italian version
of
> the PV2/3 valve with a sanding lever above the handle like the Muni had,
> they are very responsive for manual lappers but you have to keep on top of
> them. I have found, in heavy traffic, similar to Lisbon, you release your
> air but keep the handle in lap, no pressure on the shoe but ready to apply
> emediately.
>
> The trip in was murder in part. We have a large junction at Brunswick St,
> Gisbourne St., and Victoia Parade where two lines meet and then seperate,
> the two side roads are stagered so, when you come in on the 112 route, you
> turn right into the centre of Vic Pde then left into Gisbourne st. All
this
> is being dug up and replaced by a three track junction, Vic pde is one of
> the heaviest traffic arteries in Melbourne and the whole place is shut,
> forcing all west bound traffic onto Smith stree and gertrude stree of the
86
> route which are very narrow and the only way I could bring 1692 back to my
> depot (Southbank), I normally would have used the 112 route. It truly was
> like Lisbon with me riding the bumper of the car in front. Traffic was so
> bad that and artic (B class) was stuck on the curve from Smith to Gertrude
> for 20 minutes!!, it took me nearly two hours to travel the two km's from
> Johnston st to the end of Gertrude street, in normal condition, a time of
> around 4 minutes is plenty!! Apart from that, it was a blast, I had one
> heart stopping moment when a motorist turned in front of me and propped, I
> thought the trial was over then and there as I was sure the coupler would
> knock her into next year, anyway, full first emergency on that car is
superb
> and we stopped with room to spare and a bit of blue language from the
> motorman! The senior trainer even said, "you've still got it, nice
emergency
> stop"!!!
>
> So tomorrow is the big day when I run her around the edge of the city for
6
> hours and there will be entertainers on board etc., for imigration day,
then
> I tack her back the 8-9 kms back to the shops. This is the most enjoyable
> time I have had since being back on the job, when I parked in the barn,
over
> the pit last night, all the folks in the depot wanted to have a look so I
> showed them over the car, including bosses, so I'm lapping up my 15
minutes
> of fame. I did'nt want to go home!!
>
> Cheers guys
> Greg
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ROGER Jenkins" <ROGERTROLLY at webtv.net>
> To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2002 7:57 AM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Milano
>
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