20-08-2017, 04:24 PM
(20-08-2017, 04:07 PM)Martin Prior Wrote: Reckless, I can support the tramline story from first-hand experience.
Years ago, I took the RP to France and while finding my way through the docks at Le Havre I dropped a wheel into a grooved rail. It probably wasn't truly stuck, but followed the rail for some time until we reached a set of points. At that - er - point, the groove became much wider and deeper and the car lurched violently to the left. As I hauled it back into a straight line, there was a distinct bang, but after a quick inspection we could find nothing wrong.
Shortly afterward, we started to cross the Seine by the Pont de Tancarville - the best part of a mile long and reminiscent of the older Severn Bridge. We'd reached a point of no return when there was a loud "Ping!". A hundred yards further on, there was another, then another. By the time that we reached the far side, by now at crawling speed, the "Pings" were coming every few seconds and the handling was becoming interesting. We pulled over at the first available lay-by and found 17 broken spokes in one wheel.
I have treated tramlines with respect ever since!
Strangely enough the grooved rails used for Sheffield's Tramway came from France as at the time (and probably still) there was no facility in the UK to roll grooved light rail. The rails are usually set in a pre-cast concrete slab and held in place by a flexible rubber like material. The main rail should normally be set level to the surrounding road surface but there are certain height tolerances (usually +/- 10mm). The upper edge of the inner grooved part of the rail sits slightly lower to allow for wear on the main rail. There is no doubt that light cars motorcyles and pedal cycles are not best suited to close proximity with on-street sections of tramway and many a motorist has had unfortunate experiences with them, particularly in the wet. However it's not as though they are invisible but they can and do catch out the unprepared or unwary. Crossing them should always be done at an angle (the wider the better), and running with them on street is best done at a straddle. The narrower tyres on an RP saloon will render the car more suscpetible to "tramlining" than a Ruby with wider section tyres.
Docklands rails are probably heavy rail, not light rail and yes they do have a bigger groove, and are probably not set to the same tolerances as street running tramways. Glad to hear you escaped, despite the broken wheel.