Operating a Milan Streetcar in San Francisco

A spider's eye view of the operation of Car 1811 (a Milan Peter Witt) on 30th Street from Dolores and around the corner onto Church Street.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• streetcar
• san
• francisco
• milano
• peter
• witt
• muni

[trolleypup]

This type of controller drops the power when you release/move the controller towards the off position...so you have to "throw off" completely before you can pick up power again.

8 points of power plus an initialization point. So...move the controller to the initialization point...if you don't pause there, the controller won't pick up power for the power points and you have to start over. Embarrassing and frustrating!

In general it is hard on the controllers and motors to drop back on points.

[trolleypup]

@trolleypup

On this car, the IP is very close to the first point, and not very sensitive...if you watch closely, on each of the starts, there is a very brief pause very close to the first point. Some cars it will look like a separate point movement with a solid stop before moving on. Car 1818 has a note on the controller (translated roughly from the Italian) "Note well the first (IP) point."

Also, an experienced operator will have the feel of each controller and will adjust the movements so

[trolleypup]

@trolleypup

that it looks smooth even on a controller with a picky IP. Just a bit frustrating for an operator when I respond to a report of a bad controller & can get the controller to work properly every time "Goddamned showoff supervisors" ... but I do then show them how to get what they want. Mostly..."Relax, breath, don't hurry, let your hand get used to the controller, initialization-stop, 1, 2, ... remember, a 1/2 second stop at the IP costs less time than throwing off and starting over.

[mannysal1111]

this is are very best this guy is an inspector now

[trolleypup]

Thanks...the downside of being a transit inspector is that I don't get to operate much any more...just moving cars here and there and driving bad cars from time to time.

I always meant to do more of these...this one was done during training.

[Herzogluca]

@ArtStone

Yes. Turning the handle clockwise you accelerate. Turning counter -clockwise you open traction circuits. To close the circuit again, you must put the handle to zero position and then turn clockwise.

[ArtStone]

Is there a reason to move the control back to null before reapplying power? I've noticed that on other videos of trolleys without dynamic braking ability

[stefanodef]

@Silmacar thank you, 4 years in milan and I never realized that it was a forward/reverse switch. (you can't just call it a break) ;-)

[Silmacar]

you're right. The big handle on the left is the rheostatic control ("accelerator"). The small handle next to it is the forward/reverse switch. The centre knobs operate the doors. The driver has his right hand on the brake control (move right, brake: move left, de-brake). The rightmost wheel is the station brake ("handbrake").

[elgoalio29]

You are correct.