Gday Ian

When I went Driving, in 1965 it was 2 days at Hawthorn doing theory and practice in a W2 from Camberwell. Then 96 hrs on the road with Driver Trainer, George Wilson in my case, with at least 10 hrs on each type of controller and then back to Hawthorn for the big test, theory and practical. This was applying 1st and 4th and doing a handbrake stop at the Through Rd clock down a 1/15 grade from Warragul Rd. If you went past the clock,you failed.

Cheers, Mick. Robert Aspinall broke the handbrake cable in his test and Wilbur Wright, . the driver instructor considered he would have stopped and passed him.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ian MacCowan
To: TramsDownUnder@...
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2010 9:04 PM
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] RE: Tram driver training

It only took me five months on the job before I started my driver training. There were a number of connies at Malvern who wanted to stay "on the bag" with the result that there loomed a driver shortage, much to my advantage. Word was that I could apply for driving after six weeks but I needed three months on the the job before someone would come and talk to me on the tram.
One morning we arrived at Malvern Town Hall en route to Glen Iris, nice and quiet. A gentleman boarded, showed his badge and introduced himself as Bruce Davey from the training centre. He asked questions and explained a little more to me about procedure,
I forget how long the initial training at Hawthorne took place, a day, two days or three, but on that first day we went out in 469, 610 and 613, three or four students on each car. Mine was 613 and we went to East Burwood. Hands on training was centered around working with the trainer on the shifts that he did, so on that first morning I drove to Camberwell, then at Flinders Street my trainer took over for a couple of trips through the city.
The W2's (K35's) were awkward because of the confined space, but uncomplicated, with five series and three parrallel notches. Most training was in "the big cars" being RC1, RC2 and the Clydes. I couldn't handle the Clydes at first, so my trainer insisted that we were allocated one
whenever possible and suddenly I mastered it. Loved 'em. Clack clack clack clack clack clack, pause, then four more clacks into full parrallel, all with passengers on Michael.
Earlier one afternoon we got to Camberwell in 257, changed ends and when we went to take off there was no power. Checking that power was on, we changed fuses and he then went across the road to ring Radio Centre. Changeover was arranged at Malvern and Glenferrie Roads, so guess who drove it all the way on the handbrake. Fortunately I'd been made to practice this the previous week on a late shift.
More later.
BTW.....257 still exists. It's at Tarnagulla on a property and the owner has wisely covered it to protect from the elements.