Changing The Points

[van5]

I have been watching the fascinating Prague trams on
http://slowtv.playtvak.cz/prave-ted...vaj.aspx?c=A150908_111659_mazaci-tramvaj_plap
and am puzzled as to how the points are changed. Is there a central control or a device on the tramcar?

 

[trammayo]

I don't know what they use in Prague these days, but most points are/were electrically operated on a "power and coast" basis. A parallel contact alongside the overhead wire receives power when the tram is drawing current and, conversely, doesn't receive power when the tram is free-wheeling (coasting).

The power from the contact operates the point motor and there is usually a visual indicator for the driver to determine that the point is set for the required direction.

Nowadays, with the use of electronic, I'm pretty certain that route selection can be undertaken by the tramdriver pressing a button.

 

[Andrew B. Middleton]

Some of the trams in Melbourne use something that is located underneath the ends of each tramcar. The driver just has to push a button on the control panel before reaching a set of turnouts, and they will change accordingly. I think the "old" method of "power-on", "power-off" has gone the same way as the old trams.