Rees Looks At 200th Streetcars

Transportation blogger Stephen Rees has posted my 200th Streetcar slideshow, and made some very favorable comments about the idea. Most importantly, he and Malcolm Johnston have assured me that a streetcar can handle the 200th Street hill:

Do not let the nay sayers scare you about hills. There is a frequently cited myth here that LRT cannot climb more than a 6% grade. Twaddle. Ancient old streetcars climb steep hills in Lisbon every day... It is just a question of power - and sand for wet days. I think trams on 200 Street are a brilliant way to start to make Langley more urban and less gasoline dependant!(Rees)

The industry standard for streetcars climbing grades is now 8%, which means a streetcar, carrying a maximum capacity, but be able to stop and start at that grade. In Sheffield, their 3 section articulated cars are able to climb 10% grades (all axles motorized)and their steepest station is on a 9% grade; and in Lisbon, their venerable streetcars climb 13.7% grades on one of their routes. I believe Vancouver streetcars climbed 10% grades on Alma and Montreal had 14% grades on their tram system. With wheel anti-slip controls and automatic sanding, streetcars/LRT can climb almost any grade in the region. 200th street would be dead easy. (Johnston)

Here's the 200th slideshow:

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