Are there no regulations now on the noise that vehicles (cars) are
allowed to make? Deliberate noise from their exhausts, deliberate
noises as they change gear, noise from stereos. There seem to be no
limits as to what they can get away with, to be noticed..

On Sun, 22 Jul 2018 13:22:06 +0100, Harry Bloomfield
wrote:

Are there no regulations now on the noise that vehicles (cars) are
allowed to make?

Yes.

Deliberate noise from their exhausts,

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca/fcb/cars-and-noise.asp

(EU) No 540/2014. "avoidable excessive noise"

deliberate
noises as they change gear,

Turbo Wastegate? See above.

noise from stereos.

Yup, £100 fine and 3 points if deemed a distraction to the driver and
if parked up comes under 'noise abatement' (difficult to pin down if
not regular / persistent).

There seem to be no
limits as to what they can get away with, to be noticed.

I guess that's what you get when you are spending ~£1M a day on the
Brexit farce and could be ... 'giving it to the Police instead'?

As a lad I modified a moped by taking the baffle tube out of the
exhaust and that lasted a day. I screwed the performance and made the
ride unbearable. When I built the kitcar I fitted the factory supplied
ss exhaust and again, that lasted a fortnight before replacing that
with a stock (and much quieter, ss) stock Ford Escort system.

When our daughter bought her s/h Suzuki Bandit 600 a while back she
bought the baffle that she found was missing (had been taken out by
the p/o) to make the bike quieter.

Our local bike shop hate bikers who go past 'showing off' their loud
exhausts as it causes them all sorts of issues from the neighbours,
Police and Local Council.

Cheers, T i m

p.s. I used to work with a lad who had replaced the stock (and
perfectly matched, legally quiet) exhaust on his bike for some generic
aftermarket thing that was a lot louder. Luckily he had the exhaust
nicked, so he put the stock exhaust back on and admitted it was a
better (quieter) and smoother (better matched, smoother power
delivery) ride.

T i m wrote:

Harry Bloomfield wrote:

Are there no regulations now on the noise that vehicles (cars) are
allowed to make?

Police can issue a notice under section 59 of Police Reform Act 2002 if
a vehicle is being used in a manner which causes, or is likely to cause
alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.

If they get two such notices in 12 months, the car will be seized.

deliberate noises as they change gear

Turbo Wastegate? See above.

Wastegate simulator more likely

Andy Burns has brought this to us :
Police can issue a notice under section 59 of Police Reform Act 2002 if a
vehicle is being used in a manner which causes, or is likely to cause alarm,
distress or annoyance to members of the public.

If they get two such notices in 12 months, the car will be seized.

deliberate noises as they change gear

Turbo Wastegate? See above.

Wastegate simulator more likely

I have never known the police take any interest these days. It is the
same offenders constantly driving aimlessly round and it can be
absolutely deafening and no doubt intimidating to some..

Harry Bloomfield wrote:

I have never known the police take any interest these days

Do you get a local monthly "police surgery"?

On Sun, 22 Jul 2018 14:17:16 +0100, Andy Burns
wrote:

T i m wrote:

Harry Bloomfield wrote:

Are there no regulations now on the noise that vehicles (cars) are
allowed to make?

Police can issue a notice under section 59 of Police Reform Act 2002 if
a vehicle is being used in a manner which causes, or is likely to cause
alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.

Thanks.

If they get two such notices in 12 months, the car will be seized.

Excellent.

deliberate noises as they change gear

Turbo Wastegate? See above.

Wastegate simulator more likely

Bless. ;-)

I think it's a shame in a way that many 'kids' seem to have lost (or
never gained) the skills or interest to *actually* mod their own
vehicles, like we (well, 'they' [1]) used to do in the old days.

By that I mean fitting a Escort 5sp gearbox in a 1300 Mk2 Fiesta, that
meant working on the engine bay bodywork to get it to fit (amongst
other things). The same guy took the engine out, had it Blueprinted
and Tuftrided(sp?) and we put it all back together again, with a mild
street cam and they thing flew (quietly). Or, if driven gently would
give better MPG.

Now it just seems they bolt on a few brightly coloured bits or chop
the springs (without doing anything with the suspension geometry),
de-tag it and fit a loud stereo (all without notifying their Insurance
Co no doubt). ;-(

Cheers, T i m

[1] If I buy / get a second hand vehicle that has been tampered with I
like to put it back to stock wherever possible / practical /
affordable. Nothing more comforting that being able to answer the 'Has
this vehicle be modified' with a tick in the 'No' box and not have to
watch the premium ramp up. ;-(

It happens that Andy Burns formulated :
Harry Bloomfield wrote:

I have never known the police take any interest these days

Do you get a local monthly "police surgery"?

Probably..

On 22/07/2018 14:31, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Andy Burns has brought this to us :
Police can issue a notice under section 59 of Police Reform Act 2002
if a vehicle is being used in a manner which causes, or is likely to
cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.

If they get two such notices in 12 months, the car will be seized.

deliberate noises as they change gear

Turbo Wastegate? See above.

Wastegate simulator more likely

I have never known the police take any interest these days. It is the
same offenders constantly driving aimlessly round and it can be
absolutely deafening and no doubt intimidating to some..

So start a diary and complain in a few weeks time.
The police aren't interested in crimes where there is no chance of a
clear up so you have to have some evidence.

On 22/07/2018 13:22, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Are there no regulations now on the noise that vehicles (cars) are
allowed to make? Deliberate noise from their exhausts, deliberate noises
as they change gear, noise from stereos. There seem to be no limits as
to what they can get away with, to be noticed..

There's a bloke lives 300 yards from here and when he cleans his car out
he has the stereo on full blast. I can hear the thump thump de-thump in
every room of my house. I'm going to have to walk up there and have a
chat I think.

I'm surprised he doesn't run his battery down.

Years ago my mate Nick actually blew out the rear window of his Escort
by turning the stereo up. It just seemed to jump out.

Bill

Bill Wright expressed precisely :
There's a bloke lives 300 yards from here and when he cleans his car out he
has the stereo on full blast. I can hear the thump thump de-thump in every
room of my house. I'm going to have to walk up there and have a chat I think.

Someone was doing exactly that, the day after my wife passed away,
whilst I was trying to get to grips with the mess. I did take a walk
and tapped him on the shoulder and told him to turn it down or else. He
hadn't seen me approach him, I had shouted to try to get his attention
over the din, but he still jumped and went drip white.

His excuse - 'I'm cleaning my car'. I said my partner died last night
and if you don't turn it off I will wrap it round your bloody neck. Not
heard it since.

Harry Bloomfield wrote

Are there no regulations now on the noise that vehicles (cars) are
allowed to make? Deliberate noise from their exhausts, deliberate
noises as they change gear, noise from stereos. There seem to be
no limits as to what they can get away with, to be noticed..

Bet if you take the muffler off, you will get done over.

Harry Bloomfield Wrote in message:
It happens that Andy Burns formulated :
Harry Bloomfield wrote:

I have never known the police take any interest these days

Do you get a local monthly "police surgery"?

Probably..


Iow icba
--
--
Jim K


----Android NewsGroup Reader----
http://usenet.sinaapp.com/

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
news
Are there no regulations now on the noise that vehicles (cars) are allowed
to make? Deliberate noise from their exhausts, deliberate noises as they
change gear, noise from stereos. There seem to be no limits as to what
they can get away with, to be noticed..

fart cans I call them ......just wind up your window...that always annoys
them ....

Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under 20 mph
have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"T i m" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 Jul 2018 13:22:06 +0100, Harry Bloomfield
wrote:

Are there no regulations now on the noise that vehicles (cars) are
allowed to make?

Yes.

Deliberate noise from their exhausts,

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca/fcb/cars-and-noise.asp

(EU) No 540/2014. "avoidable excessive noise"

deliberate
noises as they change gear,

Turbo Wastegate? See above.

noise from stereos.

Yup, £100 fine and 3 points if deemed a distraction to the driver and
if parked up comes under 'noise abatement' (difficult to pin down if
not regular / persistent).

There seem to be no
limits as to what they can get away with, to be noticed.

I guess that's what you get when you are spending ~£1M a day on the
Brexit farce and could be ... 'giving it to the Police instead'?

As a lad I modified a moped by taking the baffle tube out of the
exhaust and that lasted a day. I screwed the performance and made the
ride unbearable. When I built the kitcar I fitted the factory supplied
ss exhaust and again, that lasted a fortnight before replacing that
with a stock (and much quieter, ss) stock Ford Escort system.

When our daughter bought her s/h Suzuki Bandit 600 a while back she
bought the baffle that she found was missing (had been taken out by
the p/o) to make the bike quieter.

Our local bike shop hate bikers who go past 'showing off' their loud
exhausts as it causes them all sorts of issues from the neighbours,
Police and Local Council.

Cheers, T i m

p.s. I used to work with a lad who had replaced the stock (and
perfectly matched, legally quiet) exhaust on his bike for some generic
aftermarket thing that was a lot louder. Luckily he had the exhaust
nicked, so he put the stock exhaust back on and admitted it was a
better (quieter) and smoother (better matched, smoother power
delivery) ride.

On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 10:00:03 +0100, "Brian Gaff"
wrote:

Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under 20 mph
have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.

Having had an EV for 30+ years now (so well before they were 'trendy'
/ common) I'm very familiar with the issue of people walking out in
front of me. But as a cyclist I'm used to that anyway so am ready for
it, more so than when driving an IC car or motorbike anyway.

Milk floats already had such an 'added noise', the sound of milk
bottles clanking about. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

On 23/07/2018 10:00, Brian Gaff wrote:
Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under 20 mph
have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.
Brian

Let's hope that rather than irritating beeps, they simply use an engine
noise - something that we are trained from early childhood to associate
with approaching danger.

SteveW

Steve Walker wrote
Brian Gaff wrote

Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under 20
mph have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.

Let's hope that rather than irritating beeps, they simply use an engine
noise - something that we are trained from early childhood to associate
with approaching danger.

Unlikely given that they dont allow that with trucks and forklifts etc.

And yes, its damned irritating.

On Monday, 23 July 2018 10:00:06 UTC+1, Brian Gaff wrote:
Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under 20 mph
have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.
Brian

--
Bollix.They have always had them.
In the UK they have to be able to be turned off.
And most drivers do.

On Tue, 24 Jul 2018 09:29:32 +1000, cantankerous senile geezer Rot Speed
blabbered, again:


And yes, its damned irritating.

Could hardly be as irritating as you, cantankerous senile geezer Rot!

--
Sqwertz to Rot Speed:
"This is just a hunch, but I'm betting you're kinda an argumentative
asshole.
MID:

In article , steve@walker-
family.me.uk says...

On 23/07/2018 10:00, Brian Gaff wrote:
Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under 20 mph
have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.
Brian

Let's hope that rather than irritating beeps, they simply use an engine
noise - something that we are trained from early childhood to associate
with approaching danger.


Well, tyre noise, the clicking of the contactor and the
singing of the trolley wheels on the overhead worked well
enough when trolleybuses were on the road.

--

Terry

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com

"Terry Casey" wrote in message
...
In article , steve@walker-
family.me.uk says...

On 23/07/2018 10:00, Brian Gaff wrote:
Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under 20
mph
have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.
Brian

Let's hope that rather than irritating beeps, they simply use an engine
noise - something that we are trained from early childhood to associate
with approaching danger.


Well, tyre noise, the clicking of the contactor and the
singing of the trolley wheels on the overhead worked well
enough when trolleybuses were on the road.

No doubt the singing of the DC-to-AC converter would be fairly loud - as it
is on modern electric trains with motors under the floor where you hear a
gradually rising tone which switches back to lower frequency and rises
again - as different windings are gradually brought into play.

I was surprised how quite my dad's hybrid car was for the first few seconds
after setting off, before the engine had started to supplement the small
amount of energy stored in the battery.

On 23/07/2018 22:39, Steve Walker wrote:
On 23/07/2018 10:00, Brian Gaff wrote:
Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under 20
mph
have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.
Â* Brian

Let's hope that rather than irritating beeps, they simply use an engine
noise - something that we are trained from early childhood to associate
with approaching danger.

It'll be up to the user - like mobile phone ring tones - any sound you
like - and that annoys other people.

--
Max Demian

On Tue, 24 Jul 2018 10:51:00 +0100, "NY" wrote:
snip


I was surprised how quite my dad's hybrid car was for the first few seconds
after setting off, before the engine had started to supplement the small
amount of energy stored in the battery.

Outside of any tyre noise and the sound of the contactors cutting in
and out, my EV really is silent.

You don't even seem to get any motor / transmission noise (being DC
probably).

In fact, for most new passengers the whole experience seems strange.

I turn the key and nothing appears to happen (it doesn't, it just puts
power to the contactor activation feeds).

Then I put my foot on the throttle, you get one 'clunk' as all 4
battery pairs are switched in parallel to the motor (so 12V x 800Ah)
and you pull away. A further depression of the accelerator, another
'clonk' as the motor is switched from series to parallel wound) and
you carry on accelerating. Then to 2 x 24V (series / parallel) and
finally 1 x 48 volt (series / parallel) and to about 30 mph.

When you let off the accelerator it comes to a slow halt and when you
actually stop, that's again when the passengers look uncomfortable /
confused as there is no 'tickover noise', just silence. The next hit
of the throttle often has them grabbing for something to hang on to
(especially if the roof is down and the sides off) as unlike an IC car
or even one with a speed controller, there is no warning of any sort
;-)

The next thing that throws them is the turning circle of a London
Taxi, again, especially when the roof and sides are off (I nearly lost
my boss that way). ;-(

It also makes for a handy high-power jump-start / booster-pack, as my
mate with a completely flat V8 Rover experienced after leaving the
interior light on all day / night. He said it had never started so
quickly, especially in the winter. ;-)

Servicing is bizarre ... check the battery levels, check the brake
fluid level, windscreen washer, tyre pressures and (4 x drum) brakes,
erm done. ;-)

No belts, no oil, no exhaust, no coolant, no plugs / points (at that
time) ... no TAX or MOT ... or range, speed or safety of course, but
as for the last two, if I wasn't in that I might be on a motorbike.
;-)

Cheers, T i m

On Tue, 24 Jul 2018 11:46:51 +0100, Max Demian wrote:

On 23/07/2018 22:39, Steve Walker wrote:
On 23/07/2018 10:00, Brian Gaff wrote:
Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under 20
mph have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.
Â* Brian

Let's hope that rather than irritating beeps, they simply use an engine
noise - something that we are trained from early childhood to associate
with approaching danger.

It'll be up to the user - like mobile phone ring tones - any sound you
like - and that annoys other people.

Given Elon Musk's latest spat, how about the sound of a unicorn fart?

--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

On 24/07/2018 11:46, Max Demian wrote:
On 23/07/2018 22:39, Steve Walker wrote:
On 23/07/2018 10:00, Brian Gaff wrote:
Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under
20 mph
have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.
Â* Brian

Let's hope that rather than irritating beeps, they simply use an
engine noise - something that we are trained from early childhood to
associate with approaching danger.

It'll be up to the user - like mobile phone ring tones - any sound you
like - and that annoys other people.

Until too many people are being run over and it is decided that a
standard type of sound is needed.

SteveW

In article , T i m
writes
On Sun, 22 Jul 2018 14:17:16 +0100, Andy Burns
wrote:

T i m wrote:

Harry Bloomfield wrote:

Are there no regulations now on the noise that vehicles (cars) are
allowed to make?

Police can issue a notice under section 59 of Police Reform Act 2002 if
a vehicle is being used in a manner which causes, or is likely to cause
alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.

Thanks.

If they get two such notices in 12 months, the car will be seized.

Excellent.

deliberate noises as they change gear

Turbo Wastegate? See above.

Wastegate simulator more likely

Bless. ;-)

I think it's a shame in a way that many 'kids' seem to have lost (or
never gained) the skills or interest to *actually* mod their own
vehicles, like we (well, 'they' [1]) used to do in the old days.

By that I mean fitting a Escort 5sp gearbox in a 1300 Mk2 Fiesta, that
meant working on the engine bay bodywork to get it to fit (amongst
other things). The same guy took the engine out, had it Blueprinted
and Tuftrided(sp?) and we put it all back together again, with a mild
street cam and they thing flew (quietly). Or, if driven gently would
give better MPG.

Now it just seems they bolt on a few brightly coloured bits or chop
the springs (without doing anything with the suspension geometry),
de-tag it and fit a loud stereo (all without notifying their Insurance
Co no doubt). ;-(

Cheers, T i m

[1] If I buy / get a second hand vehicle that has been tampered with I
like to put it back to stock wherever possible / practical /
affordable. Nothing more comforting that being able to answer the 'Has
this vehicle be modified' with a tick in the 'No' box and not have to
watch the premium ramp up. ;-(


Well there are moves afoot in the EU notably from Italy to prevent this
sort of thing. So we'd better get out asap.
--
bert

Terry Casey wrote:
In article , steve@walker-
family.me.uk says...

On 23/07/2018 10:00, Brian Gaff wrote:
Not that from next year all electric cars that are travelling under 20 mph
have to have a noise added to them to protect pedestrians.
Brian

Let's hope that rather than irritating beeps, they simply use an engine
noise - something that we are trained from early childhood to associate
with approaching danger.


Well, tyre noise, the clicking of the contactor and the
singing of the trolley wheels on the overhead worked well
enough when trolleybuses were on the road.


Try telling Dionne Warwick that.

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/forums...ow-trolleybus/

GH

In article , steve@walker-
family.me.uk says...

On 24/07/2018 11:46, Max Demian wrote:
Let's hope that rather than irritating beeps, they simply
use an engine noise - something that we are trained from
early childhood to associate with approaching danger.

It'll be up to the user - like mobile phone ring tones - any sound you
like - and that annoys other people.

Until too many people are being run over and it is decided that a
standard type of sound is needed.


That would be Darwinism in practice.

Anybody who doesn't take care crossing the road dserves
everything they get - unlike the drivers who have to live with
the consequences.

And, in places where there aren't convenient crossings with
audible signals for the blind, I've never seen anybody blind
wanting to cross the road short of volunteers to help them.

--

Terry

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com

On Tue, 24 Jul 2018 18:57:47 +0100, Terry Casey
wrote:

snip

Anybody who doesn't take care crossing the road dserves
everything they get -

Quite..

unlike the drivers who have to live with
the consequences.

Or cyclists. Except they aren't quite big enough to guarantee coming
off best every time.

And, in places where there aren't convenient crossings with
audible signals for the blind, I've never seen anybody blind
wanting to cross the road short of volunteers to help them.

I think there is going to have to be an app that gives those living
their lives though their phones an audio - visual warning that they
are about to walk into a road and there are others using it who may
move equally quietly.

Cheers, T i m

In article ,
says...

Terry Casey wrote:

Well, tyre noise, the clicking of the contactor and the
singing of the trolley wheels on the overhead worked well
enough when trolleybuses were on the road.


Try telling Dionne Warwick that.

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/forums...ow-trolleybus/


Could that be because she is used to traffic driving on the
right and looked the wrong way?

As the article says she was chuckling while she was being
traeated, is it possible that she was laughing at her own
stupidity?

--

Terry

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com

Terry Casey wrote:
In article ,
says...

Terry Casey wrote:

Well, tyre noise, the clicking of the contactor and the
singing of the trolley wheels on the overhead worked well
enough when trolleybuses were on the road.


Try telling Dionne Warwick that.

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/forums...ow-trolleybus/


Could that be because she is used to traffic driving on the
right and looked the wrong way?

Quite likely ,

but the Trolleybuses were known as the silent killers or the silent death
in some of the towns they operated, a moniker they may have acquired as
they were very much quieter than the worn out Edwardian trams they replaced
that were fairly noisy . The IC engines of the 1930s when that took place
were fairly noisy and there was still heck a lot of horse drawn stuff
around and shod hooves on a metalled road are also fairly audible.
The quietness of the trolleys came as a surprise to many and for some
fatal.

Oh and very few trolleybuses after the initial experimental ones had
trolley wheels like trams did,
They had skates fitted with carbon inserts so were quieter than
trolleywheels.

GH


As the article says she was chuckling while she was being
traeated, is it possible that she was laughing at her own
stupidity?

Or the accent of the Glasgow Nurses, she probably hadnt a clue what they
were saying .


GH

In article ,
says...


but the Trolleybuses were known as the silent killers or the silent death
in some of the towns they operated, a moniker they may have acquired as
they were very much quieter than the worn out Edwardian trams they replaced
that were fairly noisy .

Oh and very few trolleybuses after the initial experimental ones had
trolley wheels like trams did,
They had skates fitted with carbon inserts so were quieter than
trolleywheels.


I you ever have the chance, visit the Trolleybus Museum at
Sandtoft [1] or the Carlton Colville Transport Museum on an
operating day.

You will be surprised at the advance warning that the overhead
wires carry because there is a distinct load 'clack' every
time the trolley poles pass one of the suspension wires,
temporarily raising the wires then dropping them again.

For even more noise, stand near a section gap or pointwork in
the overhead.

After your visit, do come back and tell us how 'silent'
trolleybuses really are ...

[1] Sandtoft for preference as it has a more complex system,
better illustrating condotions on a public system.

--

Terry

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com

On Tue, 24 Jul 2018 16:40:28 +0100, bert wrote:

snip

[1] If I buy / get a second hand vehicle that has been tampered with I
like to put it back to stock wherever possible / practical /
affordable. Nothing more comforting that being able to answer the 'Has
this vehicle be modified' with a tick in the 'No' box and not have to
watch the premium ramp up. ;-(


Well there are moves afoot in the EU notably from Italy to prevent this
sort of thing. So we'd better get out asap.

No wonder you are so confused about how the EU works Berk, You know
all the member states discuss these things and have to generally agree
on it?

Cheers, T i m

Terry Casey wrote:
In article ,
says...


but the Trolleybuses were known as the silent killers or the silent death
in some of the towns they operated, a moniker they may have acquired as
they were very much quieter than the worn out Edwardian trams they replaced
that were fairly noisy .

Oh and very few trolleybuses after the initial experimental ones had
trolley wheels like trams did,
They had skates fitted with carbon inserts so were quieter than
trolleywheels.


I you ever have the chance, visit the Trolleybus Museum at
Sandtoft [1] or the Carlton Colville Transport Museum on an
operating day.

You will be surprised at the advance warning that the overhead
wires carry because there is a distinct load 'clack' every
time the trolley poles pass one of the suspension wires,
temporarily raising the wires then dropping them again.

For even more noise, stand near a section gap or pointwork in
the overhead.

After your visit, do come back and tell us how 'silent'
trolleybuses really are ...

[1] Sandtoft for preference as it has a more complex system,
better illustrating condotions on a public system.


Ive been to both and am old enough to have ridden on them in normal
service,
Plus the short route at the Black Country Museum . I have also frequently
talked to the wifes elderly cousin who was a conductress on the
Bournemouth ones about her experiences of them.

Admirable as they are the museum routes are not fully representative of
how routes were in normal service as they have a larger proportion of
switches and crossings in the overhead in their compressed areas than a
normal route had , get away from large interchanges like Hammersmith
Broadway or Bournemouth Square
there would be long sections of plain wire where the only interruption in
the smooth passage of the skates
would be the section breaks installed at intervals to enable a length of
overhead to be electrically isolated from adjacent ones. Between those on
plain wire for a of a mile or so there would be no reason for anything to
induce the passing skates to click and in that mile or so there would be
many people crossing the road.
Also by necessity the museum lines are using overhead components that are
decades old and recovered from closed systems and worn from years of
previous service. If they are clicking under plain hangers then the wire
must be worn, It isnt a plain round wire, it has a couple grooves formed
in it that the support ironmongery
pinches into near the top allowing unhindered passage of the skates
underneath.

And you cannot deny that the some of the population who were around when
they replaced trams came up with the name the Silent Killers in some
places, thats their words not mine.

Incidentally have you come across one of the last component catalogues from
Ohio Brass that is online
http://www.cotma.net.au/library/over...%20Systems.pdf

A lot of systems used their products, others used the very similar parts
from BICC
which meant a lot of clutter and visual intrusion, Bournemouth Square had
about 30 tons of metal in the air.
Modern systems abroad use much lighter components from Swiss and German
suppliers.

GH