Duck Paddles on Sydney Harbour 03.01.2013

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's.......... ......Derek....


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-03/giant-duck-paddles-down-sydney-harbour/4451028

[PeeWee]

thats great.  they must be breeding as there was one in London a few weeks ago 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/gallery/2012/dec/11/giant-rubber-duck-thames-in-pictures#/?picture=400888990&index=3

[Roderick Smith]

That video is interesting for another reason.
That was one of the rare occasions when the monorail span over the swing bridge had to be opened.
Normally only the pedestrian deck is opened (every hour at weekends).
When a tall boat has to go in or out (very rare), there are restrictions on the allowed times (IIRC 5.00-6.00).
Sydney Festival has the power to use its own times, twice.
Way before there was a monorail, when Darling Harbour was a working harbour serving wool exports (and other freight flows), that was a road bridge.
From the outset, the mechanism was electric: drawing power from an adjacent power station serving electric trams.
The controllers are tram controllers.  Many of the volunteer operators for the weekend demonstrations are also associated with Sydney Tramway Museum.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

On the day, the monorail was prepared for opening (jacked up), but then wasn't opened.  The duck fitted through the normal pedestrian deck opening, clear below the monorail.
See:
http://tdu.to/190509.msg
http://tdu.to/190511.msg
http://tdu.to/190524.msg (with two photos of the duck)

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor