Picture Galleries > Building a Rolling Chassis. > Suspension unit 1

This shows the parts of the suspension unit.  The top plate is bolted to the underframe with large rubber washers to damp vibration.  The coil spring goes down to the axlebox as the primary suspension with the secondary suspension provided by the rubber cones which can be seen on the right.  These provide damping to prevent the 21' long tram nosing and pitching as it only has a wheelbase of 4'10".  Very sophisticated for 1898.  Nowadays this is known as a pedestal suspension and examples are still in use under modern railway wagons.  The axle keeper plate can be seen ready for driving into place with the obligatory Birmingham Screwdriver.