A lively, wellillustrated, nostalgic history of the cable trams of melbourne and sydney. Melbourne tramways, was first published in 1888 as a chapter within a book. Between 1975 and 1983, 230 trams spanning three subclasses were built by comeng, dandenong. This article is courtesy of the great book on the move, a history of transport in australia, by margaret simpson and is brought to you by tram scrolls australia, specialists in premium quality replica tram and bus scroll art. New trams, the b2 class have arrived replacing the venerable w2 class trams that ruled melbournes streets for sixtyfour years. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The definitive work on the history of nsw government tram services in newcastle.
When the cable tram lines in melbourne were converted to electric trams the rails had to be replaced. May 17, 2012 the melbourne cable tramway system by neville govett between 1933 and 1939 provided by heritage victoria. The service was abandoned less than seven years later and it took until october 1906 for another electric service to begin, this time operated by the private north melbourne electric tramway and lighting company. Not so well known are sydneys cable trams, for although melbourne persisted with cable trams until 1940, sydney gave them away for electricity in 1905. This book is a unique record of more than a century of what is now the largest and longeststanding tram network in the world. From 1924 the lines were progressively electrified and the last cable tram northcote to bourke street ran on 26. South melbourne cable tram car shed and office, 176178 victoria avenue, albert. As of may 2017, the melbourne tramway network consists of 250 kilometres 160 miles of track, 493 trams, 24 routes, and 1,763 tram stops.
This book is the definitive account of melbourne s trams as opposed to the tramway system. Before his retirement he was chief probation officer, social welfare department, victoria. Each of melbournes cable trams was painted in a distinct colour scheme to. The original is held in the collection of the national gallery of victoria. Cable trams depended for their motive power on a cable in a slot between the rails, kept moving by an engine house along the route. This book is the definitive account of melbournes trams as opposed to the tramway system. Vicfix is improving the searchability of digitised newspaper articles and making the hidden details of victorias rich history available for everyone about melbourne cable trams. Obviously it is good to hop off at different stops and explore the lanes and side streets that truly make melbournes cbd a wonderland. Aug 08, 2016 cable trams started replacing horse buses late in the 19th century, and by early 1900s covered 75 kilometres of track in melbourne. The history of melbournes tramways has been in print since 1993 and is in its third edition. Each cable tramway as it was constructed embodied the results of its. A melbourne tram is featured in an albert tucker painting in his 1945 series images of modern evil. As of may 2017, the melbourne tramway network consists of 250 kilometres 160 miles of double track, 493 trams, 24 routes, and 1,763 tram stops.
The book is clear and concise on the history and contemporary operation of the tram network in melbourne giving just enough history of the cable driven units before focusing on the current fleet with a well presented summary of the operating trams and their provenance, complete with an identification drawing of each design, some such as the w6 class need to introduction due to the history and respect but newer bendy designs such as th b1, b2, c and d2 class are not so well recognised despite. Melbourne embraced cable trams rather than more horse trams in the late. More than 200 photographs and illustrations show trams in the streetscapes of today and yesterday, with detailed commentary from tram experts randall wilson and dale budd. Closure of some of melbourne s tram lines continued and replaced by buses. I would happily accept any information from people who know. Our city had the largest cable tram system in the world operated as a single integrated entity between 1885 and 1940, dwarfing the survivng cable tram lines in san francisco. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Cable trams entry the encyclopedia of melbourne online. Melbourne and metropolitan tramways board wikipedia. Melbournes first electric tram began operation on 14 october 1889 between box hill and doncaster. The power to move the cable was normally provided at a powerhouse site a distance away from the actual vehicle.
Nov 16, 2010 melbourne blew it when it stupidly and wantonly did away with its cable trams. The book is clear and concise on the history and contemporary operation of the tram network in melbourne giving just enough history of the cable driven units before focusing on the current fleet with a well presented summary of the operating trams and their provenance, complete with an identification drawing of each design, some such as the w6 class need to introduction due to the history and. The melbourne cable tramway system by neville govett between 1933 and 1939 provided by heritage victoria. The tramway heritage centre houses an extensive collection of trams from melbourne, geelong, ballarat, bendigo and adelaide. The north melbourne electric tramways and lighting company limited. Hardcover book published by craftsman publishing 1988, 2 pages with black and white photographs and illustrations as well as a few coloured photographs. In terms of melbournes tramways, there are several. Mind the curve john d keating a history of melbournes. The discourse of the time was one of excitement, but within the c.
Ms as the last one takes a ferry ride across the harbour. Having been to melbourne several times and staying in the cbd, the city circle tram was a fantastic way of freely moving around the sights of cbd. This map from the melbourne and metropolitan tramways board, report and statement of accounts for the year ended 30th june 1950, shows how extensive melbourne s tram network was in the immediate postwar era. Cable trams from 1884, electric trams from across australia, buses and work trucks are all on show as part of the collection. I recommend this book to anyone interested in melbournes trams. Iconic melbourne trams from horsedrawn to electric. Hardcover book published by craftsman publishing 1988, 2 pages with black and white photographs and illustrations as. Melbourne metropolitan tramway heritage study, gary vines b i o s i s e s e a r c h r 1 9 2. Cable trams cars were only about 2 tonnes and the dummies about 2. The melbourne cable tramway system by neville govett between 1933 and 1939 provided by heritage victoria skip navigation sign in.
The last cable tram of melbourne royal historical society of. Trams aka cable trams end in melbourne 1941 youtube. Two years ago, melbourne was celebrating the th anniversary of its first cable trams, established in 1885. Despite this, during the same period bus use also went into decline and has never proved as popular with passengers as trams at any time in melbourne s history. Iconic melbourne trams from horsedrawn to electric herald sun.
The melbourne cable trams 18851940 book, 1988 worldcat. While the z1 and z2class trams were very similar, the z3class had significant design changes. Melbourne s first electric tram began operation on 14 october 1889 between box hill and doncaster. First tram line in the us operated along bowery and fourth avenue in new york city in 1832. From steam to electric all rolling stock is meticulously detailed. Operated by the tramway museum society of victoria, and located in bylands, the tramway heritage centre houses one of the largest tram collections in australia with an extensive collection of cable trams, electric trams and buses from melbourne, and electric trams from across australia. Toonerville folks comic strip 190855 by fontaine fox featured the toonerville trolley that met all the trains. Very useful for keeping the budget of the trip down. Electric trams, when they started in melbourne, were for the most part acting as feeders to the cable system. A wellillustrated, nostalgic history of the cable trams of melbourne and sydney.
The melbourne book a history of now maree coote hardie grant books first published in 2003 the. The service was abandoned less than seven years later and it took until october 1906 for another electric service to begin, this time operated by the private north melbourne electric tramway and. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Moving image from the film the melbourne cable tramway system, shot by neville govett between 193339 and made available by heritage victoria. This fully updated new edition of the melbourne tram book is a colorful and compact tribute to melbournes famous trams, one of the citys most enduring symbols. This fully updated new edition of the melbourne tram book is a colourful and compact tribute to melbournes famous trams, one of the citys most enduring symbols. A history of the cable trams in melbourne australia keating, john d.
The melbourne cable trams 1885 1940 by jack cranston. Trams are a major form of public transport in melbourne, the capital city of the state of victoria, australia. A short history of cable trams in australia tramscrolls. Operating from 1885 until 1940, melbourne s cable tram system was the fourth biggest in the world, with about 75 km of double track, 17 innersuburban routes, and 600 cable car and trailer sets. Ive started this section with a minimum amount of information about melbournes cable trams. Melbournes first tram was a horse tram from fairfield railway station to a real estate development in thornbury. Despite this, during the same period bus use also went into decline and has never proved as popular with passengers as trams at any time in melbournes history. Explore the history of trams in the most authentic tramway museum in australia. It was a momentous development and melburnians marvelled, no horse, no engine, no nothing and the car runs up hill.
The melbourne cable trams 18851940 by jack cranston. This article by professor william charles kernot, appearing as the melbourne tramways, was first published in 1888 as a chapter within a book entitled victoria and its metropolis past and present and reprinted in cranston 1988 the melbourne cable trams 18851940. Reminiscences of cable trams in melbourne culture victoria. Routes changed or removed due to the conversion of cable tram lines are also not included. John keating was born in melbourne and educated at st patricks college. Maps of all routes covering all stages of development.
John keating was born in melbourne and educated at st patricks college, east melbourne, and the university of melbourne. Welcome to the tramway museum society of victoria inc. Cable trams replaced horsedrawn carriages on routes from melbournes cbd to neighbouring suburbs in 1885. Reminiscences of cable trams in melbourne daphne rooms still images from museum victoria and the public record office victoria. Cable trams started replacing horse buses late in the 19th century, and by early 1900s covered 75 kilometres of track in melbourne. By the 1970s melbourne was the only australian city with a major tram network. The history of trams, streetcars or trolley systems, began in the early nineteenth century. It had been formed by the merger of a number of smaller tramway trusts and companies that operated throughout the city. Since david keenans book melbourne tramways was published in 1985, many interesting and diverse events have occurred in the ensuing fifteen years. With more than 200 photos of trams old and new, and featuring the work of more than 40 photographers and several artists, the melbourne tram book is a unique record of more than 100 years of street transport, horsedrawn, cable and electric. Mtoc had been founded by francis boardman clapp, an american emigrant, who had purchased the victorian rights to the patents of the cable system developed by andrew hallidie.
The melbourne cable tramway system was a cable car public transport system, which operated between 1885 and 1940 in melbourne, victoria, australia the first line, from spencer street to the end of bridge road richmond via flinders street, was opened on 11 november 1885, and all planned lines were built by 1891, the last being the short windsorst kilda esplanade line, opened 17 october 1891. They were much smaller in width than rails needed for electric trams. Operating from 1885 until 1940, melbournes cable tram system was the fourth biggest in the world, with about 75 km of double track, 17 innersuburban routes, and 600 cable car and trailer sets. Mind the curve a history of the cable trams by keating, john d. Melbourne established cable trams in 1885, and the system grew to 75 km of double track and 1200 cars and trailers, the fourth largest cable system in the world. However, clapp and the melbourne tramway and omnibus company wasnt the only company constructing melbournes mechanized tramways. A lively, wellillustrated, stalgic history of the cable trams of melbourne and sydney. A history of the box hill and doncaster tramway, john mason press, 1989. In its heyday, melbourne s system was the fourth biggest in the world with 46 miles of double track and 1,200 cable cars and trailers. Situated in the picturesque great dividing range, the museum showcases an unique view on transport history. By this stage, cable trams had been phased out and the. Melbourne blew it when it stupidly and wantonly did away with its cable trams. Zclass melbourne tram wikipedia republished wiki 2.
Melbournes cable tram system has its origins in the mtoc, started by francis boardman clapp in 1877, with a view to operate a melbourne tram system. This map from the melbourne and metropolitan tramways board, report and statement of accounts for the year ended 30th june 1950, shows how extensive melbournes tram network was in the immediate postwar era. Cable tram track uncovered in melbourne page 1 trams. Tram routes that ran shortworkings or temporary routes are not included. This is the list of melbourne tram routes that have been discontinued or replaced. There is some difficulty in comparing the sizes of american cable systems, and it is possible that the melbourne system was in fact the largest it was.
Join this vicfix campaign to ring the bell on errors in articles on melbournes cable trams. The melbourne cable tramway system was a cable car public transport system, which operated. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Free pickup from our bendigo book store open 7 days 10am5pm bendigo book mark24 high st opposite mcdonalds in townbendigovic 3550 202497429647. By this stage, cable trams had been phased out and the mmtb also operated some bus routes. Model of a cable tram grip car or dummy and trailer or saloon car similar in design to. Clasp the handrail and jump on board to correct errors in historic articles about melbournes cable trams, which operated between 1885 and 1940. The largest tram track network is in melbourne 256 km. Jun 30, 2015 having been to melbourne several times and staying in the cbd, the city circle tram was a fantastic way of freely moving around the sights of cbd. First trams in the united states were adapted from stagecoaches. Cable trams replaced horsedrawn carriages on routes from melbourne s cbd to neighbouring suburbs in 1885.
Obviously it is good to hop off at different stops and explore the lanes and side streets that truly make melbourne s cbd a wonderland. The longest single tram line in the world is belgian coast tram 68 km, which runs along entire belgian sea coast. A successor to the longestablished destination city series, the book has 80 a4 landscape pages 210mm x 297mm and is printed on high quality art paper. The zclass are singleunit bogie trams that operate on the melbourne tram network. Our city had the largest cable tram system in the world operated as a single integrated entity between 1885 and. Closure of some of melbournes tram lines continued and replaced by buses. In its heyday, melbournes system was the fourth biggest in the world with 46 miles of double track and 1,200 cable cars and trailers. It depicts melbournes horse, cable and electric tramways since 1884 until the present.
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