Tramway and Trolleybus Images Tramway and Trolleybus Images

Sadly this was one of the web pages at GeoCities that is no longer available.

It showed images taken since the late 1960's. They show on several pages the evolution of trams in Melbourne, Victoria, including W2 series trams, later W series trams, Z, A and B series trams, C and D series trams, Non-standard trams and Works Trams.

Some particularly interesting services, namely Melbourne's City Circle tramline and Melbourne's Restaurant tram service also include a couple of images of cable trams.

Trams also appear in special events such as the Moomba tramway processions.

Melbourne Trams - Brief Background
In the early 1970's, no Melbourne tram was built later than 1956 and there had been no major extensions to the system since the mid-1950's.

By 2002, the Melbourne tramway scene had changed dramatically. One hundred and thirty two articulated trams (B series) and three hundred rigid bogie trams (Z and A series) had been introduced since the mid-1970's. Also, by that time, all other regular service "W"series trams were fitted with power-operated doors. All W2 class trams and many of the later W5, SW6, W6 and W7 trams had been withdrawn from service.

There had also been significant route extensions to East Burwood, Airport West, and Bundoora. In addition, the St Kilda and Port Melbourne heavy railway lines had been converted to light rail during the 1980's and the City-Circle tram line had been built and opened in 1994.

The tramways had been divided into two separate companies, Yarra Trams and M>Tram (originally known as Swanston Trams), which were to be privately operated on a long term franchise basis, with the tracks leased out to the companies.

In early 2003, the Mont Albert tram line was extended to Box Hill. In mid-2005, the extension of the East Burwood line to Vermont South along the median of the Burwood Highway was opened. Over a period of some years, there have been various extensions of tramway operations into the area known as Docklands, just west of Melbourne's Central Business District.

As part of the conditions in the private operators contracts, some 90 low floor trams have been purchased. All of the 3-section C (Citadis) and both the 3-section D-1 class and five-section D-2 (Siemens Combino) trams have now been delivered.

In April 2004, the Melbourne tramway system once again became run by one operator, Yarra Trams. This occurred after the owner of M>Tram abandoned the operating contracts in late 2002. For a time, M>Tram was run by receiver/managers before Yarra Trams assumed control of the full system.

Following a period when the remaining "W"series trams were withdrawn from service due to safety concerns, some "W"series trams are now back in service, having had improved braking systems installed to enhance safety. These trams have also had pantographs installed to replace trolley poles.

Current projects include enhancing passenger access to trams through the installation of superstops and improving tram travel times through various traffic engineering works. It is also understood that the A-2 class trams are to be refurbished and have air-conditioning units installed.

In May 2006, the State Government released a transport strategy for the next few years, which indicated that more new trams are to be purchased by around 2010. It is possible that this will lead to further withdrawals of Z1,Z2 and Z3 type trams.

So, plenty is happening in Melbourne to maintain the interest of tram buffs !

Melbourne Cable Trams
Melbourne was formerly served by one of the most extensive cable tram systems outside of the United States of America. The system, first opened from the City to Richmond in 1888, finally ceased operation in 1940. Originally operated by a private company, the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company (MT&OC), the cable tram system was taken over by the Government when the private company's concession expired. The final operator of the last of Melbourne's cable trams was the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (M&MTB).

The cable tram system with few exceptions did not see lengthy extensions after the initial construction. Electric trams made their debut in 1906 and were mostly constructed to connect with the outer ends of the cable tram network, though some, such as the Hawthorn Tramways Trust line along Swan Street, were constructed into the City.

The City of Northcote constructed its own cable tram line from Clifton Hill to Northcote which connected with the MT&OC's line to Clifton Hill. After the takeover of both systems by the M&MTB, the two lines were joined and a through route from the City to Northcote instituted.

Conversion of cable trams to electric tram commenced during the 1920's, with the conversion of the Swanston Street lines in 1925. The Depression years of the 1930's slowed the expensive conversion process with the Elizabeth Street cable lines converted to electric in 1935. The final cable trams operating along Bourke Street closed in 1940, being replaced by buses. The Bourke Street buses were themselves replaced by electric trams in 1955.

This page shows a small number of pictures of cable trams in actual service. The pictures honour the memory of their photographer, my uncle, Jack Lazarus. He was a keen and skilled photographer who photographed a wide range of subjects, and won a prize from a Melbourne newspaper for one of his pictures.

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