The White Hat guide to Melbourne Trams

 

Melbourne's iconic 'W Class' Tram

Melbourne without trams is unthinkable!

It has come close at times over the last 100 years, but the forces of good, righteousness and the Melbourne Way have prevailed.

Sydney had trams once. In fact the expression shot through like a Bondi tram has entered the language. But they sold out to modernism and the international movement. Those ideas and books took longer to get to Melbourne.

We certainly had a good attempt at destroying our heritage in the name of modernism for the Olympic Games in 1956, but anachronisms like the trams and the Exhibition Buildings managed to survive because they were just too bloody useful.

Melbourne's first electric trams ran between Box Hill and Doncaster from 1889 to 1896.

The Melbourne W-class tram is an engineering classic. It is simple, highly efficient and economical, and just keeps on going year after year. It is little surprise to know that it is classified by the National Trust.

� Colonial Tramcar Restaurant Colonial Tramcar Restaurant

Some suggested tram journeys:

• Ride the free City Circle Tram
• Taking a number 10 in Collins Street through Brunswick Street to the Edinburgh Gardens
• Take a number 15 in Swanston Street through St. Kilda to Ackland Street
• Take a number 12 in Collins Street where you can often  find a W class tram running along this typical old-style inner suburban route.
• Take a trip through Royal Park by catching a tram in William Street 
• You can always dine on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant (see left)

 

 

 

 

Historic 'Toast Rack' Tram

Unfortunately, although trams appear on the surface to be 'clean and green', the story is not quite as simple on closer investigation. You can find more reflections at Green Issues in Melbourne in our newsletter No.45 of 3rd April 200

Some related links

• The White Hat Guide to Steam Trains in Melbourne which also contains information about train and tram museums in Melbourne and Victoria
• The cities of Ballarat and Bendigo in country Victoria once had tram networks and some historic tourist trams can still be ridden in both cities.

The White Hat Quiz

1. Until well into the 20th century, the road space between tram tracks and to a certain distance either side was filled red gum blocks, and you can still find some examples remaining around Melbourne. The red gum was used even though cement and asphalt were readily available and in common use. There is a very good reason for their use. What was the reason for using red gum blocks and where can you see remaining examples of these blocks?

You can find many more questions like this at The White Hat Quiz.