Hi Mal,

On Monday, 27 March 2017 4:04 PM, you wrote ----

Sydney Tram Museum are close to completing a replica Melbourne grip - using many genuine parts.
It is not a restoration as such.
...........................................................

I made a suggestion that the grip car at the STM could be made mobile and look genuine by towing it at the end of a cable about 10 to 15 metres long behind another tram [possibly a 100 year old ‘C’ car]. The cable could move low down and out of sight along the sleepers. Would that be a suitable photo opportunity for the fans ?

Noel Reed. Interested in restored trams which can move rather than just looking good.

From:TramsDownUnder@... [mailto:TramsDownUnder@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Monday, 27 March 2017 4:04 PM
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] Portland today ... and a puzzle for you! [1 Attachment]

On 27/03/2017 3:38 PM, Graham Hockingpf4366@... [TramsDownUnder] wrote:

It's not a 'fake' but a genuine but highly modified cable car grip, with a small diesel engine driving an hydraulic pump. There are a number of trailer cars all rebuilt in their own workshops and a strong group of volunteers who work on and operate the line. (under the aegis of the local council I think) . It is standard gauge and the track was originally laid by a Puffing Billy work group which travelled down to western Victoria expressly for that purpose.(correction needed?)

Hi Graham,

One minor correction.
The two grip cars are reproductions - not old grip cars refurbished.

While there were a lot of cable trailers that survived, grip cars are much more rare and as far as I know the only genuine survivors are with Melbourne Museum, TMSV and Hawthorn Depot (on loan from TMSV).

Sydney Tram Museum are close to completing a replica Melbourne grip - using many genuine parts.
It is not a restoration as such.

Here's an early pic of a Melbourne grip car - Australia's first low floor tram.
http://tdu.to/Collins-atSpring_Lindt.jpg

Now the puzzle:
Who can tell me what's missing from this car?
The missing items were fitted to all grips quite early in the operation of the Melbourne cable trams.

Mal Rowe - knowing that the answer is easy if you have been paying attention to discussion here