G'day Ron,

As a kid in Mitcham in the late 70s and early 80s, I used to see the front of a tram in a backyard. Around 1986, I recall standing out the front, squinting to get detail one day. A lady (about 70) came out and asked what I was doing. When I told her, she invited me in for a look, and told me the story.

They'd bought it after the war when the Mitcham orchards were being developed for housing. They lived in it while building their house and it was still quite complete, except for seats and cab bulkheads. The sliding doors still worked well and the windows I checked opened and closed. A roof had been built over the car, apparently after the roof had started to leak. The car had been repainted a number of times, and the number on the dash panel away from the street was still quite readable.

I told Keith Kings about it when I was active at Bylands (around 1990-91) and left it at that.

The lady's husband was a quiet gentleman who used to sit out the front and watch the world go by. I understand that he passed away sometime in the nineties, and I don't know if the lady is still there. I'd heard that the owner (may have been a newer owner) was no longer welcoming to people who enquired about it.

I was there about three years ago, and they've grown a hedge which now hides the car from the street.

I can give address details off-list if you like. My email address is matt.austin.junee at gmail.com

Cheers,
Matt

--- InTramsDownUnder@..., "ronscholten" <ronscholten@...> wrote:
>

> Morning Matt

>

> Please tell me more about PMTT 43

>

> Ron

>