With the kind assistance of Mal Rowe, I have a number of pictures I took on
the tram tour in Newcastle NSW on 6 December, 1947.

Tour patrons travelled by train from Sydney to Newcastle. The tour tram LP
148 travelled from Newcastle station via Scott Street to the city tram
terminus at Parnell Place. Until tramway electrification in the twenties,
Parnell Place was also the location of the main steam tram depot.

After transfer of tramway operations to a new depot at Hamilton, several of
the original stabling tracks remained within a large balloon loop at Parnell
Place.

This loop took outbound trams to Telford Street and Hunter Street. The
attached picture shows LP No 303 on standby on one of the remaining stabling
tracks. At the front of the tram can be seen the air and electrical
connections which enabled two trams to operate as a coupled set. When
operating in this manner, the rear tram received all power from the front
car and it operated with both trolley poles lowered.

Noel Reed.