At 09:29 AM 18/12/2011, "skinboy" wrote:
Having just been chauffeured around there, Randwick Council have has completely eradicated any evidence that a tram balloon (ish) loop ever existed at the La Perouse terminus. (pics to come)
Can someone please confirm my understanding of the La Perouse tram line. Once it left the Anzac Pade RoW, heading to La Perouse, the tram did not run down the centre of the road to the terminus but ran along the kerbside to the terminus as a single line?

The attached photograph confirms Brian's response about the double tram track continuing down the western side of the road on its own right-of-way to the balloon loop terminus at La Perouse. The photo is looking from the balloon loop terminus towards the former Yarra Junction connection of the cross-country route to the City via Botany.

The following link to Nearmap show what appears to me to be the site of the balloon loop terminus, complete with the tramway waiting shed (which was located in the centre of the loop) still intact. It is the oblong building with the green roof at an angle to the road, opposite the car park. If this is the case, and it certainly appears to be so to me, it would be possible to re-instate a tram balloon loop on the original location. The site of the formation back to Yarra Junction looks to be surprisingly intact, with the road not being widened to include it. Residential development is also clear of the RoW.
Nearmap link - http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-33.987822,151.233772&z=19&t=k&nmd=20111023

I have followed the nearmaps back up Anzac Parade towards the City. The centre of road separate RoW is intact all the way along Anzac Parade to the five way roundabout at Daveyville (shown as "The Nine Ways", although several former roads accessing same have been closed off). In several locations, ground-level centre-of-road car parks have been constructed, whilst in a couple of other sites, small parks and/or clumps of trees now exist - which will cause consternation to our Greenie "friends" in deciding whether they want the trees retained or light rail!. Continuing northwards towards the University of NSW, Anzac Parade has been widened to incorporate the former tram tracks. However, beyond the University, there is a median strip separating both sides of Anzac Parade.

Most interestingly, the site of the former extensive balloon sidings serving Randwick Racecourse is still intact and thus tram tracks (sorry, light rail) could be re-instated. But I doubt if the Light Rail would have the necessary rolling stock to move the large crowds previously handled by coupled O and P class sets.

The next little problem is getting across the major junction with Alison Road and Darcy Avenue, to gain access to the former separate RoW between Centennial Park and Anzac Parade (now a bus-way), but I guess priority traffic lights would be the simplest solution.

But what happens for the last portion - Flinders & Oxford Streets then into Liverpool Street - down to George Street? That is the interesting section! And to Central Station - in the old days, it was down Cleveland Street then Chalmers Street to Eddy Avenue, a left had turn into Pitt Street to Railway Square and to meet up with the (future?) line along George Street and out to Sydney Uni.

Will I every see it? They will need to be quick - I'm already just on 70!

No harm in dreaming a little.

The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:
Last tram departing La Perouse R1-1995 28-02-1961.jpg