On 24/07/2017 9:59 PM, Tony Gallowayarg@... [TramsDownUnder] wrote:
>

> They could have bought the X1s and X2s when Footscray closed too, but didn’t, so they really weren’t interested in having Radiax trucks on the property. Note Auckland put a short wheelbase truck under their X1.

>

The X1s and X2s had rigid 4 wheel trucks of a variety of designs - all with long wheelbases.

The SEC (in a letter I have a copy of) said that they were not interested in the X1 or X2 trams as they were not 'true Birneys' and thus did not have interchangeable parts.
I suspect that was just an excuse for not investing in an asset they really wanted to be rid of by 1960 - if not before!

The X1s would have been ideal for Ballarat - with easy conversion to offside loading.

In the end, the SEC solved their roling stock shortage by swapping a Bendigo bogie car for two Ballarat single truckers.
The bogie car is now at Sydney Tram Museum as Ballarat 37 and one of the Ballarat cars is being restored as Bendigo 7.

Mal Rowe - surprised that Sydney did not re-number Ballarat 37 as Bendigo 1 - given their obvious preference for trams with only 1s in their fleet numbet