Fascinating pics Mal, the last time I saw cable track was in 1986 at the bottom of Bourke St. Looks like there's quite a length still "in situ" in Abbotsford St.

I certainly hope the Council preserves some of it - or maybe the TMSV guys should get some for their cable tram display at Bylands. I think it would be an important addition to their display - after all, the underground cable apparatus is as much a part of the system as the above ground bit.

I know it would be a bugger to dig out in such a way that some could be reconstructed (and I'm not suggesting that it be used), but hey, the cable trams were Melbourne's lifeblood for 50 or so years, so it's pretty important some of it be preserved properly, somewhere.

Here's a pic from Bylands showing their cable tram display. Pic taken on the COTMA conference tour of 23 November 2006.

http://tdu.to/Dummy436Bylands23Nov06.jpg

Troy

----- Original Message ----
From: Mal Rowe brill21e@...>
To: TDU TramsDownUnder@...>
Sent: Saturday, 19 May, 2007 6:35:14 PM
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] Cable tram tracks uncovered in North Melbourne

Work to establish a center road reservation in Abbotsford St North

Melbourne has uncovered the old cable tram tracks of the West Melbourne

line.

The line was closed and not replaced in the mid 1930s.

The track, the slot, and even a glimpse of the yoke and tunnel are all

there to see. The paving blocks are red-gum blocks ... still in good

condition 70 years after being buried and who knows how long after being

laid!

http://tdu.to/ Cable_track_ AbbotsfordSt_ 19May2007. jpg

http://tdu.to/ Cable_tunnel_ AbbotsfordSt_ 19May2007. jpg

I hope that the City Council may leave some of the track as an

historical display, and intend to contact them on Monday to make enquiries.

--

Mal Rowe in Melbourne

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