Historic Trams Decay - from www.News.com.au
Cawood, David
Wednesday, November 28, 2001 8:49 PM
Hi Gents
Firstly an article on the Melbourne Trams stored at Newport and below that
some of my thoughts on the Melbourne Tram scene prior to seeing this
article.
Melbourne is a little sad considering its potential!
The fans need to find a high profile individual to act as a "Non Gunzle"
spokesperson and advocate for a Victorian/Melbourne living Tramway Museum!
Cheers for now
David
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,3337918%255E2862,00.html
By JOHN MASANAUSKAS, transport reporter
29nov01
<<0,3600,167164,00[1].jpg>>
HUNDREDS of Victoria's historic trams are rotting away in a forgotten
graveyard.
Up to 200 of the world-famous vehicles that once criss-crossed Melbourne
have been left derelict at an old Newport workshop.
Trams painted by renowned artists, including Clifton Pugh and Lin Onus, and
a restored cable car from the 1880s are among the dilapidated treasures.
Many of the grime-covered trams are now home to pigeons, possums and foxes.
Successive State Governments have failed to resolve the fate of this surplus
rolling stock, despite the trams' tourist potential.
Enthusiasts point to the popularity of Melbourne W-class trams now running
on tourist routes in US cities including Seattle, San Francisco, New Orleans
and Memphis. Lord Mayor John So and ex-premier Sir Rupert Hamer have called
for historic trams to be protected, with some activists calling for a tram
museum.
"I love the Melbourne trams - they are part of this city's history and
charm, especially our old W-class trams," Cr So said.
"It would be a wonderful trip down memory lane to be able to re-visit some
of them," Cr So said. The Herald Sun has also learned that the city's
current W-class trams will not begin returning to main routes for up to six
months.
This is almost two years after the 53-tram fleet was removed from the system
for brake repairs.
A handful of the trams are back on the free City Circle service.
But the tram union, user groups and the State Opposition claim the private
operators want to axe the remaining W-class fleet.
Most trams at the Newport workshop are discarded W-class stock. Also
forgotten is a Bondi tram and an 1888 cable car that ran between North
Carlton and St Kilda.
Dozens of old tram motors, bogies and historic signs litter the huge
workshop.
Tram union secretary Lou Di Gregorio said the state of the trams was
a disgrace.
"We have been talking about a museum for years, but nothing has been done,"
he said.
"We have a great culture and a museum would be very popular."
Connies Coalition spokesman Roberto D'Andrea said a museum could be built at
the Preston workshops, which also has surplus trams.
But Public Transport Users Association president Paul Mees said most of the
disused trams should be returned to service.
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor admitted the state of the trams was
unacceptable.
"The previous government thought the matter had been resolved if it just put
them in a big warehouse and slid the door shut," he said.
He said he had commissioned a study to identify heritage transport assets
and recommend options for their use. He would not commit to a tram museum
before seeing the report.
-----Original Message-----
From: Cawood, David
Sent: Monday, 26 November 2001 13:13
To: Trams Downunder (E-mail)
Subject: Melbourne Historic Fleet - thoughts
Hi again Gentlelmen
Thank you for the replies with regard to the Melbourne Historic
Fleet. Here are my thoughts from a non Victorian on how the Melbourne Tram
scene could enriched to the benefit of Melbourne and Victoria. I know that
bureaucratic, commercial interests, politics and egos would probably make
this impossible.
- Trams are a Major tourist attraction to Melbourne, but the
operation of historic trams has been stalled through legislation and
commercial interests.
- A volunteer group should seek running rights on Sundays on several
of the Melbourne tram lines, possibly the City Circle and St. Kilda for a
peppercorn rental of track and power. With dispensations for earlier safety
systems no differently to the use of vintage cars or buses.
- The Thornbury Depot at Preston would be a befitting location for a
Historic Depot. Though there is no reason why Historic Fleet should be
limited to one Depot (Don't keep all your eggs in one Basket). I think the
key is accessibility of these trams to the Victorian Public and tourists. As
such a central location should be considered. The Preston test track would
be an ideal Demonstration track off the main line to give rides week days
for instance.
- The Melbourne Historic Tram fleet, Haddon and By-lands should
consider seriously coming together to create the pan-ultimate Tramway
Museum/s with running access the Melbourne tramway system.
- The Malvern / Norm Maddox collection should be a key part of any
above mentioned Museum.
Just some thoughts, because I think that the current situation in
Victoria with splintered competing groups and questionable decision making
on Historic operations is detracting from the rich flavour which Melbourne's
tramway heritage can add to Melbourne's and Victoria's tourism. The fact
that Melbourne should have a single tramway Museum as big and successful as
Sydney. While utilising the fact the there is a whole tram system there
which these Historic vehicles should be demonstrated on!
David Cawood
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Firstly an article on the Melbourne Trams stored at Newport and below that
some of my thoughts on the Melbourne Tram scene prior to seeing this
article.
Melbourne is a little sad considering its potential!
The fans need to find a high profile individual to act as a "Non Gunzle"
spokesperson and advocate for a Victorian/Melbourne living Tramway Museum!
Cheers for now
David
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,3337918%255E2862,00.html
By JOHN MASANAUSKAS, transport reporter
29nov01
<<0,3600,167164,00[1].jpg>>
HUNDREDS of Victoria's historic trams are rotting away in a forgotten
graveyard.
Up to 200 of the world-famous vehicles that once criss-crossed Melbourne
have been left derelict at an old Newport workshop.
Trams painted by renowned artists, including Clifton Pugh and Lin Onus, and
a restored cable car from the 1880s are among the dilapidated treasures.
Many of the grime-covered trams are now home to pigeons, possums and foxes.
Successive State Governments have failed to resolve the fate of this surplus
rolling stock, despite the trams' tourist potential.
Enthusiasts point to the popularity of Melbourne W-class trams now running
on tourist routes in US cities including Seattle, San Francisco, New Orleans
and Memphis. Lord Mayor John So and ex-premier Sir Rupert Hamer have called
for historic trams to be protected, with some activists calling for a tram
museum.
"I love the Melbourne trams - they are part of this city's history and
charm, especially our old W-class trams," Cr So said.
"It would be a wonderful trip down memory lane to be able to re-visit some
of them," Cr So said. The Herald Sun has also learned that the city's
current W-class trams will not begin returning to main routes for up to six
months.
This is almost two years after the 53-tram fleet was removed from the system
for brake repairs.
A handful of the trams are back on the free City Circle service.
But the tram union, user groups and the State Opposition claim the private
operators want to axe the remaining W-class fleet.
Most trams at the Newport workshop are discarded W-class stock. Also
forgotten is a Bondi tram and an 1888 cable car that ran between North
Carlton and St Kilda.
Dozens of old tram motors, bogies and historic signs litter the huge
workshop.
Tram union secretary Lou Di Gregorio said the state of the trams was
a disgrace.
"We have been talking about a museum for years, but nothing has been done,"
he said.
"We have a great culture and a museum would be very popular."
Connies Coalition spokesman Roberto D'Andrea said a museum could be built at
the Preston workshops, which also has surplus trams.
But Public Transport Users Association president Paul Mees said most of the
disused trams should be returned to service.
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor admitted the state of the trams was
unacceptable.
"The previous government thought the matter had been resolved if it just put
them in a big warehouse and slid the door shut," he said.
He said he had commissioned a study to identify heritage transport assets
and recommend options for their use. He would not commit to a tram museum
before seeing the report.
-----Original Message-----
From: Cawood, David
Sent: Monday, 26 November 2001 13:13
To: Trams Downunder (E-mail)
Subject: Melbourne Historic Fleet - thoughts
Hi again Gentlelmen
Thank you for the replies with regard to the Melbourne Historic
Fleet. Here are my thoughts from a non Victorian on how the Melbourne Tram
scene could enriched to the benefit of Melbourne and Victoria. I know that
bureaucratic, commercial interests, politics and egos would probably make
this impossible.
- Trams are a Major tourist attraction to Melbourne, but the
operation of historic trams has been stalled through legislation and
commercial interests.
- A volunteer group should seek running rights on Sundays on several
of the Melbourne tram lines, possibly the City Circle and St. Kilda for a
peppercorn rental of track and power. With dispensations for earlier safety
systems no differently to the use of vintage cars or buses.
- The Thornbury Depot at Preston would be a befitting location for a
Historic Depot. Though there is no reason why Historic Fleet should be
limited to one Depot (Don't keep all your eggs in one Basket). I think the
key is accessibility of these trams to the Victorian Public and tourists. As
such a central location should be considered. The Preston test track would
be an ideal Demonstration track off the main line to give rides week days
for instance.
- The Melbourne Historic Tram fleet, Haddon and By-lands should
consider seriously coming together to create the pan-ultimate Tramway
Museum/s with running access the Melbourne tramway system.
- The Malvern / Norm Maddox collection should be a key part of any
above mentioned Museum.
Just some thoughts, because I think that the current situation in
Victoria with splintered competing groups and questionable decision making
on Historic operations is detracting from the rich flavour which Melbourne's
tramway heritage can add to Melbourne's and Victoria's tourism. The fact
that Melbourne should have a single tramway Museum as big and successful as
Sydney. While utilising the fact the there is a whole tram system there
which these Historic vehicles should be demonstrated on!
David Cawood
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Universal Inkjet Refill Kit $29.95
Refill any ink cartridge for less!
Includes black and color ink.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/f00vhB/MkNDAA/ySSFAA/DiTxlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
