Oldest cars (was An Adelaide contribution)

Brent Efford
Tuesday, September 3, 2002 8:50 PM

Also, many of the downtown 'heritage' lines probably operate older cars than Adelaide's in daily service - though not as fast or for as long a run. For instance, Christchurch Tramway's ex-Dunedin Brill boxcar, 11, was 'built' in 1903 - though probably not a lot of the original car is included in what is now running. But that is probably true for the Adelaide and Manx Electric cars as well.

Brent Efford

-----Original Message-----
From: CHARLES BILLETTE [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, 4 September 2002 4:18 a.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] An Adelaide contribution

The Manx Electric has the world's oldest cars in normal revenue service.

>From: "tramcar277"
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [TramsDownUnder] An Adelaide contribution
>Date: Tue, 03 Sep 2002 12:57:43 -0000
>
>Hello,
>I can't let the Victorians have all the enjoyment!
>As I am on a week's leave, I did a trip from Glenelg to Victoria
>Square early this afternoon.
>By a happy coincidence, it was in H-class #351, the class leader,
>part of a coupled set (the other was #367) - (it is Royal Show week
>here, so coupled sets all day - usually only in peak hours).
>351 has only recently emerged from the latest overhaul programme
>(about 2 months ago approx), one of 5 to undergo this particular
>cycle.
>In some ways, I would have preferred 351 to have missed out, as this
>programme is much more substantial than the 1970s overhaul programme
>which it had previously undergone. It is rather like the 'original'
>axe which has had both handle and head replaced many times.
>However, it has been done, and does look very smart, both internally
>& externally.
>One minor point, which may be of interest, is that special
>destination blinds have been printed for 351, reinstating the
>original 'City & Glenelg' sign, which had been replaced by a rather
>bland 'City-Glenelg' sign since the 1970s overhaul programme.
>On that point, 351 actually retained the original blinds, which
>contained most of the Adelaide tram destinations, when it was
>overhauled in the 1970s - as it pretty well showed only 'City &
>Glenelg', the back lights eventually caused the sign to disintegrate
>completely!
>I reckon this would be the oldest car to have been operating in
>Australia on a scheduled service today - would it also be the oldest
>any where?
>
>Incidentally, there are now only 5 cars (I think), which have not
>undergone either the late 1980s or current extensive refurbishments
>(perhaps better referred to as rebuildings). I believe the intention
>was that these would be withdrawn when the current programme was
>complete - at least 4 cars have been done, possibly all 5.
>However, there was one unrefurbished set running today (376 and
>another), but they are becoming rare.
>
>Trevor
>

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