Re: Geelong and "foreign" systems

Agree, Paul, about Australian perspectives on overseas system being of
possible interest on this group.

Bob Murphy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Nicholson" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 8:20 AM
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] Geelong and "foreign" systems

I remember going to Geelong on a family Sunday
excursion train trip in the mid 1950s. My guess it
must have been early 1956 because I remember the train
being hauled by a flat top T class; I used to call
them "funny face" diesels! We had lunch at the Carlton
Hotel in Malop Street. It was fashionable hotel in
those days. Went back years later (early 1950s) and
found it to be somewhat down at heel. Anyway, in the
1950s trip as a five year old seeing a single truck
car running past. The system closed in 1956 and the T
class came in 1955 as I remember so that's why I
estimate the trip was either late 1955 or early 1956.

So I can add Geelong to the list of tram systems I
have visited. Only a handful I haven't ridden. That
prompted me to do a rough list. I reckon I've visited
around 80 urban tram systems (much more if you include
Swiss type interurban lines) and ridden on about 75.

The other discussion about talking about "foreign"
systems makes me wonder whether we should leave it
free to talk about travel experiences/Australian
perspectives of overseas systems. Most transport
enthusiasts seem to discuss only the engineering or
"severe gen" aspects of the subject. The beauty of
this list is that it has broadened to include things
like reminiscences of working on the job admittedly
mostly from a fan perspective.

Australian fans have been international travellers
since early days. The big opener was the "Barry
McKenzie" era. Remember when they first announced the
$700 fare to London? That opened the way for
Australian fans to broaden their horizons. There were
a few pioneers, however; the late Alwyn Marshall went
to some out of the way tram systems (eg South America)
in the 1950s. Travelling by boat.

I checked with Mike Russell in the United Kingdom. He
is the doyen of the international tram travellers and
photographers (refer his photos in Tramways and Urban
Transit) and told me his system list was around
150-200. This had increased dramatically in the past
10 years since the opening of the former Soviet block
countries to foreigners.

So I am quite happy with my list of 80 considering the
distances us Colonials often have to travel just for
"positioning movements".

I think discussion of foreign systems, especially from
an Australian perspective, is appropriate.

Paul in Melbourne


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