Sydney Tramway Museum in Loftus, New South Wales, Australia | History Museum

Sydney Tramway Museum

Locality: Loftus, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 2 9542 3646

Address: 2 Pitt Street 2232 Loftus, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au

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25.01.2022 HOT OFF THE PRESS - Great news for the Sydney Tramway Museum. Today we received confirmation of two Heritage Grants from Transport Heritage NSW. The second grant, for $13,000, will allow the Museum to digitise much of the rich Tramway archives we hold. This is important as many of the records we hold are now more than 60 years old and much is over a century old. Digitising these documents, records, images, drawings, diagrams and photographs will assist in their long te...rm preservation and allow historians and the public greater access to study and research Sydney’s fascinating Tramway history. The Museum appreciates the support of Transport Heritage NSW and the NSW Government in our restoration program. Thanks also to the senior Members of the Museum who put in many hours putting together this successful Grant application.

25.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday A Postcard in the collection. a Rose Series photo postcard P.5634. Not dated. Sydney, Elizabeth St c1936. An inbound O Class tram in Elizabeth St passes the Market St and the St. James Hotel. Meanwhile, homeward bound passengers wait in the 'safety zone' for an outbound tram to take them into the Eastern Suburbs. Many of the intending passengers are women, probably returning home mid-afternoon after a shopping trip to the city. They would be trying... to avoid the crush of peak-hour in the late afternoon. The Hotel St James would be later renamed the Albion Hotel, although there is a current 'incarnation' of the Hotel St James on the same site today. Further down Elizabeth St is the unusually signed MUIOOF building. MUIOOF stands for "Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows", a Friendly Society and Fundraising Group founded in Manchester in 1810. The O Class tram is in the Green and Cream Livery introduced with the new R Class corridor trams in 1933 and subsequently applied to the rest of the fleet. The Sydney Tramway Museum has a number of O Class trams restored or under restoration.

25.01.2022 The Sydney Tramway Museum - currently only place in Australia where you can go from Melbourne to Sydney to Brisbane and not face a fine or two weeks in quarantine One week to go until we re-open!

25.01.2022 A sunny but windy day at the Sydney Tramway Museum today. Trams running today include Brisbane 548 and Melbourne Y1 611

25.01.2022 Springtime at the Sydney Tramway Museum. A lovely image by Mousham Udas.

24.01.2022 A warm end to Winter and bush smoke combine to make a summertime theme as Sydney R1 Class 1979 returns to the Museum from Sutherland

24.01.2022 Photo by Mousham Udas

24.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday An image in the collection. Photographer unknown. Sydney, Pitt St c1908. A C Class tram and matching trailer follow a set of E Class trams up Pitt St past Moore St/Martin Place and the GPO. The trams are heading for the Railway Colonnade with passengers wishing to make connections with suburban and country trains. Such was the quickly evolving technology that even at this early date, the C Class, built in the last years of the Victorian era, look old... fashioned compared to larger, high capacity E Class, just a few years their junior. The Sydney Tramway Museum preserved a number of C Class trams including 290, 29, 37 and experimental double decker 33, while E Class set 529+530 await restoration in the Display Hall.

23.01.2022 A big shunt and rearrangement of trams occurred at the Museum last weekend to allow Vario tram 2107 to be brought into No.2 Road for inspections and some maintenance that will see it a further step closer to fully operating at the Sydney Tramway Museum. The size of this tram can be judged by the traditional trams behind and beside it. Remember, donations to the Museum will contribute to getting 2107 and other trams in our collection restored and operating. A Michael Hatton photograph

23.01.2022 This Sunday is Fathers Day! The Sydney Tramway Museum will be open between 10am and 5pm with regular tram rides between the Museum and Sutherland. The Museum has a limited number of socially-distanced picnic tables available for small family groups. The picnic tables cannot be booked or reserved. However, if you are looking for unique location for a small Fathers Day celebration, think of the Sydney Tramway Museum.

23.01.2022 Our first post-Covid Museum trip begins with a good Covid-compliant load

23.01.2022 We are open for Fathers Day, this Sunday, 6 September! The Sydney Tramway Museum is an ideal location for a Father Day celebrations. Three generously spaced picnic tables are available (sorry, no reservations) along with additional picnic tables in our heritage listed Railway Square Waiting Shed precinct. Take Dad for a tram ride to Sutherland and return. Two trams operating throughout the day. Our Kiosk, souvenir shop and our amazing Display Hall will all be open. Bri...ng a picnic lunch and avoid the crowds! See you at the Sydney Tramway Museum tomorrow. Please note: Our electric BBQs are NOT currently available due to Covid-19 restrictions.

22.01.2022 The Sydney Tramway Museum COVID-19 Guidelines and Practises In order to enable us to open safely, the following changes have been made: - Electric BBQs will be unavailable (Our picnic area will remain open) - Single tickets to the Royal National Park will be unavailable.... - Trams to the National Park will be running, but only as part of our All Day ticket Please remember that due to Government regulations the following conditions will be strictly followed; - Maximum of 160 visitors at the Museum at any one time. - All Visitors must record their contact details on entry (similar to Clubs and restaurants) for COVID tracing should it become necessary. - Display Hall: limit of 40 persons at any one time. Limited numbers will also apply in the Bookshop and Kiosk. - Limited passenger numbers on tram journeys (following COVID guidelines) however families will be able to travel together - IMPORTANTLY - If you display any of the following symptoms, please postpone your visit to the Museum; Fever Cough Sore Throat Shortness Of Breath Nausea/Vomiting Difficulty Breathing OR Have travelled to another country or Victoria recently OR Had close contact with someone suspected of having coronavirus

22.01.2022 Trackwork continues within the Museum. The relaying of the western track has advanced with additional concrete pours in recent days. Once completed, attention will turn to the eastern track. Note the installation of a classic Sydney track drain, made up of worn out rails placed at 90 degrees to the running rails.

22.01.2022 The Kiama Picnic Train led by 5917 passes the Sydney Tramway Museum this morning, passing a ‘Guard of Honour’ consisting of Melbourne W2 249 and Sydney R1 1979.

22.01.2022 Tram 37 on its way to Sydney, September 1971. This tram was the only one to operate on every Victorian tramway - Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat. After the closure of the Ballarat tramway, it was given to the Sydney Tramway Museum. Photo: Lil Butler.

21.01.2022 Wow, just wow! Always a gem to draw....Loftus Tramway Museum by Dobbo. Published on the local Facebook page by Loftus Artist Mark ‘Dobbo’ Dobson.

21.01.2022 The second post-Covid shutdown tram to leave the Sydney Tramway Museums Depot to commence operations is Brisbane Phoenix 548

21.01.2022 Our workshop doesnt just work on Trams, its also the place we maintain and work on our components for our Level Crossing. After the wild weather damaged the center lights of our level crossing, work has been underway to repair them. This image shows the new updated sign, post and lights that will be installed on the Princes Highway.... Behind, 2001 can be scene sporting her 2nd coat of cream which was completed recently.

21.01.2022 More detail from todays work at Substation No. 2 Mitigation of future lightning damage to the substation. To be wired next week. 2.7kv clamp at 10000Amps, Nominal 900V rated. ... Piv of the diodes is 3200V so we stand a chance, more so than no protection.

20.01.2022 Its good to be back! The Museum re-opens today! Our volunteer crews are already at the Museum about to start a briefing prior to the start of the day.

20.01.2022 Sydney Tramway Museum - open every Sunday.

20.01.2022 A damp day at the Sydney Tramway Museum. Sydney R1 Class 1979 arrives back at the Museum following a trip to Sutherland. The R1 Class were built between 1935 and 1937 with a second batch in the early 1950's. There were some variations between the two batches. R1 1979 is from the pre-war order and entered service during 1936.

20.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday. A Kodak photo postcard. Mint. Kings Cross c1954. By the mid-1950s, motor traffic was becoming a serious issue for Sydney traffic planners as this lunchtime view of cars and trucks squeezing through Kings Cross shows. In the middle of the melee, two corridor trams try to negotiate the curves from William St into Bayswater Rd as they head out onto the Watsons Bay line. Meanwhile, a city-bound AEC double deck bus has likely come across the intersectio...n from Darlinghurst Rd, showing its disdain for following motorists with cloud of diesel exhaust. The Sydney Tramway Museum could replicate this scene relatively easily, with a number of fully restored and operable corridor trams (R and R1 Class) in the collection along with the magniciently restored AEC Regent III double deck bus 2619. The Museum is currently open every Sunday, with tram rides available between the Museum and Sutherland.

19.01.2022 Meet some of our newest Members! Daniel, Peter and Nathan stand in front of Melbourne Z2 Class 111 last Sunday. It is perhaps appropriate that they stand beside a ‘modern’ tramcar, since each came to the Museum with more an interest in Light Rail, and particularly the Sydney Light Rail, than traditional tramways. They now form part of the team that care for, and are working towards getting SLR 2107 operational at the Museum. They are also playing an important role in general Museum activities too. Are you looking at volunteering in the community? Come along and join us! We would love to see you, and you too can be part of Australia’s most exciting Tramway Museum. See our website for membership and volunteering details.

19.01.2022 It has been remiss of us not to mention a significant Birthday recently. One of the most familiar faces of the Sydney Tramway Museum, Peter Kahn turned 80 early in October. Peter has celebrated the occasion with a few of his favourite beers at Coogee today. Happy Birthday Peter from all your colleagues at the Sydney Tramway Museum. PS that’s Peter’s sister sitting next to him.

18.01.2022 The sign says it all! Happy Sunday

17.01.2022 A 1939 Chevrolet ex-RAAF poses with Melbourne W2 249, with an appropriate Destination Sign, at the Sydney Tramway Museum, Loftus. 29 November 2020

17.01.2022 Are you ready for a trip back to the 1930s? Sydney R1 Class 1979, built in 1936, and Brisbane FM 548, designed in 1930s but built in 1963, are two trams from the 1930s that you might experience at the Sydney Tramway Museum. The Museum is open every Sunday from 10am. We are looking forward to welcoming you very soon! Let us take you for a journey back in time.

17.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday An image in the collection. Photographer unknown Sydney, King St and George St c1908. Our cameraman has set up his heavy camera equipment for a long image down King St. He opens the shutter just as a L Class tram rumbles across the intersection in George St. In tramway days, this intersection was among the busiest in Australia. At times, especially in peak hours there was a tram passing this intersection every 30 seconds! ... Belfield's Hotel at right, still exists although it hasn't served a beer since 1957. Younger generations would recognise it as the flagship outlet for Darrel-Lea Chocolates, while today Telstra sells mobile phones from what was once the main bar area. The building in the background with the corner tower, at the corner of King and Pitt St also survives. Today, trams again pass through this intersection. The new Sydney Light Rail services to Randwick and Kingsford pass here as they travel to and from Circular Quay.

17.01.2022 ‘Last of the first’. This could apply equally to either of these Sydney trams. To the left is Sydney Light Rail ‘Vario’ 2107, the last built and last surviving member of the first seven light rail vehicles that re-introduced trams to Sydney in 1997. To the right is Sydney R1 Class 2001, built in the early 1950’s as part of the last order of trams for Sydney’s first generation Tramway. A striking image from Michael Hatton.

15.01.2022 More details on the Museum’s Transport Heritage Grant for Digitisation and Publishing of Sydney Tramway Museum Archives. The Sydney Tramway Museum has some 2700 drawings of the NSWGT tramways, many already digitised and catalogued. Under the recently obtained $13,000 THnsw Grant, with the assistance of ARHS NSW, the digital archive will be expanded and made more readily available to historians and researchers. Examples of Sydney Tramway Museum Archives include:... Engineering Drawings The archive consists of approximately 2700 blueprints of Sydney tramcars and infrastructure dating from the earliest years of the tramway system. Photographs The archive includes some 4000 photographs and postcards including a general collection and specialised collections. Of particular interest are Manufacturer’s photographs and the Randwick Tramway Workshops Glass Negatives. The Randwick Workshops glass negative collection includes images of machinery, tooling and employees. Manufacturers Catalogues and Instructions Suppliers of trams and tramway equipment published catalogues, sales brochures, working instructions and spare parts lists to assist tramways in sourcing parts and equipment. The Museum has access to a number of these documents from companies such as General Electric and Westinghouse.

15.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday Sydney Harbour Bridge c1938. With the Sydney Tramway Museum re-opening tomorrow following the long Covid shutdown, its perhaps appropriate to revisit two Sydney icons in one image. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was completed in 1932. At the time it was the biggest single arch bridge in the world. It was also well ahead of its time, as can be seen from the relatively little traffic on its approaches. It carried the North Sydney tramways across the harb...our into an city terminus at Wynyard, although unfortunately it never connected with the main Sydney tramway system. The Sydney R Class, here represented by 1800 approaching Milsons Point tramway station, were introduced in 1933 and were considered as Australias most handsome tramcars.

14.01.2022 As we come (hopefully) out of the worst of the Covid pandemic, it is good to see more Tramway Museums reopening. This montage, taken across some 5300 kilometres shows three Southern Hemisphere Tramway Museums operating today. MOTAT’s Western Springs Tramway in Auckland, New Zealand, the Sydney Tramway Museum in Sydney, Australia and PETS Whiteman Park Tramway in Perth, Western Australia!

14.01.2022 The Sydney Tramway Museum reopens this Sunday, 9 August! The Museum will be opening every Sunday from 10am until 4.30pm, subject to changing Govt. and Health advice. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the Museum. However, strict Covid guidelines and practises will be in place and we ask anyone who is feeling unwell or has cold/flu like symptoms to delay their visit. Please read the Covid Guidelines pinned to the top of our Facebook page and always check this page or our website for any changes on the day you plan to visit.

14.01.2022 The Board of Directors of the Sydney Tramway Museum would like to congratulate all our volunteers who have contributed to the Museum in every way. Our efforts have been recognised with the Museum achieving the TripAdvisors Travellers Choice Award, which ranks our Museum in the top 10% of its attractions. Our Museum could not have achieved this, had it not been for all the dedication and hard work of all our volunteers; our traffic team, our maintenance and restoration teams, our infrastructure teams and our marketing and publicity teams.

13.01.2022 The Sydney Tramway Museum... now open every Sunday.

12.01.2022 The Sydney Tramway Museums first post-Covid tram leaves the depot. Appropriately, it is Sydney R1 Class 1979

12.01.2022 Museum trams in original service. O Class 1111 at Harbord Many thanks to Bill Bolton for allowing us to use this image from his collection. Photographer unknown. ... The Museums O Class 1111 is one of the few remaining reminders of the Manly Tramways, which closed in November, 1939. Photos of trams anywhere along the Harbord branch on the Manly system are quite rare, so even though this shot of O Class 1111 standing at the Harbord terminus in the late 1930s is soft and fuzzy, its rarity makes up for the shortcomings.

11.01.2022 Another stunning image from Mousham Udas reflecting today’s inclement weather

11.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday Manly c1935 The Esplanade and Manly Wharf. O Class trams can be seen on the terminus loop tracks in the Esplanade in the mid-1930s. The trams are still in the pre-1933 Olive Fawn and Grey livery, which lingered into 1937 as the tramway fleet was progressively repainted into Green & Cream. One of the big Manly Ferries must have just arrived given the number of people moving across The Esplanade towards The Corso, and the trams are probably waiting fo...r departure time to take some of that crowd north to Brookvale, Dee Why and Narrabeen. The Manly system closed in 1939 and there are a few reminders of its existance today. The old terminus waitingshed at Narrabeen is still in situ, as is the much of the old Manly Tramway Depot at the corner of Pittwater Rd and Balgowlah Rd. Some of the old tramway alignments can also be seen around the The Spit. Sydney O Class 1111 used at Manly for much of the 1920s and 1930s is the only passenger tram to survive and it is now a much loved operational exhibit at the Sydney Tramway Museum at Loftus.

11.01.2022 Armistice Day 2020. Our O Class 1111 reminds of the day the guns fell silent, ending the four bloody years of the Great War. We remember too, the terrible toll the war took on the lives of Tramway staff who volunteered, fought, were injured or paid the ultimate sacrifice and those who returned forever changed by their experiences. They shall grow not old, As we who are left, grow old. Age shall not weary them,... Nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, And in the morning. We will remember them. Lest We Forget

10.01.2022 We are now open EVERY SUNDAY! The Sydney Tramway Museum is welcoming visitors every Sunday between 10am and 5pm. We observe Covid-19 protocols including social distancing and regular cleaning of our Museum. However, being an open air Museum, there is good opportunities to safely picnic with family. Please note that due to recent storm damage the National Park line is out of use but tram rides are still operating on the Museum line towards Sutherland.

09.01.2022 Help us return trams to The ROYAL NATIONAL PARK As many of you are aware trams operating to the Royal National Park are currently suspended due to two incidents; storm damage to our substation for the Royal National Park and damage to one of the level crossing lights by a motorist. Work to repair the crossing light is nearing completion and we were so close to seeing trams once again run on the 3km track into the National Park.... Unfortunately, the finish line has now been pushed further back. During recent storms and high winds, trees in the Park near the line came down, resulting in two overhead poles being damaged. Work is now being undertaken to replace the poles. The cost to replace these two poles totals around $5,000, not cheap! With the loss of operating days and restrictions with COVID, and currently only operate one day a week has meant a significant loss of income for the museum, meaning that covering that cost is difficult at present. You can help us get trams back into the park sooner! Please consider a donation to the museum. Your contribution can help us to get up and running sooner. Remember that donations are tax deductible. The Museum is a registered charity. You can make a small donation online through the website at: https://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au/donate-to-us/ or if you would like to make a larger donation please contact our secretary by email at: [email protected] Thank you for your continued support and on behalf of the museum and its volunteers we look forward to seeing you again at the Sydney Tramway Museum. Remember, although we aren't currently running to the National Park we ARE still running trams toward Sutherland every Sunday and the museum display hall is also open with Australia’s most unique collection of trams on display. We look forward to your visit.

08.01.2022 Whats happening in the Workshop? Three restorations are happening simultaneously in the Tramway Museums Workshop (aside from other jobs happening in the Display Hall). Sydney R1 2001 has been stripped of its two tone blue livery. The first coat of cream has been applied and a small patch of experimental green has also been applied to check the correct shade. This work is being supported by a Transport Heritage NSW grant and the RAHS (Royal Australian Historical Society). Meanwhile, work continues on the restoration/rebuild of Melbourne cable tram trailer 589 and remedial work on Sydney D Class Scrubber tram 134s

07.01.2022 Volunteering at the Sydney Tramway Museum doesnt necessarily require working on century old equipment. Here, our resident electronics guru Peter Mudie is replacing all diodes in a traction rectifier in the No. 2 substation, as a result of previous lightning damage. This is preparations to have enough power supply for the Sydney light rail vehicle 2107 to be available for traffic operations in the not too distant future.

07.01.2022 The things you see at the Sydney Tramway Museum! Thanks for the whistle from the Kiama Picnic Train!

07.01.2022 Work continues on relaying the western track on Tramway Ave. In this view, Melbourne Z2 111 passes the excavation, with heavy pieces of broken concrete filling the base of the four foot ready for the next concrete delivery.

07.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday A C.I. Rogers printed postcard. Mint. George St c1906. Brand new N Class 707 makes its way down George St, past the Royal hotel at left before rumbling over the tracks in King St. Note the policeman on point duty in his summer uniform including white trousers and hat.

07.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday. A Postcard in the collection. Photographer unknown. Hand dated 7 April 1914. Newtown, King St c1913. A 'Direct Control' O Class wanders down the grade past the elegant Victorian and Edwardian shop facades that still line this fascinating street. ... King St developed it's vibrant retail precinct particularly with the coming of the tramways in the late 19th century. Newtown Tram Depot was opened in 1900 on King St,adjacent to Newtown Railway Station and provided trams to adjacent suburbs including the Glebe Point, Canterbury, Earlwood and Summer Hill lines. The tramway line along King St closed in 1957. During the tramway era, Newtown was always considered a low-income blue-collar suburb, with many of its residents working either for the nearby Railway Workshops or in local heavy and light manufacturing industries. Fortunately, King Street, as a whole, is the best-preserved Victorian/Edwardian era high street in Sydney, and despite late 20th century gentrification, much of the King St streetscape remains as it was at throughout the tramway era. The Sydney Tramway Museum has a number of O Class trams in its collection. The Museum also features the Victorian facade of the Sydney YMCA building from Goulburn St. which adds an authentic background to the operating trams. The completion of this restoration awaits a sponsor or funding from outside sources.

06.01.2022 Today, the Sydney Tramway Museum hosted its first post-COVID small group. Five vintage military vehicles from the Australian Military Vehicle Collectors Association set up a display in Tramway Ave, including three Jeep’s a 6x6 truck and a staff car Chevrolet ex-RAAF.

06.01.2022 The Sydney Tramway Museum reopened today.. with Sydney and Brisbane trams operating.. in Melbourne weather!

06.01.2022 Western track update! A good load of concrete was delivered yesterday enabling the Museum to make a very good start on completing the western track from the scissors crossover to the main gate. Many thanks to our volunteer members who worked all afternoon and into the evening to get the concrete bedded down and professionally finished.

05.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday A Postcard in the collection. A Star Photo Company photo postcard. Postmarked 1909 Sydney, Coogee Beach c1908. The wheels of coupled E Class trams 551 + 552 squeal in protest as they round the tight Balloon Loop at the northern end of Coogee Beach around 1908. The trams have come from Circular Quay, and the Conductor has already set the destination for the its return journey back to "Elizabeth St & Circular Quay" ... Opened in 1883 as an extention of steam tram line to Randwick, the Coogee line branched from (what was later) Anzac Parade at Allison Road, and ran on its own tramway reservation beside Centennial Park as far as Darley Road at Randwick. It then ran alongside Randwick Tramway Workshops, then again in its own reservation to Belmore Road. Using several small tramway reservations and Perouse Road, St Pauls Street, Carr Street, the line turned north along Arden Street before terminating in the balloon loop near Dolphin Street. The overhead wires were gradually extended to Coogee during 1901 with full electric services introduced in 1902. The line closed in October 1960. The Sydney Tramway Museum has preserved the sole remaining E Class set, Nos 529 + 530, at Loftus where they can be seen in the Display Hall. Restoration of these unique trams awaits major funding as it requires the simultaneous restoration of two trams.

05.01.2022 M&MTB at STM Sydney! A big shunt at the Museum today (more of that later) saw three of our Melbourne trams line up inside our Depot. They include W2 249 (in the 1950s livery) Z2 111 (in its original 1970s livery) and Y1 611 (in a late 1930s livery). The W2 and Z2 were repainted by our own volunteers at Loftus. They demonstrate not only the skills of our Members but also variety of Tramway liveries and colours we have at the Museum. Thanks to Michael Hatton for this fantastic photo.

05.01.2022 Our first visitors today! A pair of Crimson Rosellas looking for a room to rent! They obviously have a heritage place in mind. With the Royal National Park so close, and a good selection of native plants on site, the Museum is frequently visited by wildlife including King Parrots, Eastern and Crimson Rosellas, Kookaburras and Currawongs.

05.01.2022 Tomorrow afternoon, SBS will air a documentary about the OTIS wooden escalators that used to carry people up and down to Town Halls Platforms. ‘Escalation Sensation’, will be broadcast on SBS at 3.55pm on Tuesday 3 November 2020. The Museum is proud to have been able to work in collaboration with Sydney Trains to preserve yet another part of the unique way Sydney Siders have navigated our City.

04.01.2022 44 years ago today, on 5 December 1976, AEC Regent III 2619 & Leyland OPD2 2671 operated a tour to mark the end of operation of traditional rear entrance - front engined double deck buses in NSW Government service. Following the tour, the last Government double decker AEC 2619 was acquired by the Sydney Tramway Museum for preservation as an example of the type of transport that replaced the tramways. Expertly and meticulously restored over a number of years by Museum Member Craig Parkinson, 2619 is now on display in the Museum’s main Hall. It is also used to represent and promote the Museum at outside events and rallies.

03.01.2022 Another view of this morning’s ‘meet and greet’ between the Kiama Picnic Train and the Sydney Tramway Museum’s operating trams (in this blue Brisbane tram 548 and green & cream Sydney tram 1979) Thanks Peter Mudie for this great scene.

03.01.2022 Help Us Return Trams To The Royal National Park! Thank you to all those who have donated so far towards us running again to The National Park. Were currently just over $600 towards our goal of $5000 needed for the 2 new overhead poles which were damaged after storms. We still have a way to go, so if you can help please follow the link below. Remember donations are tax deductible. We look forward to once again taking our vintage trams into the park for all our visitors to enjoy. Check out the video below. The trams ready to go, can you help make it happen? https://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au/donate-to-us/

02.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday. A Star Photo Co. postcard. Mint. The Spit c1901. There were many cities around the world that built dedicated tramways to beautiful parks and recreation attractions specifically to generate additional patronage. In Sydney, however, we didnt really have that need, as many of our tramways went past breaktaking scenery or terminated at beaches or harbourside locations. Bondi, Coogee, La Perouse, Cronulla, Sans Souci, Cabarita and the dozen harbourside... termini come to mind. Sydneysiders were spoilt for choice when it came to weekend excursions to picnic spots and places of entertainment. One of the most spectacular tramways was the line down to The Spit. From North Sydney the tramway followed Military Rd to Spit Junction, then along Spit Rd and down along what is now Parriwi Rd down to The Spit terminus on Middle Harbour. The steep line hugged the cliffs as it descended Parriwi Rd offering spectacular views across Middle Harbour and out through Sydney Heads. In this image from c1901, a C Class saloon tram, with side mounted trolleypole ascends the grade in Spit Rd (now Parriwi Rd) with a small former cable tram trailer in tow. A young boy is holding tight as he rides the outside platform of the cable tram, while a girl can be glimpsed on the platform of the C Class gazing out towards Sydney Heads. The early experimental trams, along with some C and D Class operated with side mounted trolleypoles at North Sydney in the late 1890s until converted to standard overhead in November 1901.

02.01.2022 THnsw Heritage Grant update: As part of the project to digitise the Tramway Museums archive, the first batch of 82 tramway related blueprints were delivered to ARHS NSW for scanning and cataloguing last Thursday. The majority of these blueprints were large drawings of electric cable and... overhead feeders routes. The feature of these drawings is that as well as the cable route details, the drawings show tram track layout and other details such as prominent buildings, and road features. A portion of Drawing B5110 Overhead Wiring Pitt Castlereagh & Elizabeth St Lines is attached to show the types of detail included. Also attached is a portion of F14500 Sh 1 Underground Feeders City Substations Ducts and Manholes. It shows the information to cable joiners for maintenance. Many thanks to Richard Clarke, the Museum’s Chief Engineer for providing these details and, more importantly, championing and coordinating this project. The Museum is also grateful to Transport Heritage NSW, the Royal Australian Historical Society and the Australian Railways Historical Society for their generous support of this important project. Further details and updates will be provided as this project progresses.

02.01.2022 THANK YOU to everyone who visited the Museum today for our first post-Covid open day. Everyone followed our Covid protocols and there were plenty of smiles. Afternoon rain and cold temperatures (an apparent feels like temperature of 2 degrees at 2.30pm) saw visitor numbers drop sharply, but the hardy stayed until the depot doors closed. Many thanks to our volunteers who did a sterling job today.

02.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday Manly c1908. Steam Motor 60A and two trailers have halted in The Corso to pick up passengers for North Manly (cnr Pittwater and Balgowlah Roads) around 1908. Steam trams had started operation between Manly Wharf and North Manly in February 1903, but low patronage levels led horse trams to take over operations between July 1903 and 1907 when steam made a return. Population expansion around Manly saw tramway lines on the isolated system extended north to... Brookvale, then Narrabeen. At the same time, trams reached across the steep headlands to access The Spit, although they never physically connected across the Spit Bridge to meet the North Sydney system. In 1925 a final short branch was completed off the Narrabeen line near Brookvale out to Harbord Beach. The Manly lines were electrified from 1911, but faced with financial losses in the 1930s and increased bus competition, the isolated system closed on 30 September 1939, just one month after the beginning of the Second World War. See more

01.01.2022 Were getting back on track! The Tramway Museum is open this Sunday between 10am and 5pm! Come along for a tram ride and a wander through our fascinating exhibits and old Sydney nostalgia. Unfortunately, due to recent storm damage, the RNP (Royal National Park) line is currently closed. However, Trams will still be operating between the Museum and Sutherland.

01.01.2022 Our National Park line unfortunately took a small beating from the storm on Sunday-Monday. A tree has damaged the power supply that feeds the National Park line and as such, we have had to suspend the line until we can make repairs. We hope to have these repairs carried out within the coming weeks... The Sutherland Line & Museum will still be open in the interim

01.01.2022 Next generation coming through. Even after the Covid-19 hiatus, the Museum is still privileged to have these young volunteers in our ranks. Eager to lend a hand and make a difference, even if they are too young to take charge of a tram just yet.

01.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday A Miniature Capstan Cigarette 'Stereoview' Card in the collection. Mint. Sydney, Queen's Square and Prince Albert Rd c1904. This tiny 1in x 2.5in card is intended for a small stereoviewer giving a 3D effect. It shows outbound and inbound cable tram sets about to pass each other on Prince Albert Rd (between Queen's Square and St Mary's Cathedral) around 1904. ... There were two cable tramways in Sydney, which used similar technology to San Francisco's famous cable trams. The first opened in 1886 climbing from Milson's Point to Ridge St, North Sydney and later extended to Lane Cove Rd. It closed in 1900 and was replaced by electric trams. The second line, opened in 1894, commenced at Erskine St Wharf on Darling Harbour and travelled via King St to Queen's Square then via William St to Kings Cross. It then travelled via Bayswater Rd to Ocean St. Woollahra. It closed in January, 1905, also being replaced by electric trams. The elegant little cable trams, made up of an open 'dummy' car and closed saloon trailer would glide along at a constant speed emitting neither spark nor smoke, in very contrast to the big hissing and wheezing Sydney steam trams. Melbourne had a very large cable tram network, but in Sydney the cable trams were never seen as much more than supplement to the big steam tram network, and only used where grades were considered to steep for the steam tram motors. The Sydney Tramway Museum has preserved King St. Cable Trailer No. 23 along with a Melbourne Cable Tram Set (Dummy and Trailer) , and these are currently housed on display in the Sutherland Substation Display Hall.

01.01.2022 The last weekend of winter, but it feels like a summers day here at the Sydney Tramway Museum. In this image Melbourne Y1 611 of 1930 arrived back at the Museum following a trip to Sutherland and return.

01.01.2022 It was a little bit shy, but we finally coaxed it out from behind the bushes!

01.01.2022 Sentimental Saturday A Mowbray Series photo postcard. Mint. Kings Cross c1937. AEC Q Trolleybus No. 3 turns out of Darlinghurst Rd into William St while inbound for the city in the late 1930s. These electric buses operated between St Neots Ave at Potts Point and Sydney Town Hall, commencing in January 1934. No. 3 was built by Park Royal in London and was fully imported. ... In Sydney, the trolleybuses were always considered part of the tram fleet and were never registered as a road vehicles. The Potts Point trolleybus line was closed in April 1948. Unfortunately, no Sydney AEC Q trolleybuses survived into preservation. This is a great shame as there were only five double deck AEC Q type trolleybuses in the world and three of these were used in Sydney. Eagle-eyed readers will note the pre-war single deck and double deck motorbuses in Victoria St in the background, along with the heavy steel safety bollards in the centre of Darlinghurst Rd. These bollards featured a strong light in downward facing canopy at the top of each column, illuminating the poles at night. A number of these are preserved in operating condition at the Sydney Tramway Museum.