Sarah Sands Engine House Brunswick

Last year Heritage Victoria approved the development of a seven storey building at the former Cable Tram Engine House (most recently Sam's Tyres) in Brunswick Road. 

Brunswick Community History Group (BCHG) and the Royal HistoricalSociety of Victoria both submitted objections to "this egregious example of facadism on an important historical building". 

Merri-bek Council approved the development with conditions of setbacks which would have preserved the appearance of the building and also prevented overshadowing of the buildings opposite. 

The developer objected to this condition at VCAT and was successful.

... adapted from a notice from BCHG

I have attached a rendering of the development from the public submission.

The west end of the former engine house is owned by others and the single storey section facing Black St fronts an active Yarra Trams substation as evidenced by the heavy traction current cables visible in the rendering.

Mal Rowe -  who will be interested to see how the developer handles issues with bordering on the substation.

Track renewal Spencer St and Bourke St

The triangular double track junction at the corner of Bourke St and
Spencer St Melbourne is being renewed.

First pic is an overview of work last night.

Second pic shows a couple of men carrying track gauges - an essential
and complex task in such a junction.

Work commenced late on the evening of Sunday 15th of February and will
be completed in time for first tram on Thursday 26th.

Details are at:
https://yarratrams.com.au/projects/bourke-and-spencer-streets-tram-infrastructure-upgrades


The junction was last renewed in April 2011, so has only lasted 15 years.

That rather short life is likely due in part to the Combinos that
traversed the junction until being banished to Brunswick when sufficient
E class trams were available to run route 96 from late 2014.

Mal Rowe still a trackwork voyeur

Fwd: In Memoriam: Alan Roi

It is with great sadness that I pass on this message.
I knew Alan quite well and always appreciated his good humour and commitment.

Thanks Alan for your significant contribution to transport heritage in Christchurch.
Mal Rowe

In Memoriam: Alan Roi

͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌    ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­

In Memoriam: Alan Roi 1952 - 2026 It is with great sadness I must inform you of the passing of Alan Roi. Alan was a long-standing Life Member of our society and has held several important duties throughout the years often doing a lot of the behind the scenes work to keep the society functioning efficiently, most recently acting as our Secretary and Records Clerk. As those that knew Alan will be aware, he was very passionate and knowledgeable about a wide range of public transport including trams, buses, and was a leading figure in trolleybus preservation in New Zealand. Alan's passion and knowledge will be sorely missed around Ferrymead. At this time there are no details on funeral arrangements, but we will pass these along when they are received. My condolences to everyone. Jonathan Day President Tramway Historical Society View email in browser Tramway Historical Society Inc. · 275 Bridle Path Road · Ferrymead · Christchurch, Canterbury 8022 · New Zealand update your preferences or unsubscribe

Melbourne tram passenger loading by route

The Age has published details of tram passenger loading by route over the period from Jan 2019 to June 2025, based on data from the Victorian Department of Transport.

If you have access to The Age on line, you will find the article at:

• https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/standing-room-only-melbourne-s-busiest-tram-routes-revealed-20260211-p5o1hi.html

I have attached a screen capture copy of the graphic used to illustrate the data.

Red indicates a loading of up to  1.7 million monthly passengers on the route and dark blue represents monthly loading of below 17,500.

If one pauses the mouse pointer over a cell you can see the actual figure, as shown in the screen capture.

I can't locate the original data, but I transcribed the figures for June 2019 (pre COVID) and June 2025 (most recent in the table) and attach the results.

The article says: 

Tram patronage numbers are calculated by counting the number of people who board a tram service and touch on their myki card. 

This is then cross-referenced with Automatic Vehicle Monitoring data to provide a final estimate.

AVM does not measure passenger numbers, just tram location.

Some highlights:

• Overall loading in June 2025 was still only 76% of the pre COVID loading in June 2019. (139M vs 182M on an annualised estimate)
• The busiest route (96) carried 10 times as many passengers as each of the two lightest loading routes (78 and 82)
• The two most resilient routes in terms of loading recovery are 86 (Bundoora) and 5 (Malvern - Burke Rd)

A lot of this change will be due to increased numbers of people working from home.

There is no data yet to show the effect of the opening of the Metro tunnel.

Mal Rowe who thinks some of the figures may be influenced by passengers not 'tapping on'

Queensway then and now

The reconstruction of St Kilda Junction and related creation of
Queensway in the late 1960s was one of the key indicators that
Melbournbe's trams were "here to stay".

Arthur Stone's pic from September 1968 shows the new tramway being laid.

In my pic made today - 58 years on - a few buildings are still
recognisable.  The big brown brick building at top left is the Windsor
telephone exchange built in the 1970s.

Mal Rowe for whom the Tatra T3s were the other signs of hope.

180 and B60

The attached photo by Arthur Stone suffers a bit from being a night
shot, but has plenty of interest.

T180 is sitting at the Bourke St tram terminus in 1967 and the model of
VR loco B 60 is on display at Spencer St station in the background.

Mal Rowe - enjoying discovering old slides

Re: [TramsDownUnder] Yapper and half Yapper

On 09/02/2026 22:47, Andrew Highriser wrote:
> Back in service to assist with the tram shortage after the 1980s?,
> maybe 90s floods.
>
The pic dates from 1964, when the Y and Y1 trams were still in regular
service, although the occasion was a fan trip.

Here's my pis of 611 running in Batman Ave to Wattle Park around the
same time.

In 1965 the Y and Y1s were transferred to Glenhuntly depot where the
union quickly banned them out of concern that they could be operated one
man.

They were withdrawn after only a short time running from GH and later
used fro driver training.

Mal Rowe - rather fond of Yappers