Fwd: [TramsDownUnder] Re: Brisbane tram, 1968, FM 549

681202M-04W - Ipswich Rd Depot (Brisbane, Qld) - four-motor tram 549. 
Roderick Smith.



Roderick

Special work [Was: First look at the roomy new tram coming to Melbourne’s network]

On 26/10/2025 17:56, 'TP' via TramsDownUnder wrote:

I'd say it's been a while since railway and tramway turnouts and crossings have been manufactured in Australia. DPP Prague has its own special-work manufacturer, Prague Engineering, which also exports around the world, including to Melbourne and Auckland. Another Czech special work manufacturer,  DT-Výhybkárna a Strojírna, also supplies tramway special work to Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast and Canberra and railway special work to ARTC and other Australian railway operations. The work is assembled on the factory floor and then, presumably, partly dismantled for export and reassembled at the site.

Pražská strojírna is located at Vinoř on the outskirts of Prague and DT is located at Prostějov, about 50 km from Brno. 

Thus is former Australian industry being scattered to the four corners of the globe. Meanwhile CKD or part-assembly is being promoted by dishonest politicians as Australian manufacturing. In part unavoidable, because the third-party OEM suppliers have gone belly-up in Australia and even local manufacturers have to source these inputs overseas.

Davies and Baird of Melbourne were probably the last manufacturer of 'special work' in Australia.

They started making wheels for the Melbourne cable trams.

They supplied Melbourne, Toronto and Christchurch in recent times.  The attached pic shows a pair of crossings ready to ship to Christchurh in 2024 - one of their last orders.

Once Yarra started using heel less points they lost viable quantities to continue with that product line.

MOTAT in Auckland just installed dual gauge points manufactured by PRAŽSKÁ STROJÍRNA in Prague. 

Mal Rowe - who visited the D&B plant as a guest of Dave Hinman

Re: [TramsDownUnder] Re: Age: First look at the roomy new tram coming to Melbourne’s network

On 20/10/2025 16:21, 'TP' via TramsDownUnder wrote:
> I know Melbourne very well, but admit to being unacquainted with
> development in the last couple of decades.

The big issue is that in the busiest tram streets in the CBD (Swanston
St and Elizabeth St) the block size means that only one '30 metre plus'
tram at a time can be in a stop.

That would mean very slow journeys through what is already the slowest
section of north-south routes.

Flinders St, Collins St and Bourke St can handle more trams because the
block lengths are longer.

William St copes because it usually only has one route (58) in it.

Elizabeth St has congestion at the stub terminus - not easily changed
because there are large brick arched drains just below asphalt level on
both side of the tramway at Flinders St. That is compounded by the D2s -
as long trams.

Mal Rowe amateur geographer

Re: [TramsDownUnder] Hills Car 24

A great restoration which won the Bill Kingsley award for achievement at the recent conference of the tramway museums of Australasia.

Mal Rowe - impressed

On 19/10/2025 23:29, Kiwi Sand Pounder wrote:

Hi All,

I just found and joined this group so I'm sorry if this is out of line (get the joke ;) ) of me but I have some exciting news for y'all being Tram Enthusiasts like myself.

Hills Car #24 has officially finished it's beautiful restoration! The Tramway Heritage Society had the unveiling ceremony on Saturday so expect to see her on the Christchurch Loop on sunny days.

Even had a Gentleman making a speech who was given the chance as an 11 year old to operate her, you could see the inner kid come out as he spoke about a moment that outlasted Boon & Company's handiwork.

Sadly since it's been restored to a state fit for tourists, there is some modifications that have been made, E-Brakes and the like, but in the name of safety they had to be made.

I've got photos from the ceremony and videos if it's so desired.

KiwiSandPounder

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Re: [TramsDownUnder] Re: Age: First look at the roomy new tram coming to Melbourne’s network

The main issue with the Es was that they were too big for most services.

They are a great tram doing a great job on the routes they are deployed on, but too big for many other routes for various reasons including tram stop length required and volume of traffic.

Their deployment on the low traffic LaTrobe St shuttle is evidence that they didn't have anywhere else to use them.

Perhaps with extra Es being deployed on Port Melbourne services some C1s will end up on LaTrobe St?

The Es are an excellent design and the G class will hopefully repeat the achievement.

The G class battery addresses the power issue (which is about start up surge, not overall consumption).

Agree with TP that the fixed truck in the short centre section on the G, allowing a wider aisle, is a good design.

However, the front doorway leading to a narrow aisle may cause congestion there.

Mal Rowe who uses these trams as well as reviewing them

On 19/10/2025 08:50, 'TP' via TramsDownUnder wrote:

I think there were issues with the E class, including aisle width, weight and power consumption. That's why they changed to a new design.

Tony P

On Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 07:54:31 UTC+11 David McLoughlin wrote:

The Age said:

>  The first new tram to operate in Melbourne for over a decade will roll through the city's inner-west later this year as part of a testing program now underway.

The most recent new tram was delivered in 2021, so hardly "over a decade",  though far too long a gap from then till now,. and there should have been many more Es.

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Elizabeth and Victoria St 16th of October

Trackwork at the Victoria St Elizabeth St intersection in Melbourne is
now complete and work is progressing on platform stops and roadways.

First pic shows the temporary terminus just South of the Haymarket stop
for North Coburg trams.

Second pic shows the temporary terminus for West Maribyrnong trams in
Victoria St, west of Peel St.  You can clearly see the temporary
crossover and overhead.

Third pic shows the new track. looking west across the intersection. 
Crossovers are provided in Victoria St on each side of the intersection.

The slight kink visible in the track is due to the tramway track centres
returning to normal spacing after leaving the wide track centres to
accommodate a central platform stop just east of Eleizabeth St (behind
the camera).

Fourth pic shows a route 59 tram - back in Peel St after nearly 90 years
running in Elizabeth St.

Mal Rowe - who had a shorter walk to catch the tram home after the TDU
dinner.

COTMA in Brisbane

The COTMA conference in Brisbane concluded yesterday with a bit of self indulgence by participants driving Brisbane trams at the Brisbane Tramway Museum.

Class leader and last car of the striking FM cars are seen here at th

e terminus.

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Mal Rowe - AU

Re-railing

The Melbourne tram recovery teams have always been good at re-railing trams.

They practised their skills at the old per-way yard at South Melbourne
depot and were always keen to show off to visitors.

The attached pic is an example.

Mal Rowe - who has watched them at work in more recent times

Fwd: [TramsDownUnder] Re: Brisbane tram, 1968, withdrawn dropcentre trains

681202M-04W - Milton Workshops (Brisbane, Queensland) - withdrawn
dropcentre trams.  Roderick Smith.


Roderick

Re: [TramsDownUnder] Work well underway on Wattle Park iconic trams

The two trams are 777 and 746.

Mal Rowe - attaching a pic of 746 when it was on loan from Brunswick for the race traffic at Moonee Valley a few years back.

On 05/10/2025 13:26, 'Malcolm Miles' via TramsDownUnder wrote:

"Wattle Park's love affair with trams is set to roll on as two iconic heritage trams are being given a second lease on life as unique picnic shelters for families to enjoy when visiting the park. The new tram-shaped picnic shelters form part of Parks Victoria's Wattle Park upgrades. The two new W-Class tram-shaped picnic shelters will replace the park's existing tram shelters which have been damaged by vandalism."

 

"Tram-shaped" being the operative word here. Looking at the photos, there doesn't appear to be much original left of SW5 777. Does anyone know which other tram is being turned into a "unique picnic shelter"?

 

All aboard! Work well underway on Wattle Park iconic trams

 

Best wishes,

Malcolm

 

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Re: [TramsDownUnder] Four B2s fitted with Keipe traction equipment

If you mean the general refurb then it is complete on all  B class.

A couple of obvious markers are the LED headlights and the absence of steps in the panel benihind the driver cab on the o=ffs ide (except for the notch at roofline. See attached pic.

If you mean the TCU upgrade I don't know but would not expect anything visible or audible to the public.

Mal Rowe - not sad if the Bs last a bit longer.

On 04/10/2025 20:01, Alan Cooper wrote:

Is there any visible (audible?) means of identifying which cars have been overhauled in this way?

On Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 7:02:19 PM UTC+10 Mal Rowe wrote:

The decision about life extension was made 8 years ago when it was decided to do life extension refurbishment of the B class.

That is complete. 

The current issue is the lack of availability of key electrical / electronic components in the traction control units.

The Kiepe people have seemingly solved that.  I think they may have done the upgrades for the Lisbon heritage tram fleet.

The Bs will probably be gone in five years or so - perhaps later- but they need to be operational for that time.

Mal Rowe 

On 03/10/2025 18:32, 'TP' via TramsDownUnder wrote:

Usually that sort of life-prolongation work is not done at that age unless a low floor section is included. Shows how much they care about accessibility.

Tony P

On Friday, 3 October 2025 at 11:48:48 UTC+10 Matthew Geier wrote:

Well the B2s are not going anywhere soon then. You wouldn't spent that kind of money unless you plan to get at least another 15 years or more out of them.

On 3/10/25 01:04, brian_weedon via TramsDownUnder wrote:

From https://www.linkedin.com/company/yarratrams/posts/

 

B2 Class trams have been the workhorses of Melbourne's network since the mid-1980s. But as time passes, sourcing original parts like the traction system that powers them has become increasingly challenging.

Yarra Trams, in partnership with local supplier TTM Rail and international technology partner KIEPE, has developed a modern traction system to extend the service life of the B2 fleet. After months of rigorous testing, the new technology is now in passenger trials on up to four trams, which will be progressively introduced into service until the end of the year.

For passengers, the experience is deliberately seamless - the ride feels just like any other B2. Behind the scenes, though, the upgrade is delivering big improvements: operating more efficiently, powerfully and reliably, while proving it can handle everything Melbourne's network throws at it.

The extremely complex traction system upgrade project has been a labour of love for many of Yarra Trams' dedicated engineers, rolling stock maintainers, and drivers. Congratulations and thanks to the teams at Yarra Trams, the Department of Transport and Planning, TTM and Kiepe!

 There are photos of one of the trams being tested. It is B2 2057.

 

Brian Weedon

 

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Re: [TramsDownUnder] Four B2s fitted with Keipe traction equipment

The decision about life extension was made 8 years ago when it was decided to do life extension refurbishment of the B class.

That is complete. 

The current issue is the lack of availability of key electrical / electronic components in the traction control units.

The Kiepe people have seemingly solved that.  I think they may have done the upgrades for the Lisbon heritage tram fleet.

The Bs will probably be gone in five years or so - perhaps later- but they need to be operational for that time.

Mal Rowe 

On 03/10/2025 18:32, 'TP' via TramsDownUnder wrote:

Usually that sort of life-prolongation work is not done at that age unless a low floor section is included. Shows how much they care about accessibility.

Tony P

On Friday, 3 October 2025 at 11:48:48 UTC+10 Matthew Geier wrote:

Well the B2s are not going anywhere soon then. You wouldn't spent that kind of money unless you plan to get at least another 15 years or more out of them.

On 3/10/25 01:04, brian_weedon via TramsDownUnder wrote:

From https://www.linkedin.com/company/yarratrams/posts/

 

B2 Class trams have been the workhorses of Melbourne's network since the mid-1980s. But as time passes, sourcing original parts like the traction system that powers them has become increasingly challenging.

Yarra Trams, in partnership with local supplier TTM Rail and international technology partner KIEPE, has developed a modern traction system to extend the service life of the B2 fleet. After months of rigorous testing, the new technology is now in passenger trials on up to four trams, which will be progressively introduced into service until the end of the year.

For passengers, the experience is deliberately seamless - the ride feels just like any other B2. Behind the scenes, though, the upgrade is delivering big improvements: operating more efficiently, powerfully and reliably, while proving it can handle everything Melbourne's network throws at it.

The extremely complex traction system upgrade project has been a labour of love for many of Yarra Trams' dedicated engineers, rolling stock maintainers, and drivers. Congratulations and thanks to the teams at Yarra Trams, the Department of Transport and Planning, TTM and Kiepe!

 There are photos of one of the trams being tested. It is B2 2057.

 

Brian Weedon

 

Victoria St and Elizabeth St

Victoria St and Elizabeth St will be closed from 8pm Monday 8th of
October until 4:30am Monday 27th.

The photo is a 'now shot' showing some of the road markings.

The map shows the complete relay of the tramway junction including the
two temporary crossovers that will allow termination of Coburg and West
Maribyrnong trams.  There will be no replacement buses to the city
terminii - passengers can walk to Swanston St or Peel St trams.

Note the new platform stop in Victoria St west of Elizabeth St. That
will be needed to allow passengers for Vic Market to get on and off at
the market on trams that are through routed to Swanston St. when the
work is complete.

Note also the new Transport Victoria at the bottom of the map.

PTV (Public Transport Victoria) is no longer a separate entity.

Mal Rowe who will take the original rout of the Essendon trams into the city