A ride on a G class

It was my privilege to be invited to visit the new Maidstone depot and workshops on Sunday evening and to have my first short ride on  G class tram. Thanks to Transport Victoria a group of people who share tram stories on social media were hosted by TfV and Alstom. We had a ride on 7006 from the stabling tracks to the workshops and back as route "59A". Pics attached show the car on stabling track 13 and a 'gaggle of gunzels' capturing the moment as the tram passed through  remnant trees and shrubs between the stabling yard and the workshops. This is a seriously nice tram depot with its own parkland. In the background of the first pic you can see the 15 metre high fence (top part transparent) that acts as a sound barrier between the 24/7 depot and neighbours. The G class is a fine tramcar, with several improvements made on the basis of experience with the E class. There are 7 trams at Maidstone with another (7008) due to arrive this week. Public operation as extra services within the timetabled services is said to be imminent. Mal Rowe very impressed