Steam Tram coming to Loftus

[marknewton]

On Sunday 30th July the Sydney Tramway Museum will be hosting a special event to commemorate 80 years since the closure of the Kogarah steam tramway and it's replacement with trolleybuses. On display we'll have the only surviving Kogarah trolleybus, and a very special guest exhibit, Sydney steam tram motor No.1A.

 

https://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au

 

1A belongs to the Powehouse Museum, and they've generously loaned it to us for six months. After that it will return to storage at Castle Hill. So if you get the chance, come on down to Loftus on Sunday and see something truly unique.

 

(Sorry for the late notice of this event, but we only received final confirmation of the loan and approval from the rail regulator this week!)

All the best,

 

Mark.

Edited July 28, 2017 by marknewton

[velotrain]

I trust you mean 30th July, or this is indeed very late notice ;-)

[marknewton]

Oops. :(

 

Yes, 30th July - this coming Sunday.

 

Thanks,

 

Mark.

[marknewton]

1A arrived at Loftus this afternoon just after 3.00pm, and was soon unloaded. The trailer it travelled on belongs to a Museum member, and is equipped with rails on the deck to accommodate railway and tramway vehicles. Once 1A was off the truck it was shunted into the display hall in a complex move, using ballast motor 99U, O car 1111 and C car 29. It was placed nearest the entry to the display hall on 8 road, so it willl be the first thing visitors see when they walk in.

 

The plan for Saturday is to refit some parts that were removed for transport such as roof fittings and the plough lifeguards and trip gates, and then clean her up. More photos tomorrow.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

 

 

 

(L to R) The steam team: Bill, Ralph, Craig, Dave, Bryce, Andrew, Martin and Scott.

 

(Photo courtesy of Bryce Pender)

Edited July 28, 2017 by marknewton

[marknewton]

Once the tram motor had all it's fitting replaced, it was the trolleybuses turn for some attention. We carefully towed it out of the display hall with the Matador so it could have a thorough wash and tidy-up. So now everything is ready for the big day tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to it! :)

 

Some photos from today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

Edited July 29, 2017 by marknewton

[brill27mcb]

Mark, is that a rubber-tired transfer table that the trolley-bus is on?

 

Rich K.

[velotrain]

It looks like yes, with the combo wheel in the foreground (of the last photo) perhaps involved in the tracking.

 

There appear to be (possibly multiple gauge) recessed rails on the table itself.

[marknewton]

No Rich, they're steel wheels with double flanges. The wheel treads are just a bit rusty as it hasn't been used for a couple of weeks.

 

Charles, there are four gauges on the traverser. Metre, 3'6", standard and 5'3".

 

I didn't manage to get many photos on Sunday as I was fairly busy, but here's one that shows Craig and I with the stars of the show. We ran 5 Sydney cars with capacity loads on all trips through the day, so the event was very attended. Next on the agenda - renew 1As boiler ticket and run her in traffic! :)

 

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

Edited July 31, 2017 by marknewton