The only working Kitson steam tram in the world

[ED75-775]

In my spare time, when I'm not working or thinking about trains, I volunteer with the Tramway Historical Society at Ferrymead Heritage Park in Christchurch either as a tram motorman (driver) or sometimes working on our collection of motor and trolley buses (which would be right up @JR 500系's alley... dare I tempt?😉). One of the biggest gems in our collection though is one of only three surviving Kitson-built steam tram engines anywhere in the world. What makes ours so special is that it's the only standard gauge (1435mm) example left, and it's also the only one that goes.

 

 

The Christchurch Tramway Company brought eight of these engines, five in 1879 and the remaining three in 1881 - including our engine. For some reason one was scrapped in 1893 when its original boiler gave out - we have no idea why it wasn't given a new boiler like its sisters - but the remaining seven lasted until electrification of the tramway network by the Christchurch Transport Board in 1905. From then on, they spent time in track construction and maintenance as well as shunting duties, but eventually six of the seven would be scrapped with the first to go in 1925 and the last two in 1952. The last one, No. 7 or 'Kitty' as we affectionately call her, was put aside for preservation and later passed to the THS after an abortive attempt to build a transport museum in eastern Christchurch failed.

 

The engine itself was returned to service in October after a five-year overhaul during which the worn-out boiler (built in 1928) was replaced with another of similar vintage which had been rebuilt and originally come from sister No. 6 which had been broken up in 1952. The valves and valve gear were also reset which has made a huge difference to this engine as it doesn't have the weird 'double-chuff' sound, or, as one former Society president called it, the 'shagged duck' sound. It now runs and sounds much sweeter than it did before!

 

 

 

No. 7 holds a special place in my heart, not only because I've conducted behind her on any number of occasions, but because she's also the first steam locomotive I've ever driven IRL which happened in 2016 during a Volunteer Drive event. I then learned the hard way just how powerful steam is, because giving the Kitson too much steam from the combined regulator-brake handle makes her take off like a little rocket! That earned me a stern rebuke from the tram's then-minder that it wasn't a racing car - I took that on board and did much better on the run back!

 

Regardless, she's a wonderful old engine. If you're ever in Christchurch, she's usually in steam on the first Sunday of each month for 'Ferrymead Alive' (not the marketing peoples' best, I know...) or occasionally for special events or charters.

And what of the other two Kitsons? They went to the three-foot gauge Portstewart Tramway, one in 1882 and the other in 1897. They're both now permanently 'stuffed and mounted' in museums, 1882-built No. 1 is in the Streetlife Museum of Transport in Hull, while 1897-built No. 2 is in the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum in Cultra, Northern Ireland.

 

Alastair

[Firsttimegamer500]

This is awesome, if you have any more information on this I would love to know, I recently learned that Barrow-in-Furness, in the UK had a tram company that used Kitson and Company Trams so seeing one in action is really awesome! 

[bill937ca]

Steam trams are rare, let alone working steam trams.  Another working steam tram is in Bern, Switzerland.

 

 

 

[Firsttimegamer500]

Awesome Thank you for what you provided.

[Firsttimegamer500]

I did a quick google search for Steam Tram and Found Your No. 7 the one in Switzerland, and one in Australia 

 

[Firsttimegamer500]

Found a Few more

Albeit they are very rare, I am certainly happy they exist nonetheless.

Edited April 9 by Firsttimegamer500

[Gunzel]

@Firsttimegamer500 I think your Australian one is actually in New Zealand (it spent the first twenty years of its life in Sydney and then was used in New Zealand, and it's now preserved in the MOTAT museum in Auckland). There's also a working Purrey steam tram in the Archer Park Rail Museum in Rockhampton, a regional centre in Queensland, Australia.

[SL-san]

6 hours ago, Firsttimegamer500 said:

one in Australia 

While the one you quoted is in New Zealand, ex-Sydney Steam Tram Motor 103A has been restored and with Tram Car 93B runs under steam on a short track at the Valley Heights Museum near Sydney.

 

I gave myself a challenge and scratch built a powered N Scale model of the Motor an a couple of trailers.

[ED75-775]

Yep, as mentioned by @Gunzel and @SL-san, ex-Sydney steam tram 100 is in fact preserved at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in Auckland, New Zealand. It's had a long and storied life, having moved to New Zealand in 1910 for use constructing the Gonville to Castlecliff tram line in Wanganui (old spelling) after which point it stayed, mostly in storage although it did come out and run a regular tramway service in 1920 for a little under two months. It almost went back to Australia for preservation in 1955 but for the cost of shipping, at which point two of MOTAT's founders rescued it. There's an excellent book about it which I recommend!

 

Back across the ditch there are two Sydney sisters in preservation, 103A at the Valley Heights Roundhouse Museum and '1A' at the Sydney Tramway Museum, although it's thought to actually be locally-built 28A masquerading as 1A since the latter was reputedly in pretty poor shape when it came out of service. Although I've seen that engine, I'm not expert enough to know what I'm looking for on it to confirm its identity. Perhaps @marknewton can help, he's a volunteer there!

 

And meanwhile back here in New Zealand, there 'is' the remains of a second Kitson hanging onto life precariously somewhere in Northland. The frames and wheelsets of a Kitson engine formerly used in Dunedin are preserved as an incomplete static display. I've seen photos of it on a Facebook group, but haven't been able to find them since.

 

Alastair

[SL-san]

14 hours ago, ED75-775 said:

'1A' at the Sydney Tramway Museum, although it's thought to actually be locally-built 28A masquerading as 1A since the latter was reputedly in pretty poor shape

1A is at the Castle Hill Discovery Centre an outpost of the Powerhouse Museum. https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/214923

 

Graeme

[marknewton]

On 4/10/2024 at 11:24 PM, ED75-775 said:

'1A' at the Sydney Tramway Museum, although it's thought to actually be locally-built 28A masquerading as 1A since the latter was reputedly in pretty poor shape when it came out of service. Although I've seen that engine, I'm not expert enough to know what I'm looking for on it to confirm its identity. Perhaps @marknewton can help, he's a volunteer there!

That’s correct, the motor is 28A, built by Henry Vale and Company. It’s identity was confirmed by both Frank Moag and Bruce McDonald, two steam tram historians/preservationists who were closely involved with all three surviving Sydney tram motors. 

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[marknewton]

On 4/11/2024 at 2:13 PM, SL-san said:

1A is at the Castle Hill Discovery Centre an outpost of the Powerhouse Museum. https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/214923

28A/1A hasn’t been at Castle Hill since 2017. It came down to Loftus on a “six-month loan” so it could be displayed alongside Kogarah trolleybus No.19 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the closure of the Kogarah-Sans Souci steam tramway. 
 

With trolleybus 19, Craig Parkinson and I in 2017. Craig is a specialist heavy haulage contractor - he was responsible for transporting 28A from Castle Hill to Loftus.

 

With my son Harry and I for the Edwardian Day in 2019.

 

With my son Harry after being cleaned in preparation for the International Tram Day in 2023.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

Edited April 13 by marknewton

[marknewton]

On 4/10/2024 at 11:24 PM, ED75-775 said:

It almost went back to Australia for preservation in 1955 but for the cost of shipping, at which point two of MOTAT's founders rescued it. There's an excellent book about it which I recommend!

As the title says, it’s a wonderful story. When No.100 was returned to service in 1996 I was invited over from Sydney to represent the Steam Tram & Railway Preservation Society at the relaunch ceremony. I had the great privilege to spend the day on 100 as guest fireman. I brought copies of the scale drawings of the tram motors I’d been working on to give to Bruce Gamble. They’re reproduced on page 61 of the book.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

Edited April 13 by marknewton