Will trams return?

The proposed introduction of a light rail system, similar to the trams of yesteryear, has prompted many memories of the days when trams provided the major means of transportation in Sydney.

Trams were first introduced in Sydney in 1879 with various improvements over the years until the State Government ordered their removal in 1961. The final runs in that year were attended by huge crowds to farewell a system which had overseen major changes to the city of Sydney.

There were many variations of trams – the horse drawn, the steam, the toast racks with the hard seats, the corridor type with the soft leather-padded seats – all added to the glamour of travel and competition was often fierce among the drivers. In fact, the expression ‘shooting through like a Bondi tram’ came from just such competition as drivers battled to be first to a particular point on their express trams.

Horse-drawn trams operated in the city’s Pitt Street for a short period before steam trams took over in Elizabeth Street in 1866 and the first line from Devonshire Street (Sydney’s original railway station) to Hunter Street was started in 1879.

Because the tram tracks were laid in the middle of the road, special boarding areas were created for passengers on the road, producing problems for horse-drawn carriages and then motorists with traffic confusion and congestion often the result.

But there was little argument about the capacity of trams to move the public. The toast racks types, each with eight compartments seating ten and standing ten, were capable of carrying more than 150 passengers. A double tram would take the loading to more than 300, far greater than today’s buses which are generally capable of carrying an average of 70 passengers.

The trams, after their successful city introduction, were then extended to various suburbs including tracks on the Sydney Harbour Bridge to service the north side. They were used to take spectators to major sporting events at such venues as the Sydney Cricket Ground, Randwick races, the Royal Easter Show, Taronga Zoo and the beaches.

In the early days, the only concern for the trams and their passengers was other modes of traffic. It was simple to walk to the passenger zones and board without worrying about dodging cars, while timetables were generally adhered to because of the lack of traffic lights. Nowadays, with traffic lights on nearly every corner and a non-stop stream of motor vehicles, it could be a far more time consuming journey and a need to be aware when boarding or alighting.

The old toast rack trams with their hard seats had other interesting features. The conductor would need to be able to balance himself on the running board on the outside of the tram while collecting fares and giving tickets in return while members of the younger generation would show their skill by their ability to hop on and hop off while the tram was in motion.

Paper boys would also use the running board to sell their editions as workers made their way home. There was a big network in the city with the busiest area located at Circular Quay for trams from the eastern, southern and western suburbs to pick up or drop off ferry passengers. In addition, Bennelong Point was a major depot until the service was terminated to accommodate the world-famous Opera House.

The expansion to the suburbs allowed residents to make regular visits to the city for shopping, entertainment or just lunching with friends, and helped tourists have better access to prime attractions. North of the harbour brought North Sydney, Chatswood, Ryde, Neutral Bay, Mosman and Cremorne into the loop as well as extending to Manly and Narrabeen.

Sydney was not the only city to have a tram network. In NSW, Newcastle, Broken Hill and Maitland also operated trams while interstate, every major capital had its own network. A visit to Melbourne will enable prospective passengers to ride to most suburbs by tram, complemented by a bus and train service.

In Sydney, the suburb of Loftus hosts the Sydney Tramway Museum while Bendigo in Victoria also has a major tram museum. Following the introduction of the controversial Monorail system around the central city area, the NSW Government re- introduced a light rail system in 1997, after an absence of more than 50 years. The new service began operating from Central Railway to Wentworth Park and was later extended to the suburb of Lilyfield.

A number of Sydney councils are now examining the possibility of introducing a light rail system to improve transport facilities. Studies are being made of modern, space-age trams which operate in overseas countries, capable of carrying passengers in comfort and with less of the problems incurred when trams first started.

The last trams to officially run in Sydney were the services on 25 February 1961 to La Perouse and Maroubra Junction, jammed with passengers and watched by thousands. Many of the tram fleet were scrapped and burned, some were used as sheds, some were made into motels in country centres, others were donated to museums while others were sold overseas.

Sydney originally had the privilege of having one of the largest tram services in the world with up to 1,500 trams in operation to more than 70 suburbs and carrying more than one million people daily. With a city now boasting more than four million people, a transport service to capably handle such a big population is an essential part of life.

Can the residents of Sydney now look forward to a ‘return to the future?’

Article extracted from Freemason magazine, September 2013, pages 8 and 9.