Yarloop Steam Workshops

One of the joys of Australia is the many localmuseums that contain machinery manufactured in the UK. Yarloop Workshops maintained steam locos and other machinery for the logging industry until 1978. It was then left to gather dust for several years and is now a static museum except that some machinery is steamed once a month.
A gigantic wheel lathe and then the name 'Tangyes' reminded me of the TMS's wheel lathe. Is is still stored at Clay Cross I wonder?

I wonder what the risk assessment would be for this unguarded portable circular saw. However its operator lived to be 77 so it can't have been as leathal as it looks.

Replica Sydney steam tram

This replica Sydney steam tram is at Yarloop Steam Workshops about 100 kms south of Perth, WA.

Pemberton railway

There are two steam engines at Pemberton, both built in the UK, in 1955 and 1911 respectively.

The final picture shows Pemberton station with the entire tram fleet on the left and the more modern steam engine on the right.

Pemberton tramway?

The Pemberton tramway runs southwards on the track of a former railway branch line from Pemberton in WA towards Northcliffe through magnificent woodland. It runs diesel powered 'trams' and has been running for about 25 years. It has tressle and plank bridges and also two woodland walks but these are much more arduous than the one at Crich.

There also used to be steam excursions northwards over another section of the line but these ceased in 2006.

Adelaide 3

One of the H Class bogie cars that ran to Glenelg until 2006. Three of these were fitted with chopper control and it was intended to run them at weekends alongside the new cars but this has been discontinued. Will this happen in Blackpool? I think so.

Adelaide 2

A Flexity approaching Glenelg terminus.
Most of Adelaide's new trams have all over advertising.

Alsthom Citadis and Bombardier Flexity side by side.

The economics of the new extension escape me as it is entirely within the city centre free fare zone so the conductors ride on the tram but don't collect any fares. The local paper also had screaming headlines about a Citadis running with a defective speedo because of time taken to ship spares from France.

Adelaide 1

When the Adelaide tramways closed one route to Glenelg survived because it used a former railway alignment for most of the way. Large bogie cars built in the late 1920s were used, often running in pairs. In the last few years it has been extended twice and all the trams have been replaced.
The first three pictures show the most recent extension to Entertainment Centre and Bombardier Flexity trams which were deliverednew in 2006.

Six second hand Citadis trams were acquired from Madrid to provide extra capacity for the extension. This one is seen at Glenelg.

The Leonora Tramway (2)

The Leonora Tramway (1)

These pictures were taken at Leonora Gwalia Historical Museum. Gwalia was the site of a gold mine 4 km south of the outback town of Leonora, 230 km north of Kalgoorlie. The mine closed in 1963 and Gwalia was abandoned. More recently the former mine buildings have been used to accomodate a very comprehensive museum including the body Leonora's only electric tram which is in remarkably good condition. The museum has plans to restore the body as a static exhibit. http://www.gwalia.org.au/

Kalgoorlie tram

This Kalgoorlie tram body is sitting outside the town's museum which concentrates on mining. According to the staff there was insufficient support for a local restoration project and they think that it is going to be moved to Perth.

Earthquake in Christchurch

This morning in Western Australia we heard the news of another terrible earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. I am sure that all readers of this blog will join me in sending our comiserations and best wishes to the people of Christchurch.

I have now received good new from COTMA in Australia via Crewe.
'So far no known deaths amongst the employees and volunteers or their families of both the tramways but not all news is in.
Sadly some have suffered significant damage to their homes.
No doubt some have suffered injuries.
The Christchurch City Depot has suffered some damage, mainly broken windows from the building next door.
The city tram rollingstock has not been damaged, but three cars are stranded in the streets (some of the newspapers web photos have shown this) and it is likely it will be some time before they can get back to the depot due to the streets being closed to all other than to emergency crews.'


The depots and trams at Ferrymead have also sustained minor damage.

Goodbye St Kilda

Both the driver and conductor have visited Crich in the past and send their best wishes to all TMS members.

St Kilda (5)

This is the current restoration project. During WW II some 4 wheel motor trams were permanently coupled to combat the shortage of staff. All axles were still powered but the service brake was a hand brake on the leading car only. When restored it (they?) will have air brakes.