Trams in Brisbane
Encyclopedia
The Brisbane tramway network once served Brisbane
, the capital city
of Queensland
, Australia
. It operated between 1885 and 1969 and ran on standard gauge
track. The electric system was originally energised to 500 volts, and subsequently increased to 600 volts. All tramcars built in Brisbane
up to 1938 had an open design. This proved so popular, especially on hot summer nights, that the trams were used as fundraisers and often chartered right up until the last service by social groups.
Most trams operated with a two person crew - a driver (or motorman
) and a conductor, who moved about the tram collecting fares and issuing tickets. The exceptions to this arrangement were on the Gardens line (Lower Edward Street) where the short duration of the trip meant it was more effective for passengers to simply drop their fare into a fare box as they entered the tram; and the "one man cars" which operated in the early 1930s (see below).
The peak year for patronage was in 1944-45 when almost 160 million passengers were carried. The system route length reached its maximum extent of 109 kilometres in 1952. The total track length was 199 kilometres, owing to many routes ending in single, rather than double, track. Single track segments of the track were protected by signalling which operated off the trolley wire. By 1959 more than 140 kilometres of track were laid in concrete, a method of track construction pioneered in Brisbane.
The last track opened was in O'Keefe Street Woolloongabba
, in May 1961. However, this track was not used in normal passenger service and was merely used to reduce dead running from Logan Road
back to Ipswich Road Depot.
Of the Australian capital cities which closed their networks between the 1950s and 1970s (only Melbourne
and Adelaide
retained trams, although Adelaide only had one line in operation), Brisbane was the last capital city to shut down its trams. Despite the decision to shut down the network, the city's trams were held with great affection by locals. There have been ongoing proposals since the early 1990s to reinstate a functional tram network.
By 1885 an omnibus service reached almost every part of Brisbane. Omnibuses consisted of a strongly constructed wooden wagon with seating for males on the roof and a back-door entrance to the interior.
s the horse-drawn tramway services saw large drops in patronage.
on 16 June 1897. Horse-drawn carriages were still being used in 1899. Up until the end of World War I, Brisbane's trams were the primary method used for travelling within the city.
Between 1923 and 1934 tram services in Brisbane were greatly expanded.
in 1925.
Through the 1940s and 1950s the tram system enjoyed strong political support within the Brisbane City Council, which continued to expand the tram network and upgrade its fleet with some of the most advanced trams in Australia. Until 1934, the trams carried mail to and from suburban post offices to the GPO in the city and they acted as mail boxes. Trolleybus
es were introduced in 1955. The last tramway to open was in March 1961. Clem Jones
became Lord Mayor of Brisbane the same year and all new route construction was cancelled.
Political support for the tram system waned in the 1960s, particularly so after the Paddington tram depot fire
on 28 September 1962. 67 trams were destroyed, which represented 20% of the entire fleet. Brisbane's Lord Mayor Alderman Clem Jones
(1961–1974) was unashamedly pro-freeway and private car. The Kalinga, Toowong, Rainworth and Bulimba Ferry routes closed in December 1962.
throughout the English-speaking world
, Brisbane converted its remaining tram lines between 1968 and 1969 to all bus operation. The last trolley buses ran on 13 March 1969 and the final trams ran on 13 April 1969.
Most older, wooden trams were stripped of metal parts and then burnt at the City Council's yard at Cribb Street Milton (adjacent to the tramway workshops). The bodies of later, all-metal cars were sold as sheds and playground equipment.
was formed in 1968 to preserve some of Brisbane's trams. At present the Museum has 24 Brisbane trams in its collection. Tramway operations commenced at the museum at Ferny Grove
in 1980.
These various proposed options included a line from Roma Street station
to Queensland University of Technology
CBD campus along George Street, CBD to West End and University of Queensland via Victoria Bridge and Melbourne Street and CBD to Fortitude Valley via Wickham Terrace.
campaigned on a more comprehensive plan. However by June 2008 progress had stalled, without an official project announcement, the Brisbane City Council once again distancing itself from the plan due to cost of the investment (estimated at $600 million for the New Farm link) and instead giving consideration of diverting the funds to enhancing the bus and CityCat ferry systems.
Currently a Queensland Parliament E-Petition
is underway requesting the Queensland Government to introduce a 'tram style light rail system in Brisbane with a special focus on moving people around the city and to Brisbane’s major universities'.
), preferring instead to use official descriptions, such as "standard centre aisle car", or "drop-centre saloon car".
Officially referred to as "Standard Combination" trams, but more popularly referred to as "matchboxes". There were 63 trams in this class, built between 1897 and 1904, with the last one withdrawn from passenger service in 1952. Two, (nos 14 and 15), were converted into "scrubber" cars (track maintenance cars). Several were used as advertising cars, with 47 and 53 being used as one man cars on the Gardens shuttle route (see below). Tram No 1, the prototype, was unusual as it was built from the body of a horse tram and had 5 saloon windows, instead of the usual 4 windows.
Each tram in this class was constructed by joining two single deck saloon horse trams together on a single motorised chassis. Their long, enclosed bodies gave rise to their nickname of "coffin cars". They were built in 1897, when delivery of new electric trams was delayed. 6 cars in this class. They were all withdrawn from service by 1930.
The 6 bench horse trams were motorised and later most were lengthened to accommodate 10 cross benches. One car was to remain in service until 1958 as an advertising car.
These 20 cars were officially "bogie open tip-over cross-bench cars". They were a standard design tram built by J. G. Brill and Company of Philadelphia, although two were built by the Brisbane Tramways Company, presumably under licence from the Brill Company. They each had 4 fixed back-to-back benches and 8 tip-over benches. The first 8 had clerestory roofs, the remainder had plain roofs. The first 8 were also fitted with couplings for trailers, but the trailers were eventually motorised (see "light twelve bench cars" below.) As these trams only had hand brakes, operating a coupled set was physically demanding on drivers. In later years these workhorses were very dilapidated and had diagonal cross bracing on each bulkhead to reduce body sway. One tram was involved in a bad accident in 1944 and was converted to centre aisle design (see Special Dreadnoughts). They were gradually withdrawn from service between 1937 and 1952.
There were 32 of these sturdy little single truck trams constructed in Brisbane. 28 were built by the Brisbane Tramways Company between 1907 and 1921 and a further 4 were built by the Brisbane Tramways Trust between 1923 and 1925. They had fixed, back-to-back bench seating carrying 50 seated passengers (plus standees). They were commonly called "toastracks" or "jumping jacks". In 1936 4 of these cars were converted to Baby Dreadnoughts (see below); another two were converted to this class in 1944. Apart from one car converted to an advertising car and another retained for historical purposes, they were all withdrawn from service between 1952 and 1955.
Officially referred to as standard centre-aisle trams, 65 trams in this class built between 1908 and 1925. These trams could carry 90 passengers. The last 21, which were built for the Brisbane Tramways Trust between 1924 and 1925, had 12 windows, remainder built with 6 windows. Originally they were built with open end platforms, but these were enclosed in the 1930s. Some received "streamlining" with oval windows and skirting around their bogies. The attached picture illustrates the differences between various members of this class. The tram in the foreground is a 12 window Dreadnought (built by the Tramways Trust), still with seats on its end platforms and no streamlining. The tram ahead of it is an older, 6 window Dreadnought (built by the Tramways Company), but with its end seats removed and streamlining around its windows and skirting below the body of the tram.
Known as "big Lizzie", also sometimes referred to as a "New York type tram", tram 301 was intended to be the first of a fleet of inter-urban trams. It was built by J. G. Brill and Company in 1912 and imported in 1914. It was unusual for a Brill stepless car in that it was partially made of timber, rather than the normal all-metal construction. It was the first fully enclosed tram in Brisbane. Heavy and troubled by poor road clearance, it usually only saw service on the West End - Ascot line and was withdrawn from service in 1935.
Between 1929 and 1930 9 Dreadnoughts were converted to "one man" operation, as a cost saving measure. These trams were operated with drivers only and without conductors. They were only used on the Rainworth and Red Hill
routes. Passengers were required to enter the tram from the front entrance and pay the driver as they entered. For this reason these trams had a distinctive colour scheme which included red and white diamonds on their front aprons. In May 1934 one man operation was abandoned and these trams were repainted in normal colours.
Two combination trams were also converted to one man operation for use on the Gardens
route. The first tram was converted in 1925, the second in 1930.
route. They were built in two batches: the first four in 1936 were converted from 10 bench trams, the last two were built in 1943 using truck from 10 bench trams, making the last two trams in this class the last single truck cars built in Australia. These trams were fitted with special sanders allowing sand to be dropped not only in front, but also behind, their wheels, in case the trams slipped backwards on the steep section of the Spring Hill line. They were withdrawn from service in 1958–1959, one car was preserved.
The most numerous of Brisbane's trams, there were 191 trams of this class built between 1925 and 1938. Officially called "bogie drop centre combination cars", (usually shortened to "dropcentre" or "droppie") these trams' distinctive drop centre compartment was open to the elements, with only canvas blinds to provide protection for passengers in cold or wet weather. Although designed to be operated using airbrakes, most cars in this class were instead built with rheostatic brakes and hand brakes. However, the last 17 cars (Nos 370-386) were built with airbrakes. Subsequently, many of the older cars in this class were retrofitted with airbrakes and had their rheostatic braking systems removed. Early cars were built with open ends (meaning the drivers were unprotected from the elements) but later cars were built with enclosed ends (or "vestibules"). The ends of all the earlier cars of this class were enclosed by 1934. These trams were last used in regular service in December 1968.
Officially referred to as "drop centre saloon cars", or "four motor cars", they were popularly referred to as "400s", "FM's" or "silver bullets". They were the first class of trams built in Brisbane with airbrakes. 155 were constructed by the Brisbane City Council between 1938 and 1964, with a maximum carrying capacity of 110 passengers. Trams 400-472 were built with wide centre doors, 407 was altered to narrow centre doors and renumbered 473 (and the tram to be numbered 473 entered service as 407), trams 474-554 built with narrow centre doors. Through the 28 years during which they were built, many innovations were introduced, such as fluorescent lighting, helical gears, resilient wheels, remote controlled controllers (see tram controls
) and streamlined construction techniques. Early versions had canvas blinds in the doorways, while later versions had sliding doors. The last 8 trams were built from components salvaged from the Paddington tram depot fire
and were painted light blue with phoenix
emblems below the motorman's windows, to symbolise that the trams had risen from the ashes of the fire.
Tram Depots were located at the following places (years of operation in brackets):
Logan Road, Countess Street and Lang Street depots closed in 1927 with the opening of Ipswich Road depot. Ipswich Road and Light Street depots continued to be used as bus depots after the closure of the tram system.
The Brisbane City Council had planned to replace Paddington depot with a new depot on Mount Coot-tha road, Toowong
, however following the destruction of Paddington tram depot in 1962 with the loss of 65 trams, these plans were shelved and a bus depot was developed on the site instead.
Light Street depot: 8 Dreadnoughts, 25 Hand-brake Dropcentres, 35 Air-Brake Dropcentres, 51 Four Motor trams
Paddington depot: 5 Dreadnoughts, 32 Hand-brake Dropcentres, 22 Air-Brake Dropcentres, 40 Four Motor trams
tram drivers (or motormen) and conductors wore a dark blue uniform including a serge
jacket, which was subsequently replaced with a lighter cotton blouson. Until 1961 crews wore foreign legion caps
. In 1967 the blue uniform was replaced with a green one. Inspectors wore a black uniform, with a grey shirt and black cap.
, but ran from suburbs on one side of the city to suburbs on the other. Today, many all-stops bus routes (shown in italics) roughly correspond with the former tram lines.
In 1961 trams ran on the following routes:
Routes which closed prior to 1961 were:
), but in 1927 were relocated to Milton
. Access to the workshops was from Boomerang Street in Milton, off Milton Road. Head Office was accessed from Coronation Drive (then known as River Road).
Power for the electric trams was originally drawn from a power station
operated by the tramway company adjacent to its Countess Street depot and workshops. As the tramway company increased both the number of trams and the length of routes, the power supply rapidly became inadequate. Additional power generating units were installed at Light Street depot and a further powerhouse was built on Logan Road Woolloongabba
, adjacent to the Woolloongabba railway line. Inadequate power supply was to remain a problem while the tramways remained in private hands. With the takeover of the system in 1922 by the Brisbane Tramways Trust (and subsequently the City Council) considerable investment was made in many areas including power generation and distribution. A larger powerhouse
was built in New Farm
which commenced generation in 1928 and was sufficient for both the needs of the tram system and other consumers.
The original Countess street powerhouse was demolished and material from it was used to construct the new Tramways headquarters.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the capital city
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It operated between 1885 and 1969 and ran on standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
track. The electric system was originally energised to 500 volts, and subsequently increased to 600 volts. All tramcars built in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
up to 1938 had an open design. This proved so popular, especially on hot summer nights, that the trams were used as fundraisers and often chartered right up until the last service by social groups.
Most trams operated with a two person crew - a driver (or motorman
Motorman
A motorman is the person who operates an electrified trolley car, tram, light rail, or rapid transit train.The term refers to the person who is in charge of the motor in the same sense as a railroad engineer is in charge of the engine. The term was gender-neutral...
) and a conductor, who moved about the tram collecting fares and issuing tickets. The exceptions to this arrangement were on the Gardens line (Lower Edward Street) where the short duration of the trip meant it was more effective for passengers to simply drop their fare into a fare box as they entered the tram; and the "one man cars" which operated in the early 1930s (see below).
The peak year for patronage was in 1944-45 when almost 160 million passengers were carried. The system route length reached its maximum extent of 109 kilometres in 1952. The total track length was 199 kilometres, owing to many routes ending in single, rather than double, track. Single track segments of the track were protected by signalling which operated off the trolley wire. By 1959 more than 140 kilometres of track were laid in concrete, a method of track construction pioneered in Brisbane.
The last track opened was in O'Keefe Street Woolloongabba
Woolloongabba, Queensland
Woolloongabba is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 4 km south of the Brisbane CBD.Experts are divided regarding the Aboriginal meaning of the name, preferring either 'whirling waters' or 'fight talk place'...
, in May 1961. However, this track was not used in normal passenger service and was merely used to reduce dead running from Logan Road
Logan Road, Brisbane
Logan Road is a major road in Brisbane, Queensland. It runs 16 km from Springwood to Woolloongabba, with most of the route signed as state route 95...
back to Ipswich Road Depot.
Of the Australian capital cities which closed their networks between the 1950s and 1970s (only Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
retained trams, although Adelaide only had one line in operation), Brisbane was the last capital city to shut down its trams. Despite the decision to shut down the network, the city's trams were held with great affection by locals. There have been ongoing proposals since the early 1990s to reinstate a functional tram network.
History
Brisbane developed with no wealthy suburbs, instead the well-off built mansions on hills, and the city expanded to become one of the most dispersed cities in the world by the 1870s. In the early years of Brisbane's settlement walking was the most convenient way to get around as most people choose to live close to their workplace. In 1875 the railway line to Ipswich opened up some areas in western and southern districts, however fares were expensive, as was owning a horse.By 1885 an omnibus service reached almost every part of Brisbane. Omnibuses consisted of a strongly constructed wooden wagon with seating for males on the roof and a back-door entrance to the interior.
Metropolitan Tramway and Investment Company (1885-1896)
In August 1885 the Metropolitan Tramway and Investment Company began official horse-drawn tramway services for the public. The tramcars were imported from the United States and made from cedar and mahogany that was highly polished. Fares were expensive, with the typical patron belonging to the middle class. Some even used the services to go home for lunch. Depression struck in 1893 and combined with 1893 Brisbane flood1893 Brisbane flood
The 1893 Brisbane flood, occasionally referred to as the Great Flood of 1893 or the Black February flood, occurred when the Brisbane River burst its banks on three occasions in February 1893. It is the occurrence of three major floods in the same month that saw the period named "Black February"....
s the horse-drawn tramway services saw large drops in patronage.
Brisbane Tramways Company Limited (1896-1922)
The first electric tramway ran along Stanley Street, in South BrisbaneSouth Brisbane, Queensland
South Brisbane is an inner city suburb of Brisbane, Australia located on the southern bank of the Brisbane River, directly connected to the central business district by the Kurilpa, Victoria and Goodwill bridges....
on 16 June 1897. Horse-drawn carriages were still being used in 1899. Up until the end of World War I, Brisbane's trams were the primary method used for travelling within the city.
Brisbane Tramways Trust (1922-1925)
City of Brisbane (1925-1969)
Brisbane's tramway system became under the control of the City of BrisbaneCity of Brisbane
The City of Brisbane is the Local Government Area that has jurisdiction over the inner portion of the metropolitan area of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
in 1925.
Through the 1940s and 1950s the tram system enjoyed strong political support within the Brisbane City Council, which continued to expand the tram network and upgrade its fleet with some of the most advanced trams in Australia. Until 1934, the trams carried mail to and from suburban post offices to the GPO in the city and they acted as mail boxes. Trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es were introduced in 1955. The last tramway to open was in March 1961. Clem Jones
Clem Jones
Clem Jones AO a surveyor by profession, was the longest serving Lord Mayor of the city of Brisbane, Australia, representing the Australian Labor Party from 1961 to 1975.-Public life:...
became Lord Mayor of Brisbane the same year and all new route construction was cancelled.
Decline of the electric street transport systems
By 1948 Brisbane's trams failed to return a profit as they could not compete with the more efficient bus services. Urban development, often well away from public transport, the rise of suburban shopping centres and the relative decline in the cost of motorcars meant that as elsewhere, Brisbane's public street transport system increasingly had to compete with the private motor car and patronage slowly declined from a post war peak of 148,000,000 passenger journeys in 1946, to approximately 64,000,000 passenger journeys in 1968.Political support for the tram system waned in the 1960s, particularly so after the Paddington tram depot fire
Paddington tram depot fire
The Paddington tram depot in Brisbane, Australia was destroyed by fire on the night of 28 September 1962, one of the largest fires in Brisbane's history. Sixty-five of Brisbane's trams were destroyed...
on 28 September 1962. 67 trams were destroyed, which represented 20% of the entire fleet. Brisbane's Lord Mayor Alderman Clem Jones
Clem Jones
Clem Jones AO a surveyor by profession, was the longest serving Lord Mayor of the city of Brisbane, Australia, representing the Australian Labor Party from 1961 to 1975.-Public life:...
(1961–1974) was unashamedly pro-freeway and private car. The Kalinga, Toowong, Rainworth and Bulimba Ferry routes closed in December 1962.
The closure of the tram and trolleybus systems
Finally in common with most other citiesCity
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
throughout the English-speaking world
English-speaking world
The English-speaking world consists of those countries or regions that use the English language to one degree or another. For more information, please see:Lists:* List of countries by English-speaking population...
, Brisbane converted its remaining tram lines between 1968 and 1969 to all bus operation. The last trolley buses ran on 13 March 1969 and the final trams ran on 13 April 1969.
Most older, wooden trams were stripped of metal parts and then burnt at the City Council's yard at Cribb Street Milton (adjacent to the tramway workshops). The bodies of later, all-metal cars were sold as sheds and playground equipment.
Brisbane Tramway Museum (1969-present)
The Brisbane Tramway Museum SocietyBrisbane Tramway Museum
Brisbane Tramway Museum is a transport museum which preserves and displays trams and trolley-buses, most of which operated in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The museum also has a collection of vehicles and other equipment used in maintaining Brisbane's electric street transport system which...
was formed in 1968 to preserve some of Brisbane's trams. At present the Museum has 24 Brisbane trams in its collection. Tramway operations commenced at the museum at Ferny Grove
Ferny Grove, Queensland
Ferny Grove is a residential suburb in north-west Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It lies entirely within the Brisbane-metropolitan area administered by the Brisbane City Council.-General information:...
in 1980.
1990s light rail proposals
There have been several proposals from both the Brisbane City Council and state government to return a tram or light rail system to Brisbane since the 1990s. The most prominent of these include the ambitious 1997 Brisbane Light Rail Transit proposal. The plans escalated to a Queensland government tender for four company consortia to purchase new trams, construct and operate the system in 1999, the project was projected to cost 235 million but was subsequently vetoed in favour of expanding the existing bus network.These various proposed options included a line from Roma Street station
Roma Street railway station, Brisbane
Roma Street railway station is a major railway station in the Brisbane central business district, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It was Brisbane's first railway station, opening in 1876...
to Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology is an Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, it has 40,000 students, including 6,000 international students, over 4,000 staff members, and an annual budget of more than A$750 million.QUT is marketed as "A...
CBD campus along George Street, CBD to West End and University of Queensland via Victoria Bridge and Melbourne Street and CBD to Fortitude Valley via Wickham Terrace.
2007 Light Rail Plan
In 2007, following several failed road and tunnel projects and based on the recommendation's of the Brisbane City Council's 2006 CBD masterplan, premier Peter Beattie announced $250 million of state government funding for an extensive light rail system to rival Melbourne's and significantly larger than those of Sydney or Adelaide. The plan, at the centre of the government's "Smart City" plan, is to link South Brisbane to New Farm and Bowen Hills with future extensions down the newly created South Eastern and Inner Northern Busway, bridges and pedestrian spines. In the March 2008 Brisbane city elections, the Queensland GreensQueensland Greens
The Queensland Greens is a Green party in the Australian state of Queensland, and a member of the federation of the Australian Greens. The party was founded in November 1991 and made its electoral debut at the 1993 federal election...
campaigned on a more comprehensive plan. However by June 2008 progress had stalled, without an official project announcement, the Brisbane City Council once again distancing itself from the plan due to cost of the investment (estimated at $600 million for the New Farm link) and instead giving consideration of diverting the funds to enhancing the bus and CityCat ferry systems.
Currently a Queensland Parliament E-Petition
Internet petition
An Internet petition is a form of petition posted on a website. Visitors to the website in question can add their email addresses or names, and after enough "signatures" have been collected, the resulting letter may be delivered to the subject of the petition, usually via e-mail.-Pros and cons:The...
is underway requesting the Queensland Government to introduce a 'tram style light rail system in Brisbane with a special focus on moving people around the city and to Brisbane’s major universities'.
Types of trams
Unlike many other systems, Brisbane never adopted an alphabetical or numerical system for classifying its trams (cf Melbourne tramsTrams in Melbourne
The Melbourne tramway network is a major form of public transport in Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, Australia. , the network consisted of of track, 487 trams, 28 routes, and 1,773 tram stops. It was therefore the largest urban tramway network in the world, ahead of the...
), preferring instead to use official descriptions, such as "standard centre aisle car", or "drop-centre saloon car".
California Combination
Converted horse trams
Delivery of early combination cars was delayed and as a result the tramway company decided to convert many of the horse tram to electric operation, as a temporary expedient. Despite this, many of these converted cars remained in passenger service well into the 1930s.Saloon cars
Each tram in this class was constructed by joining two single deck saloon horse trams together on a single motorised chassis. Their long, enclosed bodies gave rise to their nickname of "coffin cars". They were built in 1897, when delivery of new electric trams was delayed. 6 cars in this class. They were all withdrawn from service by 1930.
"Summer" cars
The 6 bench horse trams were motorised and later most were lengthened to accommodate 10 cross benches. One car was to remain in service until 1958 as an advertising car.
Nine Bench Cars
These 4 trams were constructed in 1897 and 1898 by the Brisbane Tramways Company. They were cross bench cars with no centre aisle. Two of the benches (those attached to the end bulkheads) were fixed and the other seven benches were tip-over. They could carry 45 seated passengers, plus standees. Two were withdrawn from service in 1938, the other two were probably withdrawn in 1943.Brills
Light Twelve Bench Cars
These eight cars were originally built as trailers between 1901 and 1903, but were motorised in 1912. They had 12 fixed back-to-back benches and could carry 66 passengers. They were all withdrawn from service between 1948 and 1951.Large Combination Cars
These three trams were built in 1904 from the lower deck of double deck horse trams. They were all withdrawn from service in 1925.Standard Ten Bench Cars
Dreadnoughts
"Special" Dreadnoughts
Each of these four cars was unique in their own way. Two were outwardly like the Dreadnoughts. Tram 100 was built in 1903 as the Tramway Company Manager's personal "Palace" car, fitted with carpets, plush seat covers and further interior decorations. Converted to regular passenger use in 1918 and was withdrawn from service in 1958. Tram 110 was built in 1906 as the prototype for the Dreadnoughts, but it had different trucks, which resulted in high steps. It was withdrawn from service in 1952. Tram 101 was built in 1899 originally with no solid roof, just a canvas awning suspended from a lightweight frame. It was withdrawn from service around 1935. Tram 104 was converted in 1943 from a Brill 12 bench car that had been badly damaged in an accident. In its converted form this tram had design features derived from the Four Motor, Dropcentre and Baby Dreadnought tram designs. It was withdrawn from service in 1958.Stepless Car
"One man" trams
Red Hill, Queensland
Red Hill is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 3 km north-west of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is very hilly and mainly residential, with shops and small businesses located on Musgrave and Waterworks Roads...
routes. Passengers were required to enter the tram from the front entrance and pay the driver as they entered. For this reason these trams had a distinctive colour scheme which included red and white diamonds on their front aprons. In May 1934 one man operation was abandoned and these trams were repainted in normal colours.
Two combination trams were also converted to one man operation for use on the Gardens
Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
The City Botanic Gardens is located on a point known as Gardens Point on the Brisbane River adjacent to the central business district of the city of Brisbane...
route. The first tram was converted in 1925, the second in 1930.
"Baby" Dreadnoughts
Sometimes called "small centre-aisle" or "single truck saloon" cars, the 6 trams in this class were built primarily for the hilly Spring HillSpring Hill, Queensland
Spring Hill is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 2 km north of the central business district. Parts of Spring Hill can be considered to be extensions of the Brisbane CBD.-Schools:Spring Hill is serviced by a number of schools...
route. They were built in two batches: the first four in 1936 were converted from 10 bench trams, the last two were built in 1943 using truck from 10 bench trams, making the last two trams in this class the last single truck cars built in Australia. These trams were fitted with special sanders allowing sand to be dropped not only in front, but also behind, their wheels, in case the trams slipped backwards on the steep section of the Spring Hill line. They were withdrawn from service in 1958–1959, one car was preserved.
Dropcentres
Four Motor (FM) trams
Tram controls
The following article describes the controls on electric, rather than steam trams.-Overview:The operation of trams is relatively simple. As trams run on rails, they do not require steering controls. However they do require controls for the smooth application of power and for braking and to control...
) and streamlined construction techniques. Early versions had canvas blinds in the doorways, while later versions had sliding doors. The last 8 trams were built from components salvaged from the Paddington tram depot fire
Paddington tram depot fire
The Paddington tram depot in Brisbane, Australia was destroyed by fire on the night of 28 September 1962, one of the largest fires in Brisbane's history. Sixty-five of Brisbane's trams were destroyed...
and were painted light blue with phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
emblems below the motorman's windows, to symbolise that the trams had risen from the ashes of the fire.
Depots
- Light Street, NewsteadNewstead, QueenslandNewstead is a riverside suburb of the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is situated 3 km north of the Brisbane central business district...
(1885–1968) - Logan Road, BurandaBuranda, QueenslandBuranda is a locality in the southern Brisbane suburbs of Greenslopes and Annerley, in Brisbane, Australia.The location is an important transport hub for southern Brisbane. Logan Road and Ipswich Road pass through the area as does the South East Busway with a station called Buranda busway station. ...
(1897(?)-1927) - Countess Street, CityBrisbane central business districtThe Brisbane central business district , sometimes referred to as the city, is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the Brisbane River to the east, south and west...
(1897–1927) - Lang Street (now Tamar Street) Dutton ParkDutton Park, QueenslandDutton Park is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 5 km south of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is predominantly residential, with some light industrial and commercial areas....
(1912–1927) - La Trobe Terrace, PaddingtonPaddington, QueenslandPaddington is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 2 km west of the Brisbane CBD. As is common with other suburbs in the area, Paddington is located on a number of steep ridges and hills. It was originally settled in the 1860s. Many original and distinctive Queenslander homes can...
(1915–1962) - Ipswich Road, AnnerleyAnnerley, QueenslandAnnerley is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 6 km south of the Brisbane CBD. It was named after a town in England.-Geography:Much of the suburb is elevated, lying on a ridge that gives views of the city...
(1927–1969)
Logan Road, Countess Street and Lang Street depots closed in 1927 with the opening of Ipswich Road depot. Ipswich Road and Light Street depots continued to be used as bus depots after the closure of the tram system.
The Brisbane City Council had planned to replace Paddington depot with a new depot on Mount Coot-tha road, Toowong
Toowong, Queensland
Toowong is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia which is located 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. At the centre of Toowong is a commercial precinct including Toowong Village and several office buildings...
, however following the destruction of Paddington tram depot in 1962 with the loss of 65 trams, these plans were shelved and a bus depot was developed on the site instead.
Tram allocation as at 1961
Ipswich Road depot: 15 Dreadnoughts, 46 Hand-brake Dropcentres, 31 Air-Brake Dropcentres, 55 Four Motor tramsLight Street depot: 8 Dreadnoughts, 25 Hand-brake Dropcentres, 35 Air-Brake Dropcentres, 51 Four Motor trams
Paddington depot: 5 Dreadnoughts, 32 Hand-brake Dropcentres, 22 Air-Brake Dropcentres, 40 Four Motor trams
Uniforms
Prior to World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
tram drivers (or motormen) and conductors wore a dark blue uniform including a serge
Serge
Serge is a type of twill fabric that has diagonal lines or ridges on both sides, made with a two-up, two-down weave. The worsted variety is used in making military uniforms, suits, great coats and trench coats. Its counterpart, silk serge, is used for linings. French serge is a softer, finer variety...
jacket, which was subsequently replaced with a lighter cotton blouson. Until 1961 crews wore foreign legion caps
Kepi
The kepi is a cap with a flat circular top and a visor or peak . Etymologically, the word is a borrowing of the French képi, itself a respelling of the Alemannic Käppi: a diminutive form of Kappe, meaning "cap"....
. In 1967 the blue uniform was replaced with a green one. Inspectors wore a black uniform, with a grey shirt and black cap.
Routes
Horse tram routes
Horse Trams ran to the following suburbs:- New FarmNew Farm, QueenslandNew Farm is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 2 km east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the Brisbane River. New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through...
- Breakfast Creek (NewsteadNewstead, QueenslandNewstead is a riverside suburb of the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is situated 3 km north of the Brisbane central business district...
) - Bulimba Ferry (NewsteadNewstead, QueenslandNewstead is a riverside suburb of the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is situated 3 km north of the Brisbane central business district...
) - Exhibition Show Grounds
- West EndWest End, QueenslandWest End is an inner-city suburb of southern Brisbane.-History:West End was named by early English settlers who found the area reminiscent of the West End of London....
- Logan Road (BurandaBuranda, QueenslandBuranda is a locality in the southern Brisbane suburbs of Greenslopes and Annerley, in Brisbane, Australia.The location is an important transport hub for southern Brisbane. Logan Road and Ipswich Road pass through the area as does the South East Busway with a station called Buranda busway station. ...
)
Electric tram routes
An unusual feature of Brisbane's tram system was its use of "through-routing", where trams did not terminate in the Brisbane central business districtBrisbane central business district
The Brisbane central business district , sometimes referred to as the city, is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the Brisbane River to the east, south and west...
, but ran from suburbs on one side of the city to suburbs on the other. Today, many all-stops bus routes (shown in italics) roughly correspond with the former tram lines.
In 1961 trams ran on the following routes:
- Valley - Belmont 06 (Current equivalent bus route 204)
- South Brisbane - St Pauls Terrace
- AscotAscot, QueenslandAscot is a predominantly affluent residential suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, characterised by large Queenslander homes. Located from Brisbane, the suburb is well catered for in terms of public transport with many bus and train services departing from Ascot railway station...
Doomben - BalmoralBalmoral, QueenslandBalmoral is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 9 kilometres east of the CBD.Balmoral is an anglicisation of Baile Mhoireil which is Scottish Gaelic for ‘beautiful residence’ or ‘majestic castle’.... - AscotAscot, QueenslandAscot is a predominantly affluent residential suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, characterised by large Queenslander homes. Located from Brisbane, the suburb is well catered for in terms of public transport with many bus and train services departing from Ascot railway station...
Oriel Park - BalmoralBalmoral, QueenslandBalmoral is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 9 kilometres east of the CBD.Balmoral is an anglicisation of Baile Mhoireil which is Scottish Gaelic for ‘beautiful residence’ or ‘majestic castle’....
(Toombul to Cultural Centre 300; Valley to Balmoral 230) - ClayfieldClayfield, QueenslandClayfield is an inner-northern suburb of Brisbane, located approximately from the CBD. Clayfield is bordered to the north by Nundah, to the East by Ascot and Hendra, to the west by Wooloowin and to the South by Albion....
- SalisburySalisbury, QueenslandSalisbury is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is south of the Brisbane central business district.Salisbury was named after the residence of William Coote, an early Brisbane journalist and political figure, who lived in the area....
71 (Toombul to Cultural Centre 306/322; Valley to Salisbury 117/124/125) - ChermsideChermside, QueenslandChermside is a suburb on the north side of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.Chermside is a key destination along Queensland Transport's future Northern Busway...
- EnoggeraEnoggera, QueenslandEnoggera is a suburb of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia. The suburb is located 6 km north-west of the Brisbane CBD.-History:In 1845 John Brennan purchased six hectares of land in Enoggera. Six years later, Thomas Hayes moved to the area and bought thirty-three acres of land...
72 (Chermside to City 370; City to Brookside Shopping Centre 390) - Kalinga - Rainworth (Toombul to City 321; Valley to Rainworth 475)
- StaffordStafford, QueenslandStafford is a northern suburb of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia.A predominantly residential suburb, including some original Queenslander-style homes and a significant number of post-war Queensland Housing Commission homes on quarter-acre blocks built around the 1940s and...
- BardonBardon, QueenslandBardon is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located approximately 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. Bardon is a leafy residential suburb, much of which nestles into the foothills of Mount Coot-tha.-History:...
74 (Route 375) - GrangeGrange, QueenslandGrange is an inner-northern suburb of Brisbane, capital of the Australian state of Queensland. It is located north of the central business district, on the southern side of Kedron Brook. In 2001, the population of Grange stood at 3,941....
- ToowongToowong, QueenslandToowong is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia which is located 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. At the centre of Toowong is a commercial precinct including Toowong Village and several office buildings...
(Stafford to City via Grange 379; Teneriffe Ferry to Toowong 470) - Bulimba Ferry - AshgroveAshgrove, QueenslandAshgrove is an inner suburb of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, located approximately 4 km north-west of the Brisbane CBD. Ashgrove is a leafy residential suburb, characterised by its hilly terrain and characteristic Ashgrovian houses built in the early 20th century...
(City to West Ashgrove 379/380/381) - New Farm Park - West EndWest End, QueenslandWest End is an inner-city suburb of southern Brisbane.-History:West End was named by early English settlers who found the area reminiscent of the West End of London....
77 (New Farm to City 196; City to West End 199) - New Farm Wharf - Dutton ParkDutton Park, QueenslandDutton Park is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 5 km south of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is predominantly residential, with some light industrial and commercial areas....
78 (Teneriffe Ferry to City 199; City to Fairfield via Dutton Park 196) - Valley - Mount GravattMount Gravatt, QueenslandMount Gravatt is the name of both a major suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and a prominent hill in this suburb. The suburb is situated in the south-east of the city and was one of Brisbane's largest...
79 (Valley to Garden City via Mount Gravatt Central 174/175)
Routes which closed prior to 1961 were:
- Spring HillSpring Hill, QueenslandSpring Hill is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 2 km north of the central business district. Parts of Spring Hill can be considered to be extensions of the Brisbane CBD.-Schools:Spring Hill is serviced by a number of schools...
- noted for its exceptionally steep track in Edward Street and operated by hand braked single truck trams (see "baby dreadnoughts" above). Closed 1947. - GardensBrisbane City Botanic GardensThe City Botanic Gardens is located on a point known as Gardens Point on the Brisbane River adjacent to the central business district of the city of Brisbane...
- This line branched off Queen Street and ran down Edward Street to the Brisbane RiverBrisbane RiverThe Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
. It was notable for its driver only operation, where passengers paid their fares into a box upon entering the tram. Closed 1947. Initially replaced with diesel buses, it was converted to trolley bus operation in 1951 along with the Spring Hill line. (Spring Hill Loop - weekdays only) - Red HillRed Hill, QueenslandRed Hill is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 3 km north-west of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is very hilly and mainly residential, with shops and small businesses located on Musgrave and Waterworks Roads...
- This line branched off Waterworks Road Red Hill and ran along Enoggera terrace. After closure this line was retained as a link to Paddington tram depot. - Chatsworth Road, GreenslopesGreenslopes, QueenslandGreenslopes is a moderately sized suburb of the city of Brisbane, state capital of Queensland, Australia."Greenslopes" is also the name of a Queensland state electorate. The electorate contains only a small fraction of the suburb of the same name...
- This short line branched off Logan Road. for some years before closure it was only used for peak hour services. Last used in 1957. - Cavendish Road, CoorparooCoorparoo, QueenslandCoorparoo is a southern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, located approximately four kilometres from the city. Surrounding suburbs include Camp Hill, Holland Park, Greenslopes, East Brisbane, Norman Park and Seven Hills.-Aboriginal history:...
- This line branched off Old Cleveland road at Coorparoo. Closed 1955. Converted to trolley-bus. (Valley to Garden City via Cavendish Rd 184/185)
Workshops, power houses and administration
Workshops and administration for the electric tram system were initially located in cramped quarters at Countess Street, at the western side of the Roma Street railway yards (now the site of the Roma Street ParklandRoma Street Parkland
Roma Street Parkland covers 16 hectares in the centre of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The Roma Street Parkland is adjacent to Brisbane Transit Centre and the Roma Street Station...
), but in 1927 were relocated to Milton
Milton, Queensland
Milton is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located approximately west of Brisbane's central business district. The suburb is a mixture of light industry, warehouses, commercial offices, retail and single and multiple occupancy residences...
. Access to the workshops was from Boomerang Street in Milton, off Milton Road. Head Office was accessed from Coronation Drive (then known as River Road).
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
operated by the tramway company adjacent to its Countess Street depot and workshops. As the tramway company increased both the number of trams and the length of routes, the power supply rapidly became inadequate. Additional power generating units were installed at Light Street depot and a further powerhouse was built on Logan Road Woolloongabba
Woolloongabba, Queensland
Woolloongabba is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 4 km south of the Brisbane CBD.Experts are divided regarding the Aboriginal meaning of the name, preferring either 'whirling waters' or 'fight talk place'...
, adjacent to the Woolloongabba railway line. Inadequate power supply was to remain a problem while the tramways remained in private hands. With the takeover of the system in 1922 by the Brisbane Tramways Trust (and subsequently the City Council) considerable investment was made in many areas including power generation and distribution. A larger powerhouse
Powerhouse, Brisbane
Brisbane Powerhouse is an arts and cultural hub located in the Brisbane suburb of New Farm, Queensland, Australia. The venue offers an array of performing arts, visual arts, festivals, and free community events.-Origins:...
was built in New Farm
New Farm, Queensland
New Farm is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 2 km east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the Brisbane River. New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through...
which commenced generation in 1928 and was sufficient for both the needs of the tram system and other consumers.
The original Countess street powerhouse was demolished and material from it was used to construct the new Tramways headquarters.
Location of electrical substations at the time of closure
- Ballow Street, Fortitude Valley
- Russell Street, South BrisbaneSouth Brisbane, QueenslandSouth Brisbane is an inner city suburb of Brisbane, Australia located on the southern bank of the Brisbane River, directly connected to the central business district by the Kurilpa, Victoria and Goodwill bridges....
- Petrie Terrace, PaddingtonPaddington, QueenslandPaddington is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 2 km west of the Brisbane CBD. As is common with other suburbs in the area, Paddington is located on a number of steep ridges and hills. It was originally settled in the 1860s. Many original and distinctive Queenslander homes can...
- Enoggera Terrace, PaddingtonPaddington, QueenslandPaddington is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 2 km west of the Brisbane CBD. As is common with other suburbs in the area, Paddington is located on a number of steep ridges and hills. It was originally settled in the 1860s. Many original and distinctive Queenslander homes can...
- Newstead Park, NewsteadNewstead, QueenslandNewstead is a riverside suburb of the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is situated 3 km north of the Brisbane central business district...
- Logan RoadLogan Road, BrisbaneLogan Road is a major road in Brisbane, Queensland. It runs 16 km from Springwood to Woolloongabba, with most of the route signed as state route 95...
, WoolloongabbaWoolloongabba, QueenslandWoolloongabba is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 4 km south of the Brisbane CBD.Experts are divided regarding the Aboriginal meaning of the name, preferring either 'whirling waters' or 'fight talk place'... - Ipswich RoadIpswich Road, BrisbaneIpswich Road is one Brisbane's main roads connecting Brisbane to the nearby city of Ipswich, via the Ipswich Motorway. Logan Road, Pacific Motorway, and Beaudesert Road are the other major roads in the south of Brisbane. The road was an important transport route in 19th century Brisbane...
, AnnerleyAnnerley, QueenslandAnnerley is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 6 km south of the Brisbane CBD. It was named after a town in England.-Geography:Much of the suburb is elevated, lying on a ridge that gives views of the city... - Lutwyche Road, WindsorWindsor, QueenslandWindsor is an inner northern suburb of Brisbane, located about 3.5 km from the CBD. It is largely residential, featuring many old Queenslanders, although there is also considerable retail commercial activity, primarily concentrated along Lutwyche and Newmarket Roads.-History:Land was first...
(original, northernmost substation) - Lutwyche Road, WindsorWindsor, QueenslandWindsor is an inner northern suburb of Brisbane, located about 3.5 km from the CBD. It is largely residential, featuring many old Queenslanders, although there is also considerable retail commercial activity, primarily concentrated along Lutwyche and Newmarket Roads.-History:Land was first...
(second, southern substation) - Kedron Park Road, KedronKedron, QueenslandKedron is a northern suburb of Brisbane, Australia, centred on Gympie Road and Kedron Brook. It is close to Westfield Chermside shopping centre in the neighbouring suburb of Chermside...
- Lytton Road, Norman ParkNorman Park, QueenslandNorman Park is a suburb in Brisbane, Australia. It is located 4 km east of the Brisbane central business district.Norman Park has numerous parks and recreational areas for residents in the area...
- Old Cleveland Road, CoorparooCoorparoo, QueenslandCoorparoo is a southern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, located approximately four kilometres from the city. Surrounding suburbs include Camp Hill, Holland Park, Greenslopes, East Brisbane, Norman Park and Seven Hills.-Aboriginal history:...
- Waterworks Road AshgroveAshgrove, QueenslandAshgrove is an inner suburb of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, located approximately 4 km north-west of the Brisbane CBD. Ashgrove is a leafy residential suburb, characterised by its hilly terrain and characteristic Ashgrovian houses built in the early 20th century...
- Kingsford Smith DriveKingsford Smith Drive, BrisbaneThe Kingsford Smith Drive is a major road in Brisbane. The road was named after the aviator Charles Kingsford Smith. It connects the suburb of Pinkenba to the Brisbane central business district at the Breakfast Creek.-Congestion:...
, HamiltonHamilton, QueenslandHamilton is an inner northern suburb of Brisbane, Australia, lying on the north bank of the Brisbane River along Bulimba Reach. The area is hilly with views of the Brisbane central business district.... - Enoggera RoadEnoggera Road, BrisbaneEnoggera Road is one of Brisbane's main roads which connects to the City, which is the main access road for residents of north west Brisbane. Enoggera Road is also home to the Reading Newmarket Shopping Centre, one of the first North-side Brisbane McDonalds located at Newmarket and the Newmarket...
NewmarketNewmarket, QueenslandNewmarket is an inner north-western suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is located approximately 5 km from the Brisbane central business district and is surrounded by the suburbs of Alderley to the north, Ashgrove to the west, Kelvin Grove to the south, and Wilston to the east... - Logan Road Holland ParkHolland Park, QueenslandHolland Park is a suburb of Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia, that is situated approximately 8 km south of the Brisbane central business district. Holland Park is an older suburb made of largely post-World War II wooden homes. In fact over 89% of dwellings are houses.Logan...
Remnants of the former system
- The south-east pylon of the former Victoria BridgeVictoria Bridge, BrisbaneThe Victoria Bridge is a vehicular and pedestrian bridge over the Brisbane River. The current bridge, opened in 1969, is the third permanent crossing erected at this location...
stands on the southern bank of the Brisbane RiverBrisbane RiverThe Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
at South BrisbaneSouth Brisbane, QueenslandSouth Brisbane is an inner city suburb of Brisbane, Australia located on the southern bank of the Brisbane River, directly connected to the central business district by the Kurilpa, Victoria and Goodwill bridges....
, it includes a short stretch of tram track. - 500 metres of track remains exposed in the median strip of Old Cleveland Road from Camp HillCamp Hill, QueenslandCamp Hill is a largely residential suburb in the south-east of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is located approximately 4 km from the Brisbane central business district and, as its name suggests, is elevated and commands fine views of the CBD. It has an area of 4.6 square...
to CarinaCarina, QueenslandCarina is an eastern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia about 7 kilometres from the Central Business District. It adjoins the suburbs of Carindale, Carina Heights, Cannon Hill and Camp Hill....
. The Proposed Eastern Busway, BrisbaneEastern Busway, BrisbaneThe Eastern Busway is a bus-only corridor in Brisbane, Queensland. The busway runs from the University of Queensland St Lucia Campus via the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, connects with the South East Busway at Buranda busway station and then extends to Coorparoo following the Old Cleveland Road...
may require much of this remaining track to be dug up, or covered over during road realignment. - As of 2006, much of the tram system's track remains in situ, as it was laid in concrete. It has merely been covered by bitumen, and can occasionally be seen when the bitumen road surface breaks.
- Numerous four-poster and two-poster timber waiting sheds continue to serve as shelters along former tram lines. However, some shelters have been moved from their original position.
- Stop number 26, a red "tram stop" post, still remains at the corner of Old Cleveland and Cavendish Roads, however the post was moved from its original position, when the intersection was modified in the mid 1980s.
- Most of the former electrical substations remain, with only Russell Street substation demolished and the Logan Road substation dismantled and relocated to the town of MurgonMurgon, QueenslandMurgon is a town in Queensland, Australia. It is situated on the Bunya Highway 270 kilometres north-west of the state capital, Brisbane.Murgon is in the region of Queensland known as the South Burnett, the southern part of the Burnett River catchment...
, near that town's railway station. - A number of buildings in the CBDBrisbane central business districtThe Brisbane central business district , sometimes referred to as the city, is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the Brisbane River to the east, south and west...
and inner suburbs retain brackets (or "rosettes") where tramway overhead was attached. A notable example is the Adelaide Street frontage of the Brisbane City HallBrisbane City HallBrisbane City Hall, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, is the seat of the Brisbane City Council. It is located adjacent to King George Square, where the rectangular City Hall has its main entrance. The City Hall also has frontages and entrances in both Ann Street and Adelaide Street...
. - The original blue "Brisbane City Council" and "Department of Transport" signs from the former Coronation Drive head office are now located on the north west corner of Brisbane TransportBrisbane TransportBrisbane Transport is a business unit of Brisbane City Council, operating suburban and urban bus services under the TransLink integrated public transport scheme in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The origins of Brisbane Transport can be seen as far back as 1885 when horse...
's Toowong workshops. - Timber span poles remain along many of the former tram lines. These poles can be distinguished from other poles by their distinctive conical tops (some retaining cast iron caps resembling inverted flower pots) and by having small holes facing the street high up, where the span wires were attached.
- The road overpass at Dutton Park railway station retains two large steel tram span poles.
- Canning Bridge at Norman ParkNorman Park, QueenslandNorman Park is a suburb in Brisbane, Australia. It is located 4 km east of the Brisbane central business district.Norman Park has numerous parks and recreational areas for residents in the area...
retains its four metal tram span poles.
Further reading
- Brimson, Samuel; "The Tramways of Australia", Dreamweaver Books, 1983. ISBN 0-949825-01-8
- Brisbane City Council Annual Reports (various between 1925 and 1974)
- Clark, Howard R. and Keenan David R.; "Brisbane Tramways - The Last Decade", Transit Press, 1977 (Reprinted 1985). ISBN 0-909338-01-9
- Cole J.R.; "Shaping a City: Greater Brisbane 1925-1985", Brisbane 1984
- Richardson J. (ed); Destination Valley, a Pictorial Review of Brisbane Tramcars, 2nd Edition, Traction Publications, Canberra, 1964.