R-class Sydney tram
| R-class | |
|---|---|
 R1923 at Sydenham station | |
| Manufacturer | Clyde Engineering |
| Constructed | 1933-35 |
| Specifications | |
| Width | 2.74 metres |
| Height | 3.18 metres |
| Weight | 17.9 t |
| Electric system(s) | 600 V DC catenary |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
The R-class trams were a class of drop centre saloon car type trams operated on the Sydney tram network.
History
Class leader 1738 was unveiled in a ceremony at Randwick Tramway Workshops on 29 September 1933. All 195 cars were in service by mid-1935. There were two saloons featuring 16 tip-over upholstered seats in each, plus wooden seating for 16 in the centre section. It was the low seating capacity of only 48 that went against the class which could not operate in multiple units. The last five of the 200 were built as prototypes for the R1 class, hence only 195 were built as R class.[1]
Rushcutters Bay was the first depot to be allocated trams, Fort Macquarie followed next, then Waverley, North Sydney and Newtown. Ultimo received its first R cars in 1940, with Rozelle and Tempe gaining them in 1949. Dowling Street finally received R cars when Fort Macquarie Depot closed in 1955.[1]
Two North Sydney R cars plunged into Sydney Harbour when running out of control on the steep descent to Athol Wharf, both were repaired. Withdrawals comenced in mid-1958 when the North Sydney system closed and these cars went into storage, mainly at Waverley. On 22 November 1958, the last day of operation of Rozelle Depot and the last day of services in George Street and the western suburbs. All R cars were withdrawn on that date.[1]
Preservation
Eleven have been preserved:
- 1738 at the Powerhouse Museum[2]
- 1740 in operational condition at the Sydney Tramway Museum[3]
- 1741, 1753, 1798, 1819 (since lost in a fire), 1917 and 1923 in storage at the Sydney Tramway Museum[3]
- 1808 on loan from the Sydney Tramway Museum to the Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, New Zealand[3]
- 1849 previously a shop at Big Bear Shopping Centre, Neutral Bay now restored and privately owned
- 1892 converted to a Harry's Cafe de Wheels, Newcastle[4]
References
- ^ a b c MacCowan, Ian (1990). The Tramways of New South Wales. Oakleigh: Ian MacCowan. pp. 132–134. ISBN 0 949600 25 3.
- ^ "B1520 Tram, full size, electric, and parts, "R" type No. 1738, metal / wood, Clyde Engineering Co, Australia, 1933". Powerhouse Museum. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
- ^ a b c "Sydney Tramway Museum Fleet Register" (PDF). Sydney Tramway Museum. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
- ^ 1990s Harry’s Café de Wheels
Further reading
- Chinn, N (1975). New South Wales Tramcar Handbook 1861-1961. Vol. Vol. 1. South Pacific Electric Railway Cooperative Society. ISBN 9780959865967.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help) - McCarthy, Ken (1976). New South Wales Tramcar Handbook 1861-1961. Vol. Vol. 2. South Pacific Electric Railway Cooperative Society. ISBN 9780959865974.
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External links
Media related to Sydney R-Class Tram at Wikimedia Commons