Dropcentres unleashed !

[peter...@bigpond.com]

Dropcentre 236 has just become the first Brisbane tram to operate on the streets of a city other than Brisbane.

It has been moved from Ferrymead to the city tramway for testing purposes.

Photo courtesy of Alex HUnter

[Mal Rowe]

On 05/05/2026 11:47, peter.hyde via TramsDownUnder wrote:
> Dropcentre 236 has just become the first Brisbane tram to operate on
> the streets of a city other than Brisbane.
>
> It has been moved from Ferrymead to the city tramway for testing purposes.
>

Alex Hunter has sent through a couple more pictures for your enjoyment.

ChCh turned on a spot of winter sun for the first beautiful image.

In the second pic two Aussie trams meet at Cathedral Junction.

Alex tells me that 236 successfully negotiated the curves in
Christchurch and is now being considered as an option for a refurbisment
to run on the City tramway.

Mal Rowe noting that all the Aussie drop centres 'have DNA' from
Christchurch trams

[TP]

I see two Sydney designs there!

The colour scheme on the R class grates. Not only the inauthentic colour, but the historical perversion of a Victorian/Edwardian detailing on a magnificent Art Deco design. It's like tarting up Mitchell House in Melbourne to imitate a Victoria terrace.

Tony P

(who thinks history should remain authentic)

[Mal Rowe]

On 07/05/2026 13:30, 'TP' via TramsDownUnder wrote:
> I see two Sydney designs there!
>
> The colour scheme on the R class grates. Not only the inauthentic
> colour, but the historical perversion of a Victorian/Edwardian
> detailing on a magnificent Art Deco design. It's like tarting up
> Mitchell House in Melbourne to imitate a Victoria terrace.
>

I tend to agree, but a tourist operation has a different perspective to
a museum.

The Tramway Historical Society at Ferrymead certainly do history right,
but that's partly enabled by the commercial work they get paid for by
the city tramway..

Here's a pic of the pair at Ferrymead that you may like better.

Mal Rowe embarrassed to not know who made this image and grateful if
someone can tell me.

[Alex Hunter]

That’s one of my pics, the rain had paused..

Don’t worry, there’s a good amount of discussion at present to keep the livery on 236 as it is ( im certainly in favour of it) as it is owned by the tramway society, so I think it’s safe with the silver etc.

I kind of wish STM had more balls when it came to the time of renovation of 1808 for the CTL operation to keep it original colour etc, but Howard was all about the customer is always right…

Cheers Alex

> On 7 May 2026, at 16:16, Mal Rowe <mal....@gmail.com> wrote:

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> <236 1808 Ferrymead 15Aug2017.JPG>

[Mal Rowe]

On 07/05/2026 14:23, Alex Hunter wrote:
> That’s one of my pics, the rain had paused..

Thanks Alex - noted!

[TP]

Glad that the Brisbane tram at least has escaped the vaudeville.

Tony P

[bblun...@yahoo.com]

It's only a coat of paint, and another coat of paint will fix it in the future. 

Perhaps the originality of the mechanicals/electrics should be more of a concern to its originality.

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[Mal Rowe]

On 07/05/2026 15:53, 'bblun...@yahoo.com' via TramsDownUnder wrote:

Perhaps the originality of the mechanicals/electrics should be more of a concern to its originality.

Good point.

I have heard 1808 / 1888 referred to as an RW2

Mal Rowe who enjoyed hearing the spur gears on the video posted by Greg Sutherland

[TP]

Yes, all those extra bogies manufactured by Comeng for the curtailed last R1 order just vanished. 

Tony P

[Mick Duncan]

Gday Mal, All

Did any air braked Droppys have diamond frame trucks ?

Cheers,    Mick

[Mick Duncan]

Gday  All

K35 controllers and Melb No 1 trucks is a bit non original

Cheers,   Mick

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