50 years of heritage tram operation in Ballarat

[Mal Rowe]

The Ballarat Tramway Museum is celebrating 50 years of operating
heritage trams for the pubic in Wendouree Parade.

Yesterday President Paul Mong and original board member Richard Gilbert
reminisced about the early days and thanked the many who have done so
much over those years.

A few minutes later, Richard drove tram No 40 through the ribbons at the
depot, recalling the launch back in 1974.

Tram 40 is one of the two surviving original 'drop centre' design trams
that were the dominant design in eastern Australia for many years.

Several trips were made for those celebrating, using trams in the livery
of the final years of the SEC trams.

My final pic shows 40 and 13 at the St Aidans Drive terminus looking
along the road towards the site of the original tram depot.

The old hall visible in the distance is the former "Jubilee Church"
erected by the Ballarat Tramway Co to encourage sober hard work amongst
their staff.

The celebrations continue on December 26th when the original heritage
trams will run again.

Mal Rowe - who very much enjoyed meeting so many old friends yesterday