Tram Department

TRAM W2  392

The tram dept was formed in August 2005 when it was decided by the board at the time to lease a tram from the Sydney Tramway Museum. At that time trains were operating to large crowds and the tram would relieve the load on the train and also be a backup on fire restriction weekends. This was done and in August 2005 tram W2  392 was transported to Glenreagh on a 20 year lease. The first 5 years of the lease was to be free on the condition the tram be worked on and restored where possible and if funds permitted. After the five year period a lease payment of $2,500 per year is to apply.

TRAM W2  447

Tramcar W2  447 was donated to GMR by the Sydney Tramway Museum. This tram was originally from the Canberra Tradesmans Club as part of a Tram theme inside the club. When it was at the club it had no bogies so the STM also found an old pair of motorized bogies and donated them to GMR for use under the tram. Both bogies were stripped of their motors when they arrived at Glenreagh. One motor has been dismantled and the other 3 have been stored in the shed out of the weather. The bogies were then put under 447 and the tram rolled into the new tram shed. Great to see 447 with bogies and moving again after several years in the club. This tram is one of the best W2 tram bodies around. Some day we hope to see it running again.

W5 Tram  792

On Monday Morning the 7^th July 2008 tramcar W5  792 arrived at GMR and was unloaded very safely by our good friend and truck driver Mario. It was then rolled very slowly up to the doors of the tram shed and stabled there. Its in poor but restorable condition. It may be a long job especially if we are not running yet. This tram is on permanent loan to GMR from a Canberra member of the Sydney Tramway Museum. He kindly paid the freight of the bogies from Melbourne to Glenreagh, via Bendigo and Sydney, to go under tram 792. Please remember this tram has not cost GMR anything. It may just make us money in the future. A big thanks to Howard Clark for arranging all of the movements of 792. 

On Thursday 10^th July 2008 ,  4 of us spent all day cleaning and vacuuming the inside and outside of the tram. It was surprising to see the difference it makes when a wreck is cleaned out and the broken glass removed. I must thank Valmai and Lindsay, Geoff and Kevin for this brilliant effort. When 392 is back on the tracks again we will drive it down near 792 and attempt to power the old girl and check all the air and electrics. They should work ok . I am hoping this car will be the next to operate at GMR. Shortly, when we are allowed, we will lay track into 2 road of the shed and take the tram under cover so as the weather cannot do further damage. A good clean on the outside and a coat of paint will bring it back to life again I am sure. All the windows have now been removed and will have to be remade as the wood rot has got them. The tram could run without windows until we can afford to replace them. We will push on with all the work that’s cheap to do like scraping paint and repairing broken seats and the like.

The plan now is when allowed, to lay the track from where No 1 road is and move 792 out of the way of stage 2 of the shed extensions. The plan then is to slew the track across to No 2 road and lay track into the shed to accommodate 792 and this will make it weatherproof and stop further wood rot. Stage 2 of the tram shed can then be then erected asap. We have sorted through and stacked colour bond sheeting and we should have enough to complete the cladding of the second stage. This will mean we have a shed 10m x 36m. A very nice shed for tram restoration and storage.