[LINK] The Red Flag Act

[Rachel Polanskis]

Well, by popular demand, here is how the trams came to the Tram-otel, in Lightning Ridge.
In any case, the story is anecdotal but more likely true than not!

Back when the trams had been decomissioned some time in the 1960's, of course something
had to be done with them.   Many were destroyed or scavenged but six lucky trams 
made a final long run into the Outback. 

There was a caravan park called the "Crocodile" which was because it had one as a tourist
attraction.   The bloke that ran this caravan park had made a bet with someone that by the
end of the year, trams would be running up and down Morilla street, which of course 
everyone thought hilarious.   

About 3 months later, indeed several large trucks were seen rolling up and down the
street with trams on the back and so a bet was won and a legend born. 

These trams found their way to the park opposite the Crocodile and were refitted
and placed under tin roofs to protect them.   Each tram inside is pretty much original
condition except with the seats removed and bedroom furniture added.  Mine had
the drivers compartment still with a console and "tiller" installed. 

I think the two park vendors do not talk to each other anymore ;)

The one I was in was Coogee Beach and inside it was tinder dry.  Most of
the trams have termite damage to one degree or another, but were still livable
if extremely hot in summer.  They really are a bit of history and are still there
AFAIK. 

Before I left up there,  a bloke was doing a good trade in delivering old shipping
containers and the old City Rail Red Rattler train carriages as "alternative" accomodation...


rachel

--
rachel polanskis 
<r.polanskis at uws.edu.au> 
<grove at zeta.org.au>

On 28/06/2011, at 8:33, Marghanita da Cruz <marghanita at ramin.com.au> wrote:

> Rachel Polanskis wrote:
> <snip>
>> Suffice to say, I have seen the Sydney trams and they are wonderful.
>> How they got where they did is a story for another time, unless some really wants to know and I will tell it!
> <snip>
> Hi Rachel,
> 
> This would be a good time to tell stories of the Sydney Trams.
> 
> See sad photos of Sydney's Trams at the Rozelle Tram Depot.
> <http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/GLE/GLE39.htm>
> 
> Their fate, is a current issue.
> Harold Park and the former Rozelle Tram Depot site
> <http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/development/UrbanRenewalProjects/HaroldPark/Default.asp>
> 
> My contribution to digging up the history of the Sydney Trams was to
> discover, thanks to NLA's newspapers online, who built the network and who
> it built.
> 
> A railway nipper, from Wagga Wagga, comes to Sydney, via WA, and gets a job
> with  tram construction contractors. He marries the bosses daughter, goes
> on, to become Mayor of Annandale circa 1895, Lord Mayor of Sydney, MLC and
> built the Company Allen Taylor and Co.. Taylor Square, Sydney is named
> after this guy...
> <http://www.ramin.com.au/annandale/story-74b-trafalgar-street.shtml#taylor>
> 
> Act No 32 1910 An Act to sanction the construction of an Electric Tramway
> from Darley-rad, Randwick to Little Coogee: and for other purposes [28th
> December 1910}
> <http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/sessionalview/sessional/act/1910-32.pdf>
> 
>> Sir Allen Arthur TAYLOR (1864 - 1940)
>> Member of the NSW Legislative Council    23 Jul 1912    22 Apr 1934    21yr(s) 9mth(s)        Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 25 April 1912
>> Member of the NSW Legislative Council    23 Apr 1934    30 Sep 1940    6yr(s) 5mth(s) 8day(s)        A Member of the indirectly elected Council 1934 - 1978. Date of Election 5 December 1933 and 1 November 1939. A Member before reconstitution.
> <http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/ec78138918334ce3ca256ea200077f5d/c2db00b972c38d83ca256e7b0009f670?OpenDocument>
> 
> Marghanita
> -- 
> Marghanita da Cruz
> http://ramin.com.au
> Tel: 0414-869202
> 
> 
>