Monday Morning Photo. 18/8/08.

G'day all, I havn't posted any Ballaarat tramway photos before, 'bout time I reckon. The provincial tramways in Victoria were operated by the State Electricity Commission. Geelong closed in the '50s but Ballaarat and Bendigo lingered into the '70s despite numerous attempts at closure. They were truly working museums.

So I never saw Geelong but I was able to spend quite a bit of time in the other two cities and I walked the length of each line at least once.

The three attached photos are all taken on the long line connecting Sebastopol and Lydiard Street North, all lines were through-routed via Sturt Street which I suppose you would have to call Ballaarat's main drag. It was also the route of the Western Highway through the city which I think had about 70,000 inhabitants at the time.

The Sebastopol tram terminated at the Royal Mail Hotel, if it was raining you'd hardly get wet between the tram and the Public Bar, No.38 is waiting for time and quite possibly for it's crew to emerge from the said Public Bar.

34 has halted at the compulsory stop in Drummond Street, South and will swing right into Sturt Street to make another stop on it's way to the City and Lydiard Street, North. Anyone recognise the old Pommy motorbike?

The third picture is of 38 again and it is in Sturt Street at Lydiard Street and once the car ahead has crossed Lydiard Street and a new crew have showed up 38 will pull ahead and the Motorman will set the points to take the left curve for Lydiard Street, North. The crew being relieved are heading for the Sturt Street messroom.

Best regards,

Peter Bruce.

P.S. I have made some progress on my blog/archive, I'm back to September '07 with MMP postings and the slideshow will take you to my Picasa albums, almost everything can be viewed full screen in your browser.

http://teenagerailfan.blogspot.com/

Seems like a good way of backing up to me and pretty easy too.