25th November 2012

We haven’t been letting the grass grow under our feet at Bylands. Now, starting with the Cup Carnival weekend clean-up, we can say it in the literal sense.

Liam Davies tells Running Journal, “We are very happy that our search for a tractor has been successful and Wallan local Des Laffan has sold us a re-conditioned Grey Fergie - with new slasher attached. He will also provide on-going servicing.”

Liam and John Whiting were on site Sunday 28 October to meet Des when he delivered the tractor.

Says Liam, “It’s capable and comfortable (as far as tractors go) and we see it having a long and productive future at the Museum.”

Work has already started on slashing the grass, and the Grey Fergie is doing a very good job, unbothered by our rough terrain or thistles or the sticks that could pose an issue with lawn mowers.

“Let’s hope we’ll not need the service of animals in the southern section of Bylands. The slasher and whipper snippers will help create a cleaner, more inviting site for visitors.”

Thanks go to Doug Prosser and John Rawnsley for negotiating the acquisition, to all who made a kind donation towards this vital purchase with their membership renewal, and to Des Laffan at 110 High Street Wallan, for a quality vehicle sold with honest service.

7th November 2012

Venue: Hawthorn Tram Depot, 8 Wallen Road, Hawthorn
Time: 4:45pm Saturday 24th November 2012

Notice is hereby given that the reconvened Annual General Meeting will be held at 4.45pm on Saturday 24th November 2012 at Hawthorn Tram Depot.

The only formal business of the meeting will be to receive the financial report, but there will be an update on current activities and plans. With the AGM being followed by a social meeting with light refreshments.

Hoping to see you at the reconvened AGM,

Liam Davies
Secretary
Tramway Museum Society of Victoria Incorporated

7th October 2012

We are happy to announce that after the success of our Footscray tour in March, we'll be holding another tour, celebrating 25 years of the St Kilda and Port Melbourne light rail lines.

It will be in a B1 class tram (2002) on Saturday 24th of November from midday to about 7:30pm. We will cover both light rail lines and many other areas of the St Kilda area of the network, taking a few unusual routes, and using some little used curves. We will have a break for afternoon tea at Hawthorn Depot, which will be open allowing us to wonder through the marvellous Melbourne Tram Museum @ Hawthorn Depot. We are also investigating potential locations for an optional dinner in the Preston area afterwards.

The tour will commence at midday in Miller Street Preston (just in front of the Workshops), as with last time we will also have a city pick up (Southern Cross Railway Station).

All tickets must be purchased before the day.

Tickets are $50 and include a donation in your name to Friends of Hawthorn Depot and afternoon tea. If you are interested in attending, or wanting further information contact Liam Davies; by email – sales@tramway.org.au or phone – 0404 207 633 to purchase tickets.

21st June 2012

Venue: Hawthorn Tram Depot

Time: 2:00pm Saturday 6th October 2012

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at 2.00pm on Saturday 6th October 2012 at Hawthorn Tram Depot.

ELECTIONS
The following Board of Management positions will be declared vacant at the AGM;
• Chairman
• Deputy Chairman
• 3 x Ordinary Members of the Board of Management

Retiring Board Members are John Rawnslety, (Chairman), Geoff Dean (Deputy Chairman), Liam Davies, John Wayman and David Highet. These people are eligible to renominate for their positions.

Ordinary Board of Management members occupying positions not subject to election until next year are: Tony Miles, John Whiting and Mal Rowe.

Nominations for the Board of Management must be delivered to the secretary not less than 28 days before the date fixed for the holding of the AGM. Nominees may lodge a policy statement, not exceeding 200 words in length to support their nomination.

Nominations for vacant positions can only be proposed, seconded or accepted by members of the Society who are financial at the time.

Note also that our members expect that anyone elected to the Board of Management will attend most Board Meetings, and be actively involved in running our museum at Bylands and other Society activities, during your time on the Board.

Hoping to see you at the AGM,

John Wayman
Secretary

20th May 2012
By Liam Davies

The TMSV held a tram tour on 24 March, commemorating 50 years since the closure of the Footscray local lines. It was decided to investigate the prospect of a tour late last year and by early this year we had been permitted by Yarra Trams to charter a tram for our tour. Although we originally wanted a W class, it became apparent very early in the planning process that this would not be possible and we decided to use Z3 158 the “Royal Tram”, which Yarra Trams happily chartered to us.

'Royal Tram' at Royal Park with Siemens train over tram.
Photo: David Coverdale

Over 40 people attended the tour, including: Yarra Trams CSO and Marketing Manager Ian Stokes and Yarra Trams driver and Society member John Whiting. We left at 1pm from Brunswick depot, travelled into the City and had our first photo stop at Franklin Street, where we also picked up a few passengers. Then down Victoria Street and into Elizabeth Street, along the route 55 through Royal Park and replicated the clichéd “train over tram” photo. We continued to Footscray, where unfortunately for us, a block car was operating, preventing us from laying up in the terminus. Instead, we were dropped off the tram and it went back towards Maribyrnong, shunting at River Street to come back and pick us up. Next, we headed back into the City via Moonee Ponds and West Maribyrnong, and went down the the new track installed in Footscray Road, where we had another photo stop.

The Group at West Maribyrnong terminus.
Photo: Mal Rowe

After returning to Brunswick Depot there was a BBQ and social gathering at Warr Park, Brunswick, which was attended by about 15. This was a great opportunity to talk about the day and trams in general. The day ended at about 9pm when it started to get dark and the few still at the BBQ decided to go home.

158 pulls into Footscray terminus.
Photo: Liam Davies

It was an enjoyable and rewarding day, with all attendants stating their pleasure at how the day had gone and expressing interest in possible future tours, which we are looking at trying to organise, hopefully with ever-improving results, attributed to all that we have learned in the process of organising this tour.

We would like to extend our greatest gratitude towards Yarra Trams who graciously allowed and supported the charter at a substantial discount to their usual rates, and to two Yarra Trams employees, David Coverdale, Special Events Administrator and Ian Stokes, Marketing Department. The tour would not have been able to happen without the support from Yarra Trams and the work of these two individuals. Thanks Yarra Trams, David and Ian!

2nd May 2012

The next TMSV public meeting will be on Monday the 4th of June at Hawthorn Depot, the topic will be the "Trams in film", a presentation of a collection of silent clips showing trams in their early days.

There will be light refreshments available after the meeting, and guests encouraged to stay after and talk trams (and other issues/topics) amongst other like minded trammies.

A $2 donation will be greatly appreciated by the Society (although more will gladly be accepted).

Where and when:
Hawthorn Tram Depot
8 Wallen Road, Hawthorn
Monday 4th June at 7:30pm

There is public parking at Leonda By The Yarra (just west of Hawthorn Depot along Wallen Road) and public transport is available by trams number 70 (Waterfront City Docklands - Wattle Park - Stop 29) and 75 (City (Spencer St) - Vermont South - Stop 29).

I hope to see many of you there!

25th March 2012

The next TMSV public meeting will be on Monday the 2nd of March at Hawthorn Depot, the topic will be the Footscray local lines. There will be a talk with photos, and a debrief of the Footscray tram tour with photos of the day.

There will be light refreshments available after the meeting, and guests encouraged to stay after and talk trams (and other issues/topics) amongst other like minded trammies.

A $2 donation will be greatly appreciated by the Society (although more will gladly be accepted).

Where and when:
Hawthorn Tram Depot
8 Wallen Road, Hawthorn
Monday 2nd April at 7:30pm

There is public parking at Leonda By The Yarra (just west of Hawthorn Depot along Wallen Road) and public transport is available by trams number 70 (Waterfront City Docklands - Wattle Park - Stop 29) and 75 (City (Spencer St) - Vermont South - Stop 29).

I hope to see many of you there!

29th February 2012

Since late last year we've been in talks with Yarra Trams, with the aim of putting on a tour to commemorate the closure of the Footscray local lines. We're very happy to be able to say that Yarra Trams have agreed to host our charter (at a significant discount to the usual commercial rate).

It will be a 4 hour tour, which will cover route 82 (including the last remaining section of the Footscray local lines) among other areas of the network. We will have photo stops during the day, and travel a few sections and curves that aren't usually used. The tram will be Z3 158 - the "Royal Tram" used to convey the Queen late last year. The tour will be complemented by a tour booklet with information about, and photos of, the Footscray local lines and trams. We will end the day with a BBQ and social gathering.

The tour will be on Saturday the 24th of March, commencing from Brunswick tram depot at around 1 p.m. with tickets costing $50. We will also have a city pick up option (probably at Franklin St) a little later.

All tickets must be purchased before the day.

If you are interested in attending, or wanting further information contact Liam Davies; by email, sales@tramway.org.au or by phone, 0404 207 633