Tram [No. 301 Freight Tram/ Track Scrubber]
Maker and role
Wellington City Corporation Tramways Department, Manufacturer
Production date
1911
Object detail
Accession number
1964.154
Production period
Description
Wellington Electric Tram No. 301 Freight car and Tram Scrubber.
Freight Car. No.301 (Formerly No.201).
Built 1911. Wellington City Corporation Tramways Department.
In Service: From 1911 until Wellington Tramway System closure 2nd May 1964.
Length: 28 feet or 8.54 metres
Height: 10’4 ½” or 3.16m
Weight: 7 Tons
Trucks: 4-wheel Brill 21E four-wheel truck of American manufacture.
Tram Gauge: 1219 mm (4 ft.) gauge
Motors: 2 x General Electric GE54 @ 25 HP
Operational voltage: 550v DC
Controllers: GE B18 with rheostatic electric braking.
This is the only surviving works tram in NZ, typical of the rail scrubbers or freight trams found on many of this country’s tramway systems.
Freight Car. No.301 (Formerly No.201).
Built 1911. Wellington City Corporation Tramways Department.
In Service: From 1911 until Wellington Tramway System closure 2nd May 1964.
Length: 28 feet or 8.54 metres
Height: 10’4 ½” or 3.16m
Weight: 7 Tons
Trucks: 4-wheel Brill 21E four-wheel truck of American manufacture.
Tram Gauge: 1219 mm (4 ft.) gauge
Motors: 2 x General Electric GE54 @ 25 HP
Operational voltage: 550v DC
Controllers: GE B18 with rheostatic electric braking.
This is the only surviving works tram in NZ, typical of the rail scrubbers or freight trams found on many of this country’s tramway systems.
Brief History
Tram 301 was brought into service in 1911 by Wellington City Corporation Tramways. It is the only surviving works tram in New Zealand and is typical of the rail scrubbers or freight trams which would have been found on many of this country’s tramway systems. It was originally numbered 201 and is one of only two of this type that were built as freight cars, the other being number 200. Its sliding doors were used to carry parcels and small goods throughout the city and suburbs of Wellington. They were not used for door-to-door deliveries, but depots for the small goods they carried were established in Wellington suburbs, such as Hataitai, Lyall Bay and Karori.
Tough competition from cars and the commercial vehicles that could operate outside of the tram system made this type of tram redundant by 1925. Tram 201 was then renumbered 301 and fitted with track grinding equipment in August 1928. Used to grind corrugations (undulations in the track) from the tram rails, 301 worked mainly at night after tram services had finished. Two angled headlights mounted to the front illuminated the track ahead so that grinding blocks between the wheels could be lifted before negotiating the points. The grinding blocks were raised and lowered manually. Such rail grinders were known as ‘scrubber’ cars. Tram 301 continued its service until the closure of the Wellington tramway system in 1964.
In 1958 it had been promised to the Old Time Transport Preservation League (founding organisation of MOTAT) by the Wellington City Council after the tramway system closed. It arrived at MOTAT in late 1964 in operational condition but required (and still requires) restoration.
Tough competition from cars and the commercial vehicles that could operate outside of the tram system made this type of tram redundant by 1925. Tram 201 was then renumbered 301 and fitted with track grinding equipment in August 1928. Used to grind corrugations (undulations in the track) from the tram rails, 301 worked mainly at night after tram services had finished. Two angled headlights mounted to the front illuminated the track ahead so that grinding blocks between the wheels could be lifted before negotiating the points. The grinding blocks were raised and lowered manually. Such rail grinders were known as ‘scrubber’ cars. Tram 301 continued its service until the closure of the Wellington tramway system in 1964.
In 1958 it had been promised to the Old Time Transport Preservation League (founding organisation of MOTAT) by the Wellington City Council after the tramway system closed. It arrived at MOTAT in late 1964 in operational condition but required (and still requires) restoration.
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Wellington City Corporation Tramways Department. 1911. Tram [No. 301 Freight Tram/ Track Scrubber], 1964.154. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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