Portland Cable Tram

The Portland Cable Tram is

Victoria, Australia. It opened on 2 March 2002. Although the rolling stock in use are replicas or restored models of cable trams, they now run with diesel motors

.

History

Portland Cable Tram Line

Legend


				0.0 km	Powerhouse Museum 38°21′14″S 141°36′11″E / 38.35376°S 141.60309°E / -38.35376; 141.60309 (Powerhouse Museum station)
					Balloon loop
					Hood Street

					Bentinck Street
				0.5 km	Portland Cable Tram Museum and Depot


					Turntable
					Rolling stock storage shed

					Henty Park
					Glenelg Street
				1.0 km	Portland Botanical Gardens
					Cliff Street
					Lee Breakwater Road

					Portland Foreshore

					Lee Breakwater Road

				1.9 km	Portland Maritime Discovery Centre

				2.0 km	Passing siding

					Portland Foreshore

				2.8 km	Portland Bay Holiday Park

					Lighthouse Avenue

					Bentinck Street

					Wade Street
				3.6 km	Branch junction
				3.7 km	World War II Memorial Lookout 38°20′02″S 141°36′28″E / 38.33376°S 141.60787°E / -38.33376; 141.60787
					Shunting triangle end

In 1996, the Portland Cable Tram project was established with the aim of creating a tramway in the town. The basis of the proposal was that although Portland was in a region with natural tourist attractions, it lacked a significant man-made feature which would encourage tourists to stay longer in the area.[1]

The funding of such a large project initially presented a problem, as tracks would have to be laid, rolling stock acquired, and a storage shed built. However, a donation of $220,000 by the Handbury family helped the proposal gain momentum. This was followed by $500,000 from the

Victorian Government and $175,000 from the Shire of Glenelg. A further $500,000 from other sources brought the total to $2.17 million.^[1]

The first year of operation proved successful, with 14,000 passengers carried.[1] Since opening, more than 135,000 people have ridden the Portland Cable Tram.^[2]

Current operation

The Portland Cable Tram is run by a group of around 60 volunteers^[2] who undertake roles as tram drivers, conductors, administrators, maintenance workers, cleaners, gardeners, and museum display curators. The tramway's general manager is the only paid employee.^[1]^[2]

The trams usually run five times a day, but only four services operate daily during winter. The route operates 364 days a year; there are no services on Christmas Day nor in the morning on Anzac Day and Good Friday.^[2]

Tickets, which provide one day's unlimited use of the trams, are available from the Museum and Depot, online, or the tram's conductor. Annual tickets are also available. Passengers may board and alight the trams at any of the six stations.

The Portland Cable Tram Museum and Depot is home to an 1880

European settler in the Port Phillip District (later Victoria), as well as model railway exhibits, classic cars and the largest private gemstone collection in the southern hemisphere. The gift shop sells memorabilia and refreshments are also available.^[2]

Line guide

The line is 3.7 kilometres long [1] and journeys depart from and return to the Portland Cable Tram Museum and Depot.

Beginning at the Museum and Depot, the tram heads in a westerly direction, stopping at the Powerhouse Museum, a small institution showcasing motor vehicles. A balloon loop then sends the tram back towards the Museum and Depot station after some street running. Passing through Henty Park, the next stop is the Botanic Gardens after which the line turns north and runs close to the Portland harbour along the Foreshore. A stop at the Portland Maritime Discovery Centre is followed by a climb up the headland to the Portland Bay Holiday Park, where another station is located. After passing several homes, the line turns east to terminate at the World War II Memorial Lookout, which also served as a water tower. At this point, the tram sets are turned on a triangle for the return trip back to the Portland Cable Tram Museum and Depot, making the ride 7.4 kilometres and around one hour in length.^[2]

Rolling stock

There is a variety of rolling stock currently in use on the tramway.

The two grip cars operated by Portland Cable Trams are copies of Melbourne cable trams which ran from 1885 to 1940, constructed to the specifications of that period. They were built from scratch under the auspices of Keith McMillan, and are exact replicas, apart from the diesel engines that they use in place of the cable system.^[2] That method of propulsion was chosen because it would be virtually impossible to build the complicated underground cable network which originally pulled cable trams along.^[1]

The two saloon cars in service at Portland did run on the Melbourne system during its heyday. After the electrification of the network, the outdated cable tram cars were sold off. Saloon Car No. 95 initially entered service in November 1886 and was used on the Victoria Street route, running via Collins Street.^[1] The Portland Cable Tram organisation salvaged that car from Newton Williams in Swan Hill and restored it to service in February 2002.^[1]^[2]

Saloon Car No. 171 was originally built in 1886 and used on the

Victoria, as well as Wollongong and Loftus in New South Wales.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Youl, Richard (May 2003). "Portland's Cable Tramway" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 293: 3–6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2019 – via Sydney Tramway Museum.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "Portland Cable Trams". Portland Cable Trams. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.

External links

Portland Cable Trams

38°21′18″S 141°36′24″E / 38.3549°S 141.6067°E / -38.3549; 141.6067

[:0-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Youl, Richard (May 2003). "Portland's Cable Tramway" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 293: 3–6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2019 – via Sydney Tramway Museum.

[:1-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "Portland Cable Trams". Portland Cable Trams. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.

[1]

[2]