Images of preserved Bendigo trams

Following the closure of the Bendigo tramway system in 1972, a section of the system was retained from the Central Deborah Mine, just off High Street, on the former Golden Square line to North Bendigo.

The tourist tramway, with the brand name "Bendigo Talking Trams" is part of an integrated tourist attraction, including the Central Deborah Gold Mine and the trams, is operated by the Bendigo Trust. Tourist trams operate a regular service on the line. Bendigo was a very wealthy city during the Gold Rushes of the second half of the nineteenth century and a large number of very impressive and attractive buildings were built during this time. The tram journey includes a recorded commentary about the historic sights along the route. The tram journey also includes a tour of the tramway depot where it is possible to inspect many of the trams in the Bendigo fleet.

Since the closure of the tramway operated by the State Electricity Commission in 1972, much of the track has been relaid to an improved standard in mass concrete. Two sections of track have been added, the shot spur from High Street to the Central Deborah mine, and an unwired section of track to tramway storage sheds on the site of the former Bendigo Gasworks.

The Bendigo Trust has restored and repainted the trams into a variety of styles and colour schemes representing a range of former owners and eras of the trams. The Trust has also acquired a number of trams from Melbourne to augment its fleet and enable less frequent use to be made of the elderly and historic trams acquired from the State Electricity Commission.

Here is a selection of pictures taken on a typical day of operation of the Bendigo Talking Trams. Please enjoy!

Bendigo Trust maximum traction bogie tram number 122 was pictured at Charing Cross southbound for the Central Deborah Mine on Sunday 24 March 2000. This tram is painted to represent an early colour scheme of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board. Charing Cross was the hub of the former State Electricity Commission tramway system, being the point where the Eaglehawk-Quarry Hill line crossed the Golden Square-North Bendigo line. It is today part of the central business district of Bendigo.

Bendigo 122 was pictured at the North Bendigo terminus, about to depart for the Central Deborah Mine on Sunday 24 March 2000. This teminus is in an off street location just off Thunder Street, adjacent to the Korong Vale railway line. The tramline was extended from Lake Weeroona to North Bendigo in 1942 to service the North Bendigo Munitions Factory, just to the north of the terminus.

Bendigo "Cafe Tram" 976 was photographed at the Central Deborah Mine terminus on Sunday 24 March 2000. Passengers are provided morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner as appropriate. The tram was formerly a Melbourne SW6 class.

Bendigo tram 808 was photographed in Tramway Parade, Bendigo on Sunday 24 March 2000, about to turn right at the triangular junction with McCrae Street, bound for North Bendigo. This section of tramline line leads from the main North Bendigo line to the Depot. The passengers have just enjoyed a tour of the Depot. 808 was an SW5 class tram on the Melbourne tramway system before being acquired for service in Bendigo by the Bendigo Trust.

Bendigo Birney tram 15 was photographed at the Bendigo Tramway Depot on Sunday 24 March 2000. This tram includes advertisement for the McDonald's restaurant chain. This tram was previously in service on the Geelong system before being transferred to Bendigo. Bendigo is justly famous for its fleet of single truck Birney trams which remained in service long after they were withdrawn from service on many other tramway systems.

Three trams are shown in this picture at the Bendigo Tram Depot on Sunday 24 Marc 2000. The trams are maximum traction bogie tramcar number 44, painted in the colour scheme of the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust of Melbourne, single truck Birney tram number 302, painted in the colour scheme of the Municipal Tramways Trust of Adelaide and Melbourne W2 class tram 441. Birney 302 formerly operated on the isolated Port Adelaide tramway system

Visitors inspect Bendigo single truck Caklifornia combination tram 19 inside the Bendigo Depot on Sunday 24 March 2000. This tram has been converted back to an earlier open form for its end passenger compartments.

Bendigo maximum bogie tram 25 was photographed in the Bendigo Tram Depot on Sunday 24 March 2000. This tram, which was originally constructed for the Hawthorn Tramway Trust in Melbourne is painted in the Bendigo Trust colour scheme.

Bendigo maximum bogie tram 26 was photographed in the Bendigo Tram Depot on Sunday 24 March 2000. This tram was originally constructed for the Hawthorn Tramways Trust in Melbourne. This tram is painted in a colour scheme similar to that of the final State Electricity Commission of Victoria.