The Story
TramsAdelaide grew out of an idea to take a layout to the 100th Anniversary of Adelaide's first tram's test run into the city, which was to take place at St Kilda Museum on 30 November, 2008. The layout plan quickly grew from a short L-shaped point to point diorama into a full circuit layout including a depot. Members worked quickly to get the layout ready in time, on weekends and sometimes even the odd weekday. Against the clock the layout was presented in a complete form at the Museum and, despite some teething troubles in setting it up, attracted a reasonable crowd throughout the day.
The layout represents Adelaide's tramlines through history, showing the modern day Rundle Mall tram platform (complete with a representation of Rundle Mall), a representation of South Terrace stop in the 1980s with the STA slab-style shelters, right around to Hackney Depot with the historic tram barn. You can even see the North Adelaide Golf Course with a little stop for the golfers and a hinting nod to Botanic Road, where A type tram 1 made its historic first journey in 1908.
The members' tram fleet too varies, from a handmade C type "Desert Gold" car, to the controversial Flexity Classics and even a model of tram 1 itself! Cameo features of the layout include the Darrell Lea and Haigh's buildings at the mouth of the mall, the Rundle Mall pigs and "Spheres" sculpture, Hackney Depot (made from a photograph of the real barn, as standing in the Botanic Gardens today), a Volleyball court, firefighters and even a handmade Adelaide bus.
Following the layout's debut, several modifications were made to improve layout operations as well as general assembly and disassembly by the various group members. The modification work was fairly extensive 'behind the scenes' (although the scenery on the layout remained much the same). Once again against the clock, the rebuilt layout was once again ready to be exhibited at the St Kilda Tramway Museum on the 8th of March 2009 for the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Adelaide tram system to the public. TramsAdelaide is set to feature at more exhibitions in the future, watch this space.
Photographs - 08/03/2009
A line up infront of Hackney depot with trams A 1, E1 111 and C 186. - William Adams.
A rather busy Hackney depot with the member's tram fleet on display prior to opening to the public. - William Adams.
F1 269 entering King William Street. - William Adams.
Former Mayor of Salisbury and now Federal MP for the area, Tony Zappia enjoying himself behind the controls of TramsAdelaide. - William Adams.
Photographs - 30/11/2008
A general view of King William Street - Andrew McGregor
Flexity Classic Trams 104 and 110 stand at Rundle Mall while a bus passes - Andrew McGregor
Hackney Depot and some of the fleet running at the St Kilda exhibit - Andrew McGregor
Tram 110 in enters the Depot - Ben Rimmer
Trams 104 and 110 attract the attention of onlookers - Ben Rimmer