R1-class Sydney tram

The R1-class trams were a class of trams operated on the Sydney tram network. Their design was a development of the R class.

R1-class
R1 class at Sydney Showground
Manufacturer	Clyde Engineering Commonwealth Engineering
Constructed	1935 and 1950-1953
Number built	155
Fleet numbers	1933-2087
Capacity	56 (Seated)
Specifications
Train length	14.35 metres
Width	2.74 metres
Height	3.26 metres
Maximum speed	60 km/h
Weight	17.9 t
Power output	4 x 40 hp
Electric system(s)	600 V DC catenary
Current collector(s)	Trolley pole
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

History

When Clyde Engineering were delivering the last of the R class in 1935, it was decided to modify the final five to a design with a reduced drop-centre, eight more seats, no internal partitions, and one less door each side. These modified trams were classified as R1 class, and a further 50 were ordered from Clyde. In the late 1940s, a further 250 were ordered from Commonwealth Engineering. Steel shortages delayed their construction, with the first not delivered until September 1950. During construction the order was reduced to 100, with the last delivered to North Sydney depot on 17 September 1953.^[1]

The original five tramcars modified in 1935 (numbers 1933 to 1937) could be distinguished from later production runs by their side windows (which indicated the original door spacing for the R class) and the underframe which was built to accommodate a larger drop-centre.

One car, 2029, was fitted with dynamic braking, for use on the steep Neutral Bay line, from 1952 to when the line closed in 1956.^[2]

One (2018) was written off after a single day in a traffic accident at Petersham. Most remained in service until the end of tram operations in 1961.^[1]

When the Sydney tramway system closed, some of the class were disposed of by burning at Randwick Workshops, despite some being less than 8 years old at time of being burnt.

Preservation

Before refurbishment at the vacant Rozelle Tram Depot, heavily vandalised

After refurbishment in Tramsheds (redeveloped Rozelle depot)

R1-class 1995, the last tram to have operated on Sydney's original tram network

The interior of vandalised tram 1995

Ten have been preserved:

• 1933, 1951, 1979, 2001 and 2044 at the Sydney Tramway Museum^[3]
• 1971 on loan from the Sydney Tramway Museum to the Tramway Museum, St Kilda^[3]
• 1995 the last tram to run in Sydney, statically displayed Tramsheds in the old Rozelle Tram Depot^[4]
• 1936 at The Brisbane Tramway Museum, Ferny Grove (yet to be restored)
• 1948 and 2064 retained privately

References

1. MacCowan, Ian (1990). The Tramways of New South Wales. Oakleigh: Ian MacCowan. pp. 135–138. ISBN 0 949600 25 3.
2. Reed, Noel; Saxon, Ian (February 2010). "DYNAMIC BRAKING TESTS FOR SYDNEY'S NEUTRAL BAY LINE" (PDF). Trolley Wire (320): 3–7.
3. "Sydney Tramway Museum Fleet Register" (PDF). Sydney Tramway Museum. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
4. Bought for a bargain $50, Sydney’s last tram on track for a makeover Inner West Courier 5 February 2015

Further reading

• Chinn, N (1975). New South Wales Tramcar Handbook 1861-1961. Vol. 1. South Pacific Electric Railway Cooperative Society. ISBN 9780959865967.
• McCarthy, Ken (1976). New South Wales Tramcar Handbook 1861-1961. Vol. 2. South Pacific Electric Railway Cooperative Society. ISBN 9780959865974.

External links

Media related to Sydney R1-Class Tram at Wikimedia Commons