SHOWBUS AUSTRALIA BUS & TRAM IMAGE GALLERY
Melbourne Tram Museum
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 The last tram built at Preston followed on from W5 1040, but some 1041 appeared some seventeen years later. It was built to a Peter Witt design roughly based on the M28 class of trams in Gothenburg. The M&MTB was strapped for cash yet desperate to replace its ageing fleet which was becoming a burden to maintain. In order to minimise costs, the bogies and traction equipment for "new" 1041 were recycled from the 23 year old tram 980, although 1041 was fitted with modern foot-operated controllers from Belgian manufacturer ACEC. Ultimately 1041 resulted in the order for the first one hundred Z1 trams, but it was not a success: it failed on its public launch and had to be pushed back to Preston by W7 1035, it suffered union problems as with the "Yappers" it could be one man operated and it was forever breaking down! |
 Seen again in November 2014, 1041 is still in Hawthorn depot which is where it went when withdrawn in 1984. It was heavily cannibalised to keep Z1 cars running, so whilst it has the distinction of being the least used Melbourne tram, some bits of it may have survived longer than other trams!
Picture ref A6233 |
 The classic Peter Witt design trams of Milan have a worldwide following and one has found its way to Melbourne Tram Museum to join the collection in there. Breda built 1692 is seen there in November 2014.
Picture ref A6234 |
 The Milan tram was also seen at the Museum back in April 2007. |
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