Tram No. 26
26-0558
Wendouree Parade - 25/09/2005 - Photo Warren Doubleday
 
Interior of Tram 26 Interior of Tram 26
Interior Photograph of No. 26 - Photo by Juliana Durovic 2/9/2017 Interior Photograph of No. 26, showing the open saloon area and the stained glass windows - Photo by Juliana Durovic 16/9/2017
 
Built in 1916 by Duncan and Fraser for the Hawthorn Tramways Trust where it ran as No. 5. Renumbered 111 and classed "M" by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board in 1920. Sold to the Electric Supply Co. of Victoria Ltd. in 1931 and received its present number, passed on to the SEC. in 1934.
26-btm589i 26-btm2819i
Body of Melbourne No. 111 (Ballarat 26) being loaded onto a horse drawn jinker - Ballarat Railway Station - May or June 1930. Photo - George Netherway. Outbound in Albert St, to Sebastopol 1/1954, Photo Ben Parle.
Date Built 1916 Builder Duncan & Fraser Adelaide
 
Technical Details (As Built)        
Type Single truck, drop ends, open California combination
Length 31' 10" (9.70m) Width 8' 11" (2.72m)
Height 10' 8" (3.25m) Wheelbase 7' 6" (2.29m)
Approx. Mass 12 tons (12.2 tonnes)    
 
History:          
1915 Delivered to Hawthorn Tramways Trust as tram No 5.
1920 Taken over by Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board as No. 111, class M.
1930 Sold to Electric Supply Co. of Victoria for use on the Ballarat tramway system as No. 26. Converted to an early form of one-man operation.
1934 Ballarat tramway system formally taken over by the SEC.
1936 Converted to final Ballarat form - waist level panels in drop ends, with closeable doors in each corner of the tramcar.
1971 Acquired by the BTPS.
1978-87 Converted back to California combination configuration and painted in ESCo colours.
 
Heritage Significance:      

Historic – Tram built for the developing eastern suburbs of Melbourne in 1916, but became surplus to needs in Melbourne and sold to Ballarat in 1930 to replace by then the worn out ESCo trams.  The four wheel tram is synonymous with Ballarat serving the city and its community from 1930 until 1971.  It was converted to operate in Ballarat for one man operation, with doors on each side of both ends.   Reconverted to an open form by the BTM to represent the late ESCo era when the trams were received from Melbourne. 

Technical – allows comparison with other Ballarat trams that underwent modifications for service in Ballarat, being in its as delivered form.

Social – One of the fleet of four wheelers that served Ballarat.

Provenance – known in detail – see Fleet Register sheet.

Rarity – One of small number of similar trams in Australian tramway museums.

Representativeness - It is a very good example of its type.

Condition-Integrity – remains in operable condition.

Interpretive Potential – shows the form and colour scheme of Ballarat Trams in the early 1930’s and can be used in Wendouree Parade for visitor hands on experience.
 
Conservation Plan:
Retain in ESCo Colour Scheme as an open California combination tram with some further minor work to be completed.
 
Museum Status:
Operational vehicle, general use in museum service (during summer).
Return to the tram fleet register page.