Scrubber Tram No. 8

No. 8 following repainting in MMTB livery - 20/9/2008 Photo Warren Doubleday

For a detailed article on the history of this tram and many other photographs, see the April 2018 issue of Fares Please! commencing on page 6.

The tram was built by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board in 1934 using the cabs from a C class tram (No. 32). It was transported to the isolated Footscray system a number of times to clean the rails there. In 1961 it received additional body bracing and repainted in the diagonal black and string (light cream) stripes. The tram became 8W during 1975 as the then new Z class trams came into service. By the early 1990's the need for the tram and the other similar cars used to "scrub" the surface of the rails was no longer. The tram was stored at Malvern depot for many years before being donated to the Ballarat Tramway Museum by the Public Transport Commission in September 1999. It has been scrubbing the rails in Ballarat since March 2001.

No. 8 crosses Princes Bridge with Batman Ave terminus in the background - 1955. Photo Jim Seletto.

No. 8 (in The Met colour scheme) at the time of recommissioning by BTM - 17/3/2001 Photo Warren Doubleday.

Technical Details

Type	Single truck tank car fitted for rail groove flushing and rail scrubbing.
Wheel size	33" nominally (840mm)
Length	22'0" (6.705m)
Width	7' 5.5" (2.27m)
Height	10'9" (3.27m)
Wheelbase	8'0" (2.43m)
Approx Mass	12 tons (12.2 tonnes)
Motors	General Electric GE241 (55HP)
Controllers	General Electric K36JR
Brake Valves	Westinghouse Type “W” Self Lapping - same type operates the scrubbing blocks.
Compressor	General Electric Type CP27
Compressor Governor	General Electric Type ML
Line Breaker	General Electric Type D.B. 276

History

1934	Built by the MMTB as No. 8 at Preston Workshops.
1940's and 1950's	Transferred to the isolated Footscray system a number of times.
1961	Repainted from green and cream to string and cream, additional body strengthening and lights added.
1975	Renumbered to No. 8W.
198?	Repainted in “The Met” yellow colour scheme.
199?	Withdrawn from regular use and stored at Malvern Depot.
1999	Donated by the Public Transport Corporation to the BTM.
2001	Recommissioned, with some of the MMTB additional lights removed.
2005	Repainting in MMTB green and cream livery completed. Some additional equipment for the Museum's use has since been added.
2019	First tram over the newly reconstructed track between Depot Junction and Carlton St - scrubbing the rail head.

Heritage Significance

Historic – One of a few service vehicles built from almost new by the MMTB rather than being a converted vehicle.

Conservation Plan: - Use as a operational track maintenance tram, maintain in MMTB green and cream livery.

Museum Status: - Operational vehicle; in Museum service maintaining track.

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Ballarat Tramway Museum Inc. - PO Box 632 Ballarat Vic 3353 Australia - info@btm.org.au - phone +61 3 5334 1580. A0031819K