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(AUS) The Colonial tramcar Restaurant


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If you're in Melbourne for any length of time you will come across 3 maroon coloured trams traveling in tandem with the word restaurant on the side.

These 3 trams are part of the famous Colonial tramcar restaurant.

The tramcar restaurant began services in 1983 with the company purchasing a 1927 W2 class tram (W2.442) and modifying it extensively.

The service was expanded with the addition of 2 1946 SW6 class trams (SW6.937(tram 02) & SW6.939(Tram 03). These too were modified extensively. Works included the removal of a set of doors the the drop centre section made level with the rest of the tram.

In 2006 the W2 was retired and replaced with another SW6 tram (SW6.938)

The current fleet is made up of SW6.935 (Tram 06) SW6.938 (Tram 04) SW6.964 (Tram 05)
SW6.937(tram 02) is currently stored in Bendigo and SW6.939(tram 03) is stored at Preston.

The trams currently run 3 times a day. A lunch run, an early dinner run and a late dinner run all departing from stop 125 near Port Junction.

The route it takes can be different each day depending on operational requirements but for the most part it stays on inner city tracks which won't hold up revenue earning trams. The driver and maintenance of the 3 trams is provided by Yarra tram's Southbank depot.

 

Arriving back from the lunch run the trams have to take an unusual route back to the tram stop.

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Here we see tram 04 arriving back. The tram in the background is where the tramcar picks up.

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Coming up after the lights change is trams 05 and 06.

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All 3 trams sit on port junction just after a set of points to enable them to head back to the terminus. Clearance markings on the tracks enable the drivers to pull up correctly. While in theroy trams can use the St Kilda lightrail this doesn't happen due to the low speed the W class fleet is restricted to.

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While the tram drivers try to get everything done quickly hold ups can still happen.
C.3014s Path to Port Melbourne is partly blocked.

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With the trams over at the terminus C.3014 can continue. The task is now to unload the 108 people from the 3 trams.

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The 3 trams at the terminus.

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C2.5103 passes by SW6.935

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The trams now head back to Southbank depot. Waiting in the distance is an E class tram.

 

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