P-class Sydney tram explained

P-class
Manufacturer:Randwick Tramway Workshops
Meadowbank Manufacturing Company
Walsh Island Dockyard
Constructed:1921-29
Numberbuilt:258
Fleetnumbers:1480-1737
Trainlength:13.85 metres
Width:2.74 metres
Height:3.26 metres
Weight:16.9 t
Capacity:80 
48 
Maxspeed:60 km/h
Poweroutput:4 x 40 hp
Collectionmethod:Trolley pole
Electricsystem:600 V DC catenary

The P-class trams were a class of trams operated on the Sydney tram network.

History

Between 1921 and 1929, 258 P class trams were built by Randwick Tramway Workshops, Meadowbank Manufacturing Company, and the Walsh Island Dockyard. As with the preceding O class trams, the P class were cross bench cars with 80 seat capacity. They were a big improvement over the O-class in that all compartments offered protection from bad weather on both sides of the bodies when running. Fitted with folding canvas doors in each compartment, conductors only had to push open one half of a door.[1]

The P-class trams were based at all depots on the main system except Rushcutters Bay, but worked to the Sydney Stadium, just past the depot between 1947 and 1959 out of Waverley and Dowling Street for special events, plus out to Watsons Bay for picnic specials. Most were withdrawn in 1959/1960.

One tram, 1691, had a narrow corridor cut through the cross bench bulkheads, and was then the sole member of the PR class.

Four (1517 & 1573 at Randwick Tramway Workshops and 1562 & 1582 Eveleigh Railway Workshops) were refitted with the same windows, centre door and internal layout as the R1 class, and were known as the PR1 class or P/R1 class.[2]

Preservation

Six have been preserved:

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Book: MacCowan. Ian. The Tramways of New South Wales. 1990. Ian MacCowan. Oakleigh. 0-949600-25-3. 129–131.
  2. Ward . Michael . May 2010 . The Unidentical Quads - Sydney's PR1 Class Cars . Trolley Wire . 321 . 12-20.
  3. Web site: Sydney Tramway Museum Fleet Register. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150610210158/https://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au/sms/STM6065.pdf. 10 June 2015. 28 July 2021. Sydney Tramway Museum.
  4. Web site: SYDNEY TRAMWAYS 1700. 28 July 2021. Seashore Trolley Museum.