The D-class trams were a class of single bogie Californian Combination type trams operated on the

Sydney tram network The Sydney tramway network served the inner suburbs of Sydney, Australia from 1879 until 1961. In its heyday, it was the largest in Australia, the second largest in the Commonwealth of Nations (after London), and one of the largest in the worl ...

with open cross benches at the ends and a saloon in the centre.

History

In 1896,

Clyde Engineering Clyde Engineering was an Australian manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, and other industrial products. It was founded in September 1898 by a syndicate of Sydney businessmen buying the Granville factory of timber merchants Huds ...

delivered car 123 with an elliptical roof. The 24 others numbered 93-121 had a clerestory roof and were built by Clyde Engineering and

Ritchie Brothers Ritchie Brothers was an Australian railway rolling stock and tram manufacturer based in the Sydney suburb of Auburn. History In 1857, Robert Ritchie took over the blacksmith business of Joseph Whiting of Parramatta. In 1876, Ritchie was awar ...

in 1899. The composite design and terminology was adapted from a popular style of car tram operating in

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

. They were introduced to give more room for smokers who were previously confined to car entrances. They were four wheel cars, seating capacity being originally 32, later being increased to 34. The last was withdrawn in 1925. Some were converted to track scrubbers with one sold to

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

Preservation

Two have been preserved: *102 at the

Sydney Tramway Museum The Sydney Tramway Museum (operated by the South Pacific Electric Railway) is Australia's oldest tramway museum and the largest in the southern hemisphere. It is located at Loftus in the southern suburbs of Sydney. History Construction of th ...

, converted to track scrubber in 1930 and renumbered 134s, operational, was used as a track scrubber on the Wentworth Park light rail line in 1997 *117 at the

, converted to breakdown car 112s in 1913 and is currently halfway through being returned to passenger configuration.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:D class tram Trams in Sydney Tram vehicles of Australia

History

Preservation

References

Further reading

External links