Railways and Tramways of Australia

Steaming into history

 

Australia’s last steam tram in regular service made its final journey on 31 March 1943.

 

Steam tram services began operating in Sydney in 1879. The network expanded to many suburbs of the city, and eventually most of the lines were electrified. The last government steam tramway, between Kogarah and Sans Souci, closed in 1937.

 

In regional New South Wales, steam trams operated in the streets of Newcastle, Maitland and Broken Hill. The Newcastle system was later electrified.

 

A privately-operated steam tramway operated from Parramatta to Redbank Wharf, opening in 1883. The wharf was located where Duck River joined the Parramatta River. Trams connected with Parramatta River ferry services. The tramway was single track and proceeded in a westerly direction from the wharf. It crossed over the Sandown and Carlingford railway lines on level crossings near Camelia railway station. Continuing on, the line went through Parramatta central business district and ended at Parramatta Park gates.

 

The steam tram service carried goods as well as passengers. Initially owned by ferry proprietor Charles Jeanneret, its ownership changed several times. It was purchased by Sydney Ferries Limited in 1900, which maintained ownership until the line’s closure.

 

Various steam tram motors saw service on the line, including several former government motors that had previously operated elsewhere.

 

A sharp decline in goods traffic during the Second World War led to the closure of the tramway. Some passengers boarded trams on the last day of operation to have a final ride, but there was little fuss.

 

The last tram was formed by motor no. 31 hauling two trailer cars. It departed Parramatta Park gates at 5.00 pm for the run to Redbank Wharf, where the depot was located.

 

Australia’s last steam tram service passed into history.

 

View

Video footage of Parramatta steam trams:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZZ6I5WhkqQ

 

Bibliography

‘Good-bye to the steam tram today’, The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 31 March 1943, p 1.

BS Irwin, Linseed and penny sections: a history of the Parramatta–Duck River tramway 1883–1943, Bruce S Irwin, 2019.

HH Matthews, ‘The Parramatta Wharf tramway’, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, no. 254, December 1958, pp 181–99.

M McCarthy, ‘The era of the steam tramway’, Trolley Wire, no. 145, April 1973, pp 3–25.