From the archives: The tram lines of Sydney's Inner West in the 1950's Part 1

From the SPER archives. Footage of vintage Sydney tram operations along the "Red Lines", which ran along George St out to the Inner Western suburbs.
Clips from this film can also be seen in several chapters of the STM film "Shooting Through".
The footage was taken by the late Ben Parle before closure of the lines in November 1958, and was donated to the museum many years ago.
This had been shot on standard 8mm film, transferred to videotape and then further transferred to DVD. The original film had no sound.
If we can find the original films we may get this transferred again with modern equipment direct from film to HD.

[@mutualbeard]

These films are a great record of what was once mundane and now history. I was born in 59 and missed the trams but my earliest memories of Sydney are of some of these streetscapes. Oh, the good old days!

[@Thespiansewist]

They were good old days because we were young I born 1952

[@500carl]

The tram rail tracks on the right handside of Glebe Point road running sout to north at 9.12 to 9.22 are partly still there. I hope they remain there as a record to the past. Sydney was a finer place back then - I wish I was around then and not now.

[@cudgean]

A great find! Some familiar landmarks there.The Fort Macquarie Tram Sheds at Circular Quay; George St; Railway Square ; Vicoria Rd intersection with Darling St Balmain.The Balmain Power Station; Ross St in Glebe; Parramatta Road Norton St Leichhardt; Canterbury Rd Petersham etc.Looks like late 50's or possibly 1960 to me.Interesting that the tram would just stop if there was any passengers near the tram stop without the need for signalling.I think I only saw one motorbike and not wearing a helmet either! Thanks for posting. Single ticket to 1958 thanks.'Ding; Ding.'

[@SydneyTramwayMuseum]

It would have to be before November 1958 as that's when the Inner West lines closed down, and with it the removal of the final O class toastrack cars in service.

[@tomthomson2023]

The trams stopped at every stop, passengers had no push buttons to request a stop, on the footboard trams, the conductor had leather straps, to operate the drivers bell.

[@EeBee51]

And after the Cahill Expressway opened over Circular Quay, There are also FC Holdens visible in the clip. Which does date it to 1958.... Maybe this was shot as a farewell and memorial to Sydney's trams.

[@johnperry9357]

An important record of that period in history. Well put together.

[@Thane1607]

Look at them locally made trams that just work.

[@jackpallace275]

So true and they lasted for many decades, well built. Each Australian city then had its own style of tram which added to the city's character. The destination boards carried a design as well as the name of where it was bound. The line to Abbotsford had Saint Patrick's Cross . Leichardt a Saint George's Cross and so on. Very helpful to spot from a distance.

[@rjl110919581]

thank you for sharing the video as shows diff between the two types of Sydney today and Sydney yesteryear

[@TheTouristLine]

This is simply amazing, I am sat on the other side of the world and 70 years in the future (from when it was filmed, I am not a time traveller), but wish I was there!

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

The best place and time to be alive .

[@500carl]

This video ends with a tram on Ramsay road near its intersection with Dalhousie Street. Is there any more ? Is there any film of the trams at Five Dock ? I wasn't born in 1958. It is remarkable that so much of the streetscape of the inner city suburbs is so well preserved.

[@geoffreymoore1510]

These were great, thanks. Think I have seen some on Shooting Through as you mentioned. I was 10 when the trams went off in 1961. I did see some 60 and 61 Holdens that must have just managed to get in the films. Wish we had a way of sharpening up old video. I had Shooting Through on VHS then a dear friend (volunteer at Loftus) gave me the DVD with some of the later V?? trams on it.

[@merccadoosis8847]

Terrific video - made me feel as if I was there. Look forward to the next one.

[@waynetracy142]

Thank you, much to remember

[@RGC198]

This video was originally taken as Standard 8 mm movie film by the late Ben Parle in around 1958, just before the George Street tram lines closed.

[@SydneyTramwayMuseum]

Thank you so much. The caption has been updated accordingly.

[@RGC198]

@@SydneyTramwayMuseum You are most welcome. I used to visit Ben Parle at his home years ago when living in Sydney and saw many of his tramway movie films.

[@500carl]

@@RGC198 I've never heard of Ben Parle but he is a hero. How wonderful that he went to the trouble of filming life in the late 1950's in Sydney so we have an idea of what it was like. Bravo Ben.

[@RGC198]

@@500carl I was privileged enough to meet Ben Parle in person when he and I were both living in Sydney. At the time, he lived at Turramurra and I was invited over to view his tram movies. The first movie I ever saw was of Brisbane trams, which was absolutely awesome. Later he showed me his Sydney movie collection. He originally filmed everything in Standard 8 film. Some of his films have even been included on the DVD "Shooting Through".

[@richardcurry4912]

I saw an FE or FC Holden so this is very late 1950s.

[@NOYFB]

The treeless Inner West of the 1950s is very different in 2024.

[@victorsauvage1890]

Beautiful

[@SydneyTramwayMuseum]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@slyonme]

i knew that there was a tram that went to chinatown...i didnt know they used to get around the entire city..

[@andrewr2825]

Love it. At least these looked like trams (at least to me!)

[@GrumpyFrogProduction]

where is the traffic congestion, was that not a reason for removing the trams ???????

[@barryspurr9577]

Another 'reason', apparently, was that they were old-fashioned - automatically a bad thing.

[@samueljonis434]

@@barryspurr9577 every old footage of trams from the 1950's from around the world .... they were full!!! What utter nonsense to completely obliterate them.

[@barryspurr9577]

@@samueljonis434 indeed

[@tomsear1]

One video where I won’t complain music is 2 loud.

[@francesblabey3055]

Goodness, no cars.🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️

[@hilaryrubinstein9022]

Sydney looks remarkably tenth rate and slum like in the "good old days."

[@edgarsmythe9875]

Where’s Ashfield, Burwood and Enfield? Too far😂😂😂

[@NSW2040]

That line was closed in 1948, so long gone when this film was shot.

[@kerrybarnes7289]

that was Great

[@MMTB616]

What do we know about the original photographer?

[@suzanne8158]

Pete Sage/Lindsey Bridge or John Ward were the 3 people who took most of the tram pics of that era.

[@MMTB616]

@@suzanne8158 Lindsay Bridge and John Ward would have been teenagers when much of the filming was done. So, too, may have been Peter Sage (deceased). I believe it may have been an earlier tramway photographer. I agree few would have been taking movies in those far off days. (Photography was VERY expensive in real terms).

[@nopelandfill]

Dead