Tram Driver’s Eye View - Ride Melbourne’s City Circle with a Heritage W Class Tram (Australia)

Melbourne’s tram system is one of the largest, if not the largest tram system in the world consisting of 250 kilometres (160 miles) of double track route. In 1884 a horse tram line opened in Fairfield , heralding the beginning of today’s network. Melbourne's cable tram system opened in 1885, and expanded to one of the largest in the world, with 75 kilometres (46.6 miles) of double track. The first electric tram line opened in 1889, but closed only a few years later in 1896. In 1906 electric tram systems were opened in St Kilda and Essendon, marking the start of continuous electric tram operation in the city. The system has undergone a number of managerial changes in recent years, today it is operated by Keolis Downer, trading as Yarra Trams.
This video shows the city circle route from a Heritage W Class tram. Melbourne is an attractive city and riding the tram is a great way to see it.
To learn more about the circle trams, please click on this link - www.onlymelbourne.com.au/city...
For a brief history of system - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_i...
Track gauge - 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Date of visit 22.02.19

[@mikioni]

Wonderful 🙂

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you :-)

[@Cydonius1]

beautiful city

[@Timsvideochannel1]

it's a nice place.

[@danefilander6306]

Absolutely amazing ride the city circle Tram as I was in Melbourne July 2019 for my 2 week visit to this beautiful city and yes I ridden on the City circle Tram in both directions. I was very impressed on how Ballarat tramways restored these beautiful heritage icons back to there former running glory particularly retaining most of the original fixtures that might be still the original fixtures and might add with some additional features to meet the modern safety requirements but however bare in mind also retain the heritage of the W class trams.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed your time in Melbourne, it is a lovely city with a relaxing feel to it, nice to just walk around, particularly the water front. The old W class trams have become an icon for the city, featured in many adverts. They appear to be in almost original condition, even the motors sound original, the only difference I noted was that the trolley poles have been replaced with modern pantographs.

[@Bobrogers99]

I would suggest that anyone planning a visit to Melbourne should also watch the videos from Schony747 and tressteleg1, as between them they have covered practically every tram line in the city. One is presently a tram driver and the other a retired driver, and they've been able to place their cameras with unobstructed views. Their videos give a good overview of most of the city's attractions as well as showing which lines to take and the transfer points. As you can see here, driving around Melbourne can be challenging, so the tram is by far the most painless and economical way to tour the city. I've never been there, and at my age I never will, but I have become surprisingly acquainted with Melbourne via KZbin. It appears to be a place that every Australian tourist should visit.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Bob, that is good advise, I enjoy watching videos on the two channels you recommend. I live about as far as it is possible get from Melbourne, yet I feel at home there when I visit, it really is a lovely city.

[@brianmcdonald6519]

I agree with you wholeheartedly about Schony and Tressteleg! Their videos are the best for seeing Melbourne. I, like you, will never have the chance to visit, so enjoy these videos immensely! It does seem like a city that I would thoroughly enjoy visiting!!

[@sydbussie]

love the old W class...have unsuccessfully applied twice to join Yarra Trams but I do live in hope and one day get to drive one of these beauties myself

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I can understand your desire to drive a W class tram, I hope you achieve your goal.

[@Brianrockrailfan]

great video tim :)

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@robsonrodrigues805]

Adorei o video 😀

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Obrigado. Estou contente que você gostou do vídeo.

[@robsonrodrigues805]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Obrigado!

[@anmolmehta7116]

Lovely tram ride Tim. However, the central divider does obstruct the front view a bit. Melbourne is a lovely city for a tram ride.😊😊😊

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride, it was a pity about the pillar, it was the best I could do on the day.

[@slycat1939]

My favorite city. Very nice trip. Thanks for sharing. God bless

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@robertcoleman4861]

Hi tim the trams are the best way to get around oz's no 2 city but did you know sydney had a tram network almost twice the size as melbourne dismantled overnight in 1959 i was a teen at the time cheer's bob.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Robert, I knew Sydney had a tram network, but I didn't know it was that extensive. I did get to ride the monorail just before it was removed. It's surprising how many of the things we took for granted as teenagers, don't exist today, all the old cinemas are now Bingo halls or shops. Take care. Tim.

[@neilforbes416]

If you ever get to Sydney, head out to Loftus(Illawarra line), one stop after Sutherland. There's the Sydney Tramway Museum with examples of trams from all over Australia, and even some overseas trams, ex-San Francisco PCC cars, German Straßbahnwagen examples, Japanese trams, well worth a visit! That W-class tram you rode on here had been modified. Originally it had a Trolley Pole to connect with the overhead power wires, but, as you've seen, quite a few old vintage trams, including the one you rode on, have had the trolley pole replaced with a far more reliable Pantograph. Reason: All too often, those pesky trolley poles would dislodge themselves from the wire, leaving the poor old tram stuck amid the traffic, particularly at some intersections where the wire was a bit tricky for the trolley pole to negotiate, leaving a somewhat embarrassed tram driver!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Neil, hopefully I will visit Sydney again, not sure when, there is a lot of Australia to see including the Sugar cane trains I glimpsed on a visit to the Daintree Forest. The tram museum sounds interesting and I did notice the pantographs on the W Class trams, they looked a little out of place, too modern, although I fully understand why they fit them. Take care. Tim.

[@neilforbes416]

@@Timsvideochannel1 The "cane trains" in Queensland are just a bit larger than the trains that run on the Ravenglass-to-Eskdale light railway in your "neck of the woods". The only difference is the cane trains carry no paying passengers.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@neilforbes416 I haven't been to the English Lake District to see the Ratty for more than fifteen years now, I'll have to put that right. I also look forward to seeing the cane trains in action, so much to do and so little time to fit it all in.

[@neilforbes416]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Ah yes, the busy life of a videographer!

[@brianmcdonald6519]

I live in Toronto, Canada, and our streetcars are equipped with a pole. However, we are getting newer models now, built by Bombardier, that have both a pole and a pantograph! ( They use one or the other.) I have to admit the pantograph looks rather out of place in North America!!

[@pega17pl]

Hello Tim, your video confirmed me again: best manner to experience character of town is by riding its tram. - Heinz

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Heinz, I agree, trams are a great way to see a city and get a feel for its character.

[@staryoshi06]

We need to convert victoria rd in sydney to look like this.

[@tranmere292]

Our son moved to Melbourne from Sydney recently and we're planning a visit soon. The City Circle tram is a must. I've a vague memory from a visit years ago that it's free to ride on. Is that the case? By the way, Sydney had a city circle bus service for a while that was free but work on the new tram route put a stop to it. Ironic, eh?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I hope you enjoy your visit to Melbourne, it's got a lot offer and the City Circle Tram is free. I rode the Sydney monorail just before it was removed, it is a shame it's gone. Free services are an effective way to get tourists and visitors around the city to visit attractions. Most cities have privately operated "hop on hop off" bus services, but they are usually expensive and not that frequent.

[@gleneegee1687]

Looks good, thanks for posting. Just a question, probably a stupid one, but why is the driver (seemingly) standing for the whole trip, by choice, or because there is no seat?

[@matthewmassarotti2596]

why is the driver going up & down with the brake is it releasing it or applying the brake

[@AndreiTupolev]

Excellent! Have you seen Schony747's videos of the Melbourne network?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Cheers, I had not come across Schony747 so I took a look, it is an interesting channel, with some good stuff on it, I watched this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJewfH2NfLqHna8 I also saw your comment on it ;-)

[@slycat1939]

@@Timsvideochannel1 I've sent you some links to his before. Another one of my favorite channels.

[@slycat1939]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/baGUooifZ7hgo9E This is one of Schony's posted 4 yrs ago. About this tram

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@slycat1939 Cheers, tram depots are interesting places, I wish I'd had more time to look around the city and find some of these places.

[@slycat1939]

@@Timsvideochannel1 I have a video someplace I seen and saved under trams that shows the underground station that runs the trams in sanfrancisco. Plus more from Schony747's on most all the trams there. He's a tram driver there. His channel is very interesting.

[@melkiorwiseman5234]

Melbourne has to be one of the most accessible cities in the world, with both trains and trams shuttling people not only around the city but also into and out of the city and suburbs. It's best to avoid peak hour rides if you can, although even peak hour isn't too bad so long as you can get on before everyone else (to get a seat) and you're getting off where the majority are (so you don't get blocked in by bodies).

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Melbourne reminded me of Switzerland, good, reasonably priced public transport, traffic on the roads kept moving even in rush hour. I didn't see much graffiti and people were not looking at their mobile phones all the time. The only crowded place was the tram I was traveling on. Melbourne gets the thumbs up from me.

[@Brianrockrailfan]

seattle,washinton's last 2 streetcar's from Australia will run again in Seattle,Washington on the be built center city connector also maybe the oready built south lake union first hill streetcar lines

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I knew very little about the Seattle street cars, so I looked them up - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Streetcar It made interesting reading, a couple of older street cars will certainly make operations more interesting. Will they be used for special services only or will they run regularly as they do Australia?

[@Redpass63]

Sorry, but despite the panorama is really beautiful, the central pillar of the tram makes the vision annoying.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

It would have been nice to have obtained a clear view, but the driver was very busy on this crowded tram, I don't think he had time to allow me to place a camera inside the driving cab. It is also likely I would have needed to obtain permission from the operating company.

[@anmolmehta7116]

Its not a central pillar but a central partition that obstructs the front view in the tram.

[@PhlanMichellePurss]

Hi have you ever seen any of tressteleg1's videos on KZbin as they are the same/ similar to Schony747's videos I think their from different depots though?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I've seen some of the videos posted by both Schony747 and tressteleg1. They post some really interesting stuff, I haven't met either of them, but their access to the cab does allow them to shoot great videos and its nice of them to make their videos available to the general public.

[@KOLEJ22DrogaPrzygody]

Okej video 28 👍👌

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Cheers :-)

[@user-lq6wm9rq8g]

Άκουσα ένα παραλίγο?? Έλληνας?

[@ChinaAl]

wow Tim! Worst camera position ever. Can't do thumbs up on this one. Blocks the track view. Driver's eye View? not looking through a center post.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

It would have been nice to have the camera in the cab, but on this occasion the driver was so busy, I didn't like to ask. The camera was placed in the window of the passenger compartment, not ideal, but the best I could do on the day.

[@ChinaAl]

@@Timsvideochannel1 forgiven. Cancelled my thumbs down. ;-)

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@ChinaAl Cheers, I welcome feed back, I learn from it 👍