Sydney R1-Class Tram

R1-class
R1 class at Sydney Showground
Manufacturer	Clyde Engineering Commonwealth Engineering
Constructed	1935 and 1950-1953
Fleet numbers	1933-2087
Capacity	56 (Seated)
Specifications
Train length	14.35 metres
Width	2.74 metres
Height	3.26 metres
Maximum speed	60 km/h
Weight	17.9 t
Power output	4 x 40 hp
Electric system(s)	600 V DC catenary
Current collection method	Trolley pole
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

The R1-class trams were a class of trams operated on the Sydney tram network. They were an evolution of the R class.

History

When Clyde Engineering were delivering the last R class in 1935, it was decided to build the last five as more modern corridor cars with reduced drop-centre, eight more seats, no internal partitions and one less door each side. The modified tram was called the R1 and a further 50 were ordered from Clyde. In the late 1940s, a further 250 were ordered from Commonwealth Engineering. Steel shortages delayed their construction with the first delivered in September 1950. The order was reduced to 100 with the last delivered to Lane Cove on 17 September 1953.^[1]

One (2018) was written off after a single day in a traffic accident at Petersham. Most remained in service until the end of tram operations in 1961.^[1]

Preservation

Nine have been preserved:

• 1933, 1951, 1979, 2001 and 2044 at the Sydney Tramway Museum^[2]
• 1971 on loan from the Sydney Tramway Museum to the Tramway Museum, St Kilda^[2]
• 1995 the last tram to run in Sydney, under restoration for static display at Rozelle Tram Depot^[3]
• 1948 and 2064 retained privately

References

Further reading

• Chinn, N (1975). New South Wales Tramcar Handbook 1861-1961. Vol. 1. South Pacific Electric Railway Cooperative Society. ISBN 9780959865967. 
• McCarthy, Ken (1976). New South Wales Tramcar Handbook 1861-1961. Vol. 2. South Pacific Electric Railway Cooperative Society. ISBN 9780959865974. 

External links

Media related to Sydney R1-Class Tram at Wikimedia Commons