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Tram No. 504

Clifton Pugh Transporting Art tram 504 - Preston Workshops 1978. Photo Public Transport Corporation 5283

Clifton Pugh Transporting Art tram 504 - Preston Workshops 1978.
Photo courtesy of the Public Transport Corporation No. 5283.

 

No 504 is a significant item within the Museum's collection. The tram was part of the Transporting Art project suggested by the artist Clifton Pugh (1924-1990) in January 1978 to the Lord Mayor of Melbourne Cr. Irvin Rockman. The concept was enthusiastically supported by Victorian Premier Rupert Hamer. Clifton Pugh's tram was the second tram to appear. Described by the artist as "The apostle birds in flight, as if the tram has run into a group of them and they're flying along the sides. Then I found the route was to be through Collingwood and Hawthorn football territory and one cannot be one-eyed in that worlds, there are a magpie and a hawk on each side." The tram ran in service until 1986 and was then retained by the State and stored until 2015 when it was transported to the Museum's Offsite store. Formal ownership was transferred to the Museum during 2019. Conservation planning for the tram's return to service and the restoration of the artwork is under way.

 

Clifton Pugh on board his tram. Photo from the Diners Club Signature Magazine April/May 1982, with an article titled Moving Masterpieces

Clifton Pugh on board his tram. Photo from the Diners Club Signature Magazine April/May 1982,
from an article titled Moving Masterpieces. Photo courtesy of the Melbourne Tram Museum.

W2 504 inbound in Royal Park past the zoo. Photo Keith Caldwell 16/3/1962 - courtesy of the Melbourne Tram Museum.W2 504 inbound in Royal Park past the zoo. Photo Keith Caldwell 16/3/1962 - courtesy of the Melbourne Tram Museum.



The tram just prior to be being offloaded at the Museum's offsite store, showing the missing artwork. Photo Alastair Reither 3/6/2015.

The tram just prior to be being offloaded at the Museum's offsite store. The photo shows the missing artwork on the side panel. Photo Alastair Reither 3/6/2015.

 

Technical Details - as built or modified by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board.

Builder
 Body built by James Moore of South Melbourne.
Type
 Bogie, drop-centre combination
Truck (bogie)
 MMTB No. 1
Wheel size
 26" nominally (637mm)
Length
 48'0" (14.59m)
Width
 7'11" (2.72m)
Height
 10'6" (3.19m)
Bogie Wheelbase
 5'4" (1.6m)
Bogie Centres
 26'0" (7.925m)
Approx Mass
 17 tons (17.2 tonnes)
Motors
 General Electric 247
Controllers
 General Electric K35JJ
Brake Valves
 Westinghouse Self-Lapping Drivers Brake Valve - Type W
Compressor
 General Electric CP27
Compressor Governor
 General Electric MLA1

 

History

1928
 Body built by the James Moore and Co. of South Melbourne as a W2 class tram. Delivered to the MMTB Preston Workshops where the electrical and mechanical equipment was fitted. Issued to traffic 18/4/1928. Allocated to Essendon Depot.
1929
 Route Number boxes fitted.
1934
 Operating from the Glenhuntly Depot. In the 1950's and 1960's, the tram was based at Essendon, then Kew in the 1970's.
1942
 Converted from manual lap brake valves to self lapping brake valves.
1962
 The tramcar body and equipment received an "01" overhaul at Preston Workshops. This is a very extensive overhaul.
1973
 Head and Tail lights fitted.
1975
 The tramcar body and equipment received an "02" overhaul at Preston Workshops.
1978
 Painted by Clifton Pugh at the Preston Workshops.
1985
 Shown in a 1985 depot allocation list, as being a Ministry of Arts tram running out of East Preston Depot.
1986
 Withdrawn from service following a minor accident. One saloon body and the end panels replaced around headlight. It had been hoped that Clifton would repaint the damaged section but this did not happen.
1987
 Tram stored at Preston Workshop's Paint shop undercover and valued by the staff there.
2015
 Tramcar relocated to the Museum's offsite store during the period the Preston Workshops redevelopment.
2019
 Following consultation with the artist's family and others, the ownership of the tram was formally transferred to the Museum. Conservation Report for the artwork obtained.

 

Heritage Significance

Folow this link to the detailed Statement of Signifance.

 

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Ballarat Tramway Museum Inc. - PO Box 632 Ballarat Vic 3353 Australia - info@btm.org.au - phone +61 3 5334 1580. A0031819K

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