Trammy the Trolley Car

25/03/2025

24/03/2025

Maroubra Junction, 1950s.

The origin of the word Maroubra is thought to have come from an Indigenous language word "Marubrah" meaning 'lightning' or 'thunder'. Since 1907, the Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club flag and uniform has honoured this connection. European history of the area we call Maroubra began in the nineteenth century when Maroubra was the site for woolwashing.

Photo Source: Flickr (Lindsaybridge)

21/03/2025

Trammy is an animation with a particular love of traditional trams, but also all forms of animation that entertain and delight

21/03/2025

Trams and tram crews at the passing loop in the Botanical Gardens. Photo: Benjamin Boehle-Mitchell

21/03/2025

21/03/2025

Times Square in New York City, United States photographed in c. 1908.

Credit: timcolorization on Instagram
historycolored.com

16/03/2025

Spending a day on the Toden Arakawa Line in Tokyo's Sh*tamachi area is a unique and immersive experience that takes you off the beaten path and into the heart of traditional Tokyo neighborhoods.

From ancient temples and shrines to nostalgic shopping streets and local eateries, this tram line offers a glimpse into the city's rich culture and history.

The journey begins at Waseda Station, where you can explore the prestigious Waseda University campus and surrounding cafes.

Along the way, you'll visit the Kishimojin Temple, a haven for expectant mothers, and the famous Sugamo Shopping Street, nicknamed "Grandma's Harajuku."

Other highlights include the Oji Inari Shrine, known for its fox mythology, and the Arakawa Amusement Park, a family-friendly destination with a retro charm.

The Toden Arakawa Line is a hidden gem that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the authentic atmosphere of Tokyo's neighborhoods, where locals go about their daily lives.

It's a refreshing escape from the bustling city center and a chance to experience a different side of Tokyo that many tourists never get to see.

13/03/2025

In 1907, the bustling Calle Preciados, viewed from the iconic Puerta del Sol, represented a time when Madrid was rapidly modernizing. The photo captures a moment in Madrid’s transformation, with streetcars like the one on the "Salamanca-Puerta del Sol-Quevedo" line, a crucial part of the city's public transport network. These streetcars, known for their distinctive "LLENO" (full) signs, were essential in connecting various neighborhoods, offering an efficient way for the growing urban population to travel. The streetcar, moving on the left side of the road, provides a glimpse of the early 20th-century transit system that helped shape Madrid's cityscape.

In the image, we also see the facade of the "Gran Café Nuevo Oriental," a landmark establishment on the corner of Puerta del Sol. Opened in the late 19th century, the café was a meeting point for intellectuals, artists, and politicians of the time. Its rich cultural significance cannot be overstated, as it played a key role in the social and cultural life of Madrid during the turn of the century. By the mid-20th century, the location evolved, and today it houses the "Perfumería Primor," a popular store in the area. This evolution from a café to a modern commercial establishment mirrors the broader changes taking place in Madrid’s economy and architecture during the 20th century.

Calle Preciados has long been a focal point of commerce in Madrid, with its wide boulevards and proximity to key areas like Puerta del Sol making it a hub of activity. The image of 1907 illustrates not only the everyday hustle and bustle but also the societal shifts taking place, including the rise of consumer culture. The transformation of such landmarks, along with the city's ever-changing public transport system, highlights Madrid's journey from a traditional European city to a modern, global metropolis. The constant evolution of streets like Preciados continues to tell the story of Madrid’s rich and dynamic history.

13/03/2025

Step back in time to Brisbane, circa 1910–1920, and catch a glimpse of everyday life aboard tram No. 30, running the New Farm, Gabba, and Boggo Road route.

This photo captures a glimpse into the challenges of the era—imagine navigating those steep steps in a long dress and ornate hat!

07/03/2025

Sentimental Saturday

An original negative in the collection. Photographer unknown.

Kogarah-Sandringham c1937. Sydney Steam Tram Motor 6A stands outside the Depot at Sandringham on the shores of the Georges River just prior to retirement. This Motor is one of the earliest Steam Motors in the fleet, having been built in 1880. Initially this tram was designed to be operated by two crew; the driver, who stood about half way along the boiler on the right-hand-side and a fireman who would tend to the firebox at each terminus and then stand on the front platform during travel as an 'extra pair of eyes' for the driver and also operate the manual plough type lifeshield in an emergency situation. It was converted to a one man operated tram sometime after 1906 when it was renumbered 6A. This involved the duplication of driving controls at diagonally opposite ends of the motor, just inside the cab, and fitting of drop lifeshields with an automatically operated trigger gate.

The Steam Tram Depot for the Kogarah line was located at the 'far end' of the tramway in Sandringham, near where the current Riverside Drive meets Clareville Ave. The Depot was isolated, in a semi-rural location. It must have been quite a task for crews to get to and from the depot for the first shifts of the day and last shifts at night.

07/03/2025

1 March 1979, former Sydney D class tram converted into a scrubber car 134s pictured on train tracks at Erskineville.

[Photo courtesy NSW State Records]

07/03/2025

Circular Quay and the begining stages of construction on the railway station c1950.

Planning for a railway station at Circular Quay to complete the City Circle began in 1909, and designs for the railway station began to be submitted in 1927. It was initially planned to be an underground station, although water entering the tunnels was going to be a problem.

Work on the section of the railway through Circular Quay began in 1936, was interrupted by the Second World War, and recommenced in 1945. Work was again interrupted between 1951 and 1953 and the station eventually opened in 1956.

Photo Source: Max Dupain Collection