Cable trams made tracks along our streets

This article is based on one written some years ago by Hotham History Project chair Lorna Hannan.

Although there were cable trams in Melbourne from as early as November 11, 1885, the North and West Melbourne lines did not open until March 1890. When they were first introduced, the trams travelled at about eight miles per hour.

The early trams were called “trains”. They were carried along by the use of a “grip” that was opened and closed to hold on to a moving cable under the road. The act of attaching the grip to the cable was a “pick up” and opening the grip to let go of the cable was a “throw”.

The cable itself was often called the “rope”. The man responsible for all such manoeuvres was the “gripman”.

Lorna wrote …

To get a picture of how trams operated in those days, imagine it is 1923 and you are taking a trip into the city on the North Melbourne line. You might walk up to Flemington Bridge and watch while the “dummy” and “trailer” were pushed out of the car shed, coupled by hand and then drawn together with a hook, links and a turnbuckle device.

On getting the signal, the vehicle would be taken out and, after gripping the cable, would be drawn on to the wide stretch of Flemington Rd and the journey would begin. Stopping at Abbotsford St, the cable would stay gripped while the tram (as it was by then known) took the curve.

At a number of points between there and Queensberry St, passengers would be picked up and set down. Just before arriving at the corner, the gripman would throw the cable that had been in use, and the tram would be brought to a full stop.

Now was the moment to pick up a second cable, the one that would draw the tram to the city. This pick-up was done by hand before the tram turned into and travelled down Errol St. As the tram came close to Victoria St, the cable was again released, and the vehicle coasted round the corner where the gripman picked the cable up again.

Along busy Victoria St, there were two major stops – one at William St, where the tram crossed the tracks of the newer electric line, and another at Elizabeth St. Here there was often a wait for the flag man to signal that the city-bound North Melbourne tram could take a right-hand turn into Elizabeth St.

From there on down to Flinders St there were both North Melbourne and Brunswick trams picking up and setting down passengers.

Cable trams ran for about 50 years without much change to their design.

Many of us are unfamiliar with the terminology of the old trams so there will be an attempt to provide enlightenment and more information in the August edition. •