Re: A Sydneysider travels on Melbourne Trams ... still curious

[David Langley <del@ancc.com.au>]

G'day Greg,

Yes the Port Melbourne and St Kilda lines were electrified from around 1920
(I have the actual date recorded somewhere else) until the lines closed for
conversion to the "light" rail lines. Light rail - ever tried to lift one,
there not light. I still think its a stupid description for these lines. I
reckon they are only trams in a reservation that just happened to be an old
railway.

David.

greg h wrote:

> >>For the idle curious - an answer please
>
> >>Recent visit to Melbourne, travelled from St Kilda to City (tram route
> >>96 I think). Was this formerly a suburban railway, or has it always
> >>been a tram right-of-way?
>
> >>Also, is the "truncated" bridge that crosses the Yarra just near the
> >>Casino (ugh!!) the remnants of this suburban railway line (if it was a
> >>railway line, of course)
>
> >>And joy of joys, loitering on the Princes Bridge outside Flinders St
> >>Station on Sunday and caught R707 passing thru - my first "live"
> >>sighting of Vic steam.
>
> Thanks for all the responses to my above query
>
> But I forgot to ask ....
>
> If my memory serves me correctly (which it rarely does ... I drink a
> lot) there was framework on the (Sandridge) bridge for overhead
> electric wiring.
>
> Was it (the overhead wiring, that is) ever used - by trains or trams?