Re: Portland (Vic) Cable Tram

[Chris Brownbill <cbrnbill@enternet.com.au>]

Well this sounds like a very optimistic plan for a city the size of Portland
(less than 10,000 population and not on a super-major tourist route).

Good luck to them - but it sounds like $21,043 won't go far - they will need a
six figure grant to build 4.5km of track.

How much of the route exists already?  Is any part of the service operational
yet?  If so, what are the oprating times etc?

Bob Merchant wrote:

> The proposal initiated by the group is a tram route of 4.5 km which passes
> through or by specific tourist destinations within the town.  The proposed
> tram route will operate from the Power House museum, along the Portland
> canal, through the Botanical Gardens, along the Portland foreshore, past the
> proposed maritime Heritage Centre, to finally reach its destination at the
> Australia Remembers water tower lookout.  The route links existing tourist
> attraction in the town.  The single track line will have two sidings (their
> term), actually loops, over one it is proposed to build a storage shed.  A
> map courtesy of the Glenelg (Victoria, not South Aust) Shire Council showing
> the route appeared in the November 1996 issue of Trolley Wire.
> 
> I don't know about a six-figure grant, but Portland Cable Trams Inc.
> received a $21,043 Centenary of Federation grant towards the project.
> 
> Regards,
> Bob Merchant