Type G

(Birney Safety Cars)

Four Birney cars were imported by the Adelaide Municipal Tramways Trust (MTT) to operate the isolated Port Adelaide system, until they were sold in 1936 to the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, which operated them on its Geelong system. They were transferred to Bendigo in 1947, 9 years before the closure of the Geelong system.

Preserved Adelaide Birney cars

• No. 301, (which became SEC (Geelong) no. 30 in 1936 and then Bendigo no. 30 in 1947) is preserved as Bendigo 30, at Bendigo Tramway. This tram was driven by Prince Charles on 26-Oct-1974. Apparently, progress was impeded by the prince taking his hand off the controls to wave to onlookers, which caused the safety interlocks to apply the brakes, open the doors and trip the line circuit-breaker, and thus throw his entourage of security men about the tram. This sight is well-remembered!
• No. 302, (which became SEC (Geelong) no. 29 in 1936 and then Bendigo no. 29 in 1947) is preserved as MTT 302, at Bendigo Tramway
• No. 303, (which became SEC (Geelong) no. 27 in 1936 and then Bendigo no. 27 in 1947) is preserved as MTT 303, at Australian Electric Transport Museum
• No. 304, (which became SEC (Geelong) no. 28 in 1936 and then Bendigo no. 28 in 1947) is preserved as Bendigo 28, at Bendigo Tramway

[7] Thanks to Tim Blythman for much of the information on this page.

[10] Thanks to Bill Winn for corrections to the Bendigo tramways fleet details

[12] Thanks to John Radcliffe for additional details.