News
AFTER being lost to the city for more than 60 years, an Invercargill tram is returning home to be restored to its former glory.
The Macdonald family — David, Sally, James and Fiona — have donated tram 16 to the Bill Richard› son Transport World. It was one of 16 trams which use to run in the city.
On the move: Invercargill’s former number 16 tram about to leave Davaar, a 1100ha sheep and cattle station near The Key, earlier this month. Photo: Supplied
‘‘Once we realised its historic value we were keen to find it a good home, so we are delighted that [the] Richard› sons have taken ownership and are restoring it,’’ David Macdonald said.
HW Richardson Group director Jocelyn O’Donnell said the company was extremely grateful for the gener› ous donation.
‘‘I am very excited to have this tram as it truly is a vehicle of significance for Southland. I can’t wait for the restoration to begin and am even keen to get involved in some of the work myself. Seeing it start heading towards its former glory will be great to see.’’
Tram 16 was one of six built in Pennsylvania in the United States. Another 10 were built in Christ› church. Tram 16 was commissioned in 1922 and ran in Invercargill until about 1950›51 when it was decom› missioned.
Mr Macdonald said Ward Beer, a ranger with the Southland Acclimatis› ation Society in Te Anau, bought tram 16 and converted it into a sleepout. Mr Macdonald bought it from him in 1965 for £150 and transported it to Davaar, the family’s sheep and cattle station near The Key, where it con› tinued to be used as a sleepout.
‘‘I can’t remember how we unloaded it as there was no heavy lifting gear like we have now, just an old loader [Te Anau Transport] had and a few crowbars. Plus a bit of Kiwi can›do.’’
Under the roof, the tram’s original canvas roof had been well protected, and under the fake ceiling the original tongue and groove timber was intact, he said.
When Mr Macdonald’s son James and his wife Fiona took over Davaar in 1993 the tram was used for storage, but his daughter›in›law never liked it and had wanted to get rid of it, Mr Macdonald said.
One day she was talking to Duncan McGregor of the Fiordland Military Museum and he put them in contact with the Richardson Group.
Mrs O’Donnell said the tram would be completely refurbished.
‘‘We are reluctant to put any time frames on this at this stage as we have a lot of planning to take place before we get started.’’
The tram would form part of the museum’s extensive collection of trucks, cars, bikes, tractors, contract› ing equipment and other transport› related memorabilia.
Story re published courtesy of Southland Express
Story BY PETRINA WRIGHT