H type Adelaide tram

{{Short description|Class of 20th-century tram in Adelaide}} {{about|a class of tram that first ran on the tramways of Adelaide, South Australia in 1929|an overview of the city's tram types|Tram types in Adelaide}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox Train |name = Adelaide Type H<br />("Bay" or "Glenelg") tram |image = GlenelgTram 1.jpg |caption = Tram {{abbr|no.|number}} 365 at Victoria Square, Adelaide, in May 2005, 76 years after it was built |interiorimage = |imagesize = |interiorcaption = |background = |service = 1929-2006 |manufacturer = A. Pengelley & Co |factory = Edwardstown, Adelaide, South Australia |family = |operator = Municipal Tramways Trust 1929–1974; State Transport Authority 1974–1994; TransAdelaide 1994–2006. |formation = Singles or pairs; triple in 1930s |yearconstruction = 1929 |numberbuilt = 30 |numberservice = 0 in revenue service; several now in operation at tramway museums |numberpreserved = At museums: 15 |numberscrapped = |lines = |carbody = |carlength = |width = |height = |art-sections = |fleetnumbers = 351–380 |weight = |capacity = 64 |maxspeed = |gauge = {{Track gauge|1435mm|comma=off}} |traction = 4 x 60hp Dick, Kerr & Co 1089 |powersupply = 600 V DC overhead wire |engine = |safety = |coupling = }}

The '''H type Adelaide tram''', popularly known as ''Glenelg tram'' or ''Bay tram'', was a class of 30 trams built by A. Pengelley & Co, Adelaide in 1929 for use on the newly converted Glenelg tram line. They remained in regular revenue service for 77 years before being replaced by Bombardier Flexity Classic trams in 2006.

==History== {{Main|Tram types in Adelaide#Type H (later, 300 Series)}} [[File:Adelaide tram 360.jpg|thumb|360 in 2008 at the Tramway Museum, St Kilda]] thumb|Interior of 367 in 2010 [[File:Trams at Glenelg.jpg|thumb|Trams at the Mosley Square terminus on the Glenelg foreshore]]

The 30 cars (numbers 351 to 380) were designated ''Type H'' by the Municipal Tramways Trust;<ref name= CityAndGlenelg>{{cite book|title=City & Glenelg: the Municipal Tramways Trust Glenelg tram line |last1=Andrews |first=Brian |last2=Triplow |first2=Trevor |date=2014 |location=Clunes, Victoria |publisher=Full Parallel Productions |isbn=9780646915302 }}</ref>{{rp|37}} However, "H type" is now in common usage among tramway enthusiasts. They were built in the Adelaide suburb of Edwardstown by A. Pengelley & Co to operate the Glenelg tram line, which opened on 14 December 1929. Previously the line had been a South Australian Railways {{Track gauge|1600mm|comma=off}} broad-gauge, steam-hauled passenger railway line, mostly on a private reservation; conversion was to {{Track gauge|1435mm|comma=off}} standard gauge and power by overhead electrical wire. They were also used on the Henley North line from 1935 and through to Kensington Gardens after these lines were through-routed<ref group="note">Through-routing: enabling running to the ends of both lines through the Adelaide city centre.</ref> in 1952.

Between 1952 and 1956 all were repainted silver and carnation red, with interiors in Ashbury green. Most were returned to tuscan red, with varnished wood interiors, between 1971 and about 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au/members.old/Trolley_Wire/280%20-%20Trolley%20Wire%20-%20Feb%202000.pdf |title=70th anniversary of the Glenelg tram line |first=Colin | last=Seymour|date=February 2000 |website=Sydney Tramway Museum |access-date=17 April 2025}}</ref> Trams in both liveries are present at the Tramway Museum, St Kilda, South Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trammuseumadelaide.com/sa-trams|title=South Australian trams |date=2023 |website=Tramway Museum, St Kilda |access-date=17 April 2025}}</ref>

In 1968, 366 and 377 were deemed surplus and scrapped. At the time, for operations management reasons all were run in coupled pairs, with an odd-numbered car being coupled to the next even-numbered car. This sometimes required cars to be re-numbered. Thus, for example, 353 and 354 were renumbered 377 and 366 to be married with 378 and 365 respectively.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Adelaide |author=|issue=117 |date= August 1968 |magazine= Trolley Wire |location= Sutherland, New South Wales |publisher= South Pacific Electric Railway Co-operative Society Limited |issn=0155-1264 |page= 11}}</ref> All services were operated by a crew of driver and conductor (driver and two conductors on two-coupled sets).<ref>{{cite book |title=Destination Paradise |date=1975 |publisher=Australian Electric Traction Association |location=Sydney |pages=29–30}}</ref>

In 1986, the trams' trolley poles were replaced with pantographs. In 1990, 378 was fitted out as a restaurant car being repainted royal blue with gold lining.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Adelaide's restaurant tram |author=|issue=244 |date= February 1991 |magazine= Trolley Wire |location= Sutherland, New South Wales |publisher= South Pacific Electric Railway Co-operative Society Limited |issn=0155-1264 |pages= 9–11}}</ref> On 15 July 2000, 372 was used to convey the Olympic flame from Glenelg to Morphettville as part of the 2000 Summer Olympics torch relay.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Trams and the Olympic torch relay |author=|issue=283 |date= November 2000 |magazine= Trolley Wire |location= Sutherland, New South Wales |publisher= South Pacific Electric Railway Co-operative Society Limited |issn=0155-1264 |page= 10}}</ref>

Most of the type H trams were replaced during 2006 by new Bombardier Flexity Classic trams. However, five (351, 367, 370, 374 and 380) were refurbished in 2000.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Glenelg tram refurbishment project |author=|issue=285 |date=May 2001 |magazine= Trolley Wire |location= Sutherland, New South Wales |publisher= South Pacific Electric Railway Co-operative Society Limited |issn=0155-1264 |pages=16–19}}</ref> By 2012, only 351 and 367 remained; the other three were stored at Mitsubishi Motors Australia's Clovelly Park plant.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Adelaide tram news |author=|issue=328 |date=February 2012 |magazine= Trolley Wire |location= Sutherland, New South Wales |publisher= South Pacific Electric Railway Co-operative Society Limited |issn=0155-1264 |page= 16}}</ref> In 2012, 351 was restored in tuscan red by Bluebird Rail Operations at Islington Railway Workshops. It briefly operated weekend services in August 2013.<ref>[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/hclass-tram-to-return-to-the-glenelg-to-adelaide-tramline/news-story/8456f2130cd561804c3249df2b575491 H-Class tram to return to the Glenelg to Adelaide tramline] ''Adelaide Advertiser'' 27 July 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/adelaides-htype-trams-wont-be-brought-back-into-service-despite-a-successful-trial/story-e6frg6n6-1226827211576 H type trams won't be brought back into service despite successful trial] ''The Australian'' 15 February 2014</ref><ref>"Historic H Class trams will not return to regular operation" ''Railway Digest'' April 2014 page 16</ref><ref>"Still running…" ''Track & Signal'' October 2016 page 103</ref> In December 2013, 352 (renumbered from 367)<ref group="note">The original 352 had been scrapped after a major accident about 1956.</ref> returned from overhaul by Bluebird Rail Operations painted silver and carnation red.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Here & there |author=|issue=336 |date= February 2014 |magazine= Trolley Wire |location= Sutherland, New South Wales |publisher= South Pacific Electric Railway Co-operative Society Limited |issn=0155-1264 |page= 18}}</ref> The only other recorded use of the pair was in February 2015, when they operated a charter.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Here & there |author=|issue=341 |date=May 2015 |magazine= Trolley Wire |location= Sutherland, New South Wales |publisher= South Pacific Electric Railway Co-operative Society Limited |issn=0155-1264 |page= 22}}</ref> The final charter run was by 352 in December 2015.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

To make room for new Alstom Citadis trams at the Glengowrie depot, in December 2017, 351 and 352 were moved to the Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure's Walkley Heights facility.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Here & there |author=|issue=352 |date=February 2018 |magazine= Trolley Wire |location= Sutherland, New South Wales |publisher= South Pacific Electric Railway Co-operative Society Limited |issn=0155-1264 |page= 19}}</ref> In 2021 they were donated to the Tramway Museum, St Kilda and transferred there as the sixth and seventh H cars on site.

==Characteristics== thumb|400px|MTT drawing: side elevation of the Type H tram thumb|150px|End elevation Sharing many of the characteristics of North American interurban cars of the first four decades of the 20th century, the cars' period ambience was carefully maintained during their government revenue service. Although they went through several refurbishment programs over the years incorporating updated features such as safety glass, fluorescent lighting and upgraded bogies, they ultimately retained varnished wood and etched glass interiors, a classic tuscan-red-and-cream exterior colour scheme (replaced by Ashbury green in the silver-and-carnation-red scheme but later restored), and neither heating nor air-conditioning in the passenger saloons. They operated in two-car sets and, in the 1930s, as triple sets.<ref name= CityAndGlenelg/>{{rp|164–171}}

The Type H trams were the longest rigid-body trams remaining in service in Australia, and the second-longest ever built.{{Clarify|date=April 2025|reason=In Australia? The world?}} After the retirement of the W2 trams from Melbourne's network, they were the oldest passenger trams in service in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hoadley |first=David |date=18 January 1996 |title=Type H |url=http://www.railpage.org.au/tram/adel-h.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321004219/http://www.railpage.org.au/tram/adel-h.html |archive-date=21 March 2018 |accessdate=2007-08-03}}</ref>

==Preservation== {{As of|2025|11}}, 15 Type H trams (half of the number delivered in 1929) were at museums:

{|class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style=font-size: 86% |+ |- ! scope="col" | Number ! scope="col" | Owner ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Status |- | 351 ||Tramway Museum, St Kilda, SA || In traffic<ref name=StKilda>{{cite web|url=https://www.trammuseumadelaide.com/sa-trams |title=South Australian trams |author= |date=2024 |website=Tramway Museum, St Kilda |access-date=17 April 2025}}</ref> |- | 352 || Tramway Museum, St Kilda || In traffic<ref name=StKilda/> |- | 355 || Private owner || Not operable, under long-term restoration at the Tramway Museum, St Kilda |- | 357 || Sydney Tramway Museum|| In storage<ref>[https://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au/tramway/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/STM6097_99.pdf Adelaide Tramways H Type Tramcars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406234314/http://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au/tramway/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/STM6097_99.pdf |date=6 April 2018 }} Sydney Tramway Museum</ref> |- | 358 || Sydney Tramway Museum || In traffic |- | 360 || Tramway Museum, St Kilda || Operable, on static display<ref name=StKilda/> |- | 362 || Tramway Museum, St Kilda ||Operable, stored<ref name=StKilda/> |- | 364 || Tramway Museum, St Kilda || Operable, stored<ref name=StKilda/> |- | 365 || Tramway Museum, St Kilda || In traffic<ref name=StKilda/> |- | 368 || Tramway Museum Society of Victoria || Stored |- | 371 || Perth Electric Tramway Society || Stored, under restoration<ref name=PETS>{{cite web|url=https://www.petswa.org.au/news/adelaide-tram-372-moves-under-its-own-power-for-the-first-time-in-18-years |title=Adelaide H Type 372 moves under its own power for the first time in 18 years |author= |date=2024 |website=Perth Electric Tramway Society |access-date=17 April 2025}}</ref> |- | 372 || Perth Electric Tramway Society || Operable but yet to enter traffic<ref name=PETS/> |- | 373 || Tramway Museum Society of Victoria ||On static display<ref> [https://www.tramway.org.au/collection_othertrams.html Adelaide H Class 373] Tramway Museum Society of Victoria</ref> |- | 374 || Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village || On static display<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tailemtown.com.au/about-us |title=About Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village |author= |date=2025 |website=Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village |access-date=19 April 2025}}</ref> |- | 378 || Tramway Museum, St Kilda || Operable, on static display (former restaurant car)<ref name=StKilda/> |}

== In popular culture == Nos 351 and 378 can be seen in the music video to Taiwanese pop singer Amber Fang's 1990 single "Ai qing de gu shi" (''Love Story''), which was filmed in Adelaide.

==Notes== {{Reflist|group=note}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline|H class trams}}

Category:Adelaide tram vehicles