TRAMS (Trolleys) IN NEW ZEALAND

MOTAT and the WESTERN SPRINGS TRAMWAY (Part 2)

MOTAT, or the Museum of Transport and Technology (Inc) was formed on 5th June, 1960 at a meeting convened by the Old Time Transport Preservation League of Matakohe, the Royal Aeronautical Society (NZ Div), and the Historic Auckland Society.   The meeting was chaired by the then Mayor of Auckland, Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (known to all Aucklanders as "Robbie") Tram restoration preceeded this however. The old Auckland Transport Board really started the ball rolling when, in 1952, it presented the Auckland City Council with New Zealand's oldest surviving Tram, Auckland No. 11, assembled in 1902.

MOTAT entrance from the Great North Road                   Click photo to enlarge

Tram preservation went a step further in 1956,  when tramway historian Graham Stewart, author of "The End of the Penny Section" and many other tramway books, suggested to the ATB that it preserve Auckland's most modern tram, "streamliner" No.253 as well. When no Auckland organisations expressed an interest, Graham formed a trust to save it, and it - which became the Old Time Transport Preservation League.   The League gradually acquired many items, and these were stored on land donated at Matakohe, Northland, by the League's President, Mervyn D. Sterling

Left: Richard and Mervyn Sterling with Graham and Ian Stewart at Matakohe. Top Right: Graham Stewart Lower Right: A very recent photo of Ian, still a key figure in the day to day work at the WESTERN SPRINGS TRAMWAY

Photo - G Stewart Collection    Click to enlarge The League's plans to operate at Matakohe received opposition.  Eventually, following the creation of MOTAT, the League's collection was moved to Auckland.  To comply with the law and obtain operating approval the WESTERN SPRINGS TRAMWAY was formed, with Electrical Engineer IAN STEWART as its General Manager from 1964 until 1996, when the present General Manager, Bruce Gamble succeeded him.

Another of the WST's rolling stock - Baldwin Steam Tram No.100 built in Philadelphia in 1891.  Retired from the Sydney system in 1905 it was used on the Rockdale line, souht of Sydney.  Brought to New Zealand in 1910 it became a contractor's locomotive on the construction of the Gonville-Castlecliff section of the Wanganui Tramways.  It even supplied that town with electricity for 3 months !  after the local power house blew up. Sold to a scrap merchant in 1950, it was eventually rescued by the Old Time Transportation Preservation League, and fully restored at MOTAT in 1996

Click photo to enlarge

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WST VOLUNTEERS AT WORK

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