Melbourne Tram Museum
Newspaper, The Herald, The Sun, The Age, Sunday Press, Desire is a streetcar for Jim, March 1988 to March 1989
Set of 7 newspaper clippings concerning the fate of some 39 ex Melbourne W2's, including 14 Transporting Art trams, purchased by Laverton scrap merchant Jim Johnson.
.1 - "Desire is a streetcar for Jim, a collector obsessed, The Herald, 8/3/1988 - features a photo of Jim standing on a bumper bar. Reported by Margaret Easterbrook, Photo Norm Oorloff. Reports on proposals that Jim has had for the trams, including a arts and craft in Wodonga.
.2 - "Bell tolls for tram lovers obsession", The Herald, 12/4/1988, features a photo of the trams from street, including a person standing on top. Reported by Nick Richardson, Photo Leigh Henningham. Reports on the failure of the Wodonga proposal.
.3 - "Jim's decent obsession is derailed...yet again", The Herald 12/4/1988 - as for .2, but headline changed.
.4 - Public Notice, The Sun, 16/4/1988, by Jim Johnson, advertising his tram collection for sale Gives contact details etc.
.5 -"The end of the line for a scrap dealer's tram-park dream", The Age, 17/8/1988, features a photo of Jim Johnson standing with two trams in the background. Reported by David Porter, Photo James McEwan, reporting on another failure proposal, this time at Myrtleford. Seeking buyers.
.6 - "The end of the line for a private tram fleet", The Herald, 28/3/1989. Features a photo of Jim sitting holding his head with five trams in the background. Reported by Evelyn Tsitas, Photo Bruce Howard.
.7 - "Jim's tram plan clangs to a halt", The Sun, 29/3/1989. Reported by Kirsten Hill, with Jim standing in front of the trams, he is still trying to sell or use.
.8 - "Jim's tram park idea leaps the rails" - photocopy of article in the Sunday Press 24/7/1988 story by John Lethlean, photo by James Boddington - of Jim with a W2 in the background.
Item .8 added 29-11-2015 - photocopy supplied by Rod Atkins 28-11-2015.
See also Reg Item 1184.3 for the Tramburger concept!
See also Reg item 2781 for colour photographs.trams, tramways, transporting art, decorated trams, auctions, tram disposal, laverton