Significance

Demonstrates aspects of the Ballarat Tramways fare system at the time of the one man trams, tokens which could be pre purchased by travellers and save time when boarding trams. See notes on file re these eg Reg Item 1801.

Physical description

Fare token- 2d - 21mm diameter - green celluloid - with "B.E.T." in large capitals on front centre of token and words "Ballarat Electric Tramways 1913" on circumference. On reverse in large font "2" and a small font "D" at top of the two - indicating token had a value of two pence.





Extract from A. Bradley "The Golden City and its Tramways" about tokens and why.

"The ESCo worked out its procedures from its own experience. A "pay as you enter" system was used on city-bound cars, and a "pay as you leave" system on outward-bound cars. On Sundays during busy periods this was reversed on the Gardens lines, but conductors were still required on this line to cope with the heavy summer holiday traffic. Trams 1 to 18 were altered by altering the end seating, placing gates on doorways and "pay as you enter" and "pay as you leave" signs. Once on board, passengers paid their coins into a farebox mounted behind the driver, which was fitted with glass windows and mirrors to enable the driver to see the coins slide into the box - a form of "moral check on passengers". Regular passengers could buy pink or green celluloid tokens at a discount price, to save the motorman having to issue tickets and give change."



Stopped being in use in 1921, see Reg Item 1801.1 and 1802. Place of manufacture not known.



For other 2d token see Reg. Item 1943 and 2488 page 31.



See Reg. Item 2514 for H.P. James notes on the token system.



1794.1 - added 18/4/2009 - donation of Lyall Denning



Related documents provides some information on the value of the items.



eBay sale 15/10/2006 $20 - eBay slip with worksheet - see related items.