Historical information

The Birney tram was named after its designer Charles Birney and was designated a "safety car". It was a type G tram that had a smaller wheel base and was designed specifically for routes with lighter traffic as it could only carry 50 passengers. It featured folding doors and steps and was the first tram that could be operated by the driver alone without a conductor. This particular tram was built in 1925 by the J G Brill Company in Philadelphia, USA. It was flat-packed to Adelaide where it was reassembled. It operator in Adelaide until 1935 when it was sold to Geelong before again being sold to the Bendigo Tramways in 1947. It continued to operate until the tramways closure in 1972. Each winter it becomes the Bendigo yarnbomb tram.

Physical description

Birney tram photographed at Charing Cross, Bendigo (probably tour with Association of Engineers on Thursday March 12th 1970). B&W photograph.