Restoration of WAGT 66

Perth E class 66 in the 1950s, heading north in Barrack Street, at Hay Street

On 19 July, 1958, Perth #66 became the last electric tram to operate in the streets of Western Australia:

Perth 66 beginning its last trip from Barrack Street Jetty.

The body of Perth 66 at the Perth Zoo.

The tram was subsequently preserved, being displayed for some years at the Perth Zoo, and later at the Bassendean headquarters of the Australian Railway Historical Society [ARHS]. Uniquely among Western Australian trams after closure it was substantially complete, having seats, motors, bogies and electrical and control equipment.

There were two major obstacles to the restoration of #66 to operating condition:

• Examination of the structure of the body revealed severe and irreparable deterioration in its main longitudinal beams. This deterioration, occurring over years of outdoor display, and possibly earlier when in service, meant that it could not be restored to safe operating condition.
• Although complete with electrical equipment, the trucks were to the 3'6" [1067 mm] gauge used in Western Australian tramways, and could not be used on the standard gauge [1435 mm] track which had been adopted for practical reasons at Whiteman Park.

Perth 67 at the Car Barn sidings.

The solution to the problem, arrived at by agreement between the ARHS [owners of Perth 66] and the Perth Electric Tramway Society [prospective restorers and operators] was to rebuild #66 using body components where necessary from sister tram #67, which was already in the possession of PETS.

It is planned to convert the bogies to standard gauge. The rebuilt #66 will be the most complete and original restored Western Australian tram which it is possible to have.

When restoration began, the body shell from tram 67 was superficially in good condition. However, the restoration team in the 90s found more and more structural problems as the body was looked at closely. Much of the tram body had to be dismantled to allow it to be strengthened.

Meanwhile, other restoration activities continued:

Late in 2007, #66 was carefully raised onto special-purpose stands, allowing the restoration team to work more easily on aspects such as electrical wiring, bolster plates and various under-floor fittings and equipment: