Karachi to Melbourne Tram
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File:Karachi tram nightime melbourne.jpg
File:Karachi tram interior.jpg
The Karachi to Melbourne tram or the W-11 tram is a retired Z class tram Z1 81 decorated by a team of professional Pakistani vehicle decorators, commissioned by the City of Melbourne for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Origin of the name
The name is based on the W-11 buses originally found in Karachi, Pakistan, which are a model of minibus famous for their entertainment value: decorated with lush designs and playing popular Pakistani or Indian music. Competition between buses has made these buses famous for their extravagant designs and entertainment.
The tram
As a showcase of Pakistani culture, Z class tram Z1 81 was commissioned for the Commonwealth Games, and a team of W-11 decorators were invited to decorate the tram at Preston Workshops. For the duration of the games it operated on the City Circle, playing Bhangra and Pakistani music.[https://web.archive.org/web/20141210045447/http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/M2006/Homepage%2BNews/20060325%2BKarachi%2Btram.htm Last rides on the Karachi tram] Melbourne 2006 25 March 2006[https://web.archive.org/web/20060423211443/http://www.abc.net.au/overnights/stories/s1609059.htm Vehicle Decoration - The Karachi Decoration Project] Australian Broadcasting Corporation 5 April 2006 It returned to service in the summer of 2006/07 operating Friday night City Circle services.[http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2006/the-karachi-tram-back-on-the-streets-of-melbourne-every-friday-night-during-daylight-savings/ The Karachi Tram - back on the streets of Melbourne every Friday night during daylight savings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315163451/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2006/the-karachi-tram-back-on-the-streets-of-melbourne-every-friday-night-during-daylight-savings/ |date=15 March 2017 }} Yarra Trams 23 November 2006
It is currently on permanent display at the Melbourne Tram Museum at Hawthorn depot since June 2015.{{cite web|title=Yarra Trams Z1 Class No 81 'Karachi W11'|url=http://www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/trams/yt81.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315031947/http://www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/trams/yt81.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 March 2018|work=www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au|publisher=Melbourne Tram Museum @ Hawthorn Depot|access-date=18 July 2015| date = 19 June 2015}}
References
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External links
{{commons category-inline|Karachi to Melbourne tram}}
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