Perth Electric Tramway Society
{{Short description|Organisation in Perth, Western Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox museum
|name = Perth Electric Tramway Society
|logo =
|image =
|caption =
|coordinates =
|former_name =
|established = 1981
|dissolved =
|location = Whiteman Park, Perth
Western Australia
|type = Heritage tramway
|collection_size = 29 trams
3 trolleybus
|publictransit = Whiteman Park railway station
|website = {{URL|http://www.pets.org.au/}}
|embedded = }}
{{PETS Tramway}}
The Perth Electric Tramway Society is a tram preservation society in Perth, Western Australia. It operates a heritage tramway in Whiteman Park.
History
Following the closure of the Perth trolleybus system in August 1969, the Western Australian Electric Transport Association was formed.Australian Electric Transport Association Trolley Wire issue 131 December 1970 page 2 In November 1981, the association split into two societies; the Perth Electric Tramway Society (PETS) and the Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia.Perth Electric Traction Society Rattler issue 113 December 1981 page 2A Look at the Past MTT Quarterly March 1982 page 22[https://web.archive.org/web/20151222115101/http://www.pets.org.au/pets03h.html Society History] Perth Electric Tramway Society
Having previously stabled its collection in Casteldare, in 1982 the Metropolitan Regional Planning Authority granted the PETS permission to build a museum within Whiteman Park.Perth Electric Traction Society Rattler issue 116 March 1982 page 3 It was officially opened on 21 September 1986.Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 590 December 1986 page 100 Initially operating a fleet of W-class Melbourne trams, the society has gradually restored Western Australian trams to service.{{cite book|last=McKillop |first=Robert|title=Guide to Australian Heritage Trains & Railway Museums|date=1999|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society|location=Redfern|isbn=0 909650 45 4|page=104|edition=7}}
Collection
As at August 2022, PETS owned 29 trams and three trolleybuses. The trams came from Perth (11), Melbourne (8), Fremantle (4), Adelaide (2), Kalgoorlie (2), Ballarat (1) and Brisbane (1).[https://web.archive.org/web/20220808040715/http://pets.org.au/pets07.html PETS Tramcar Collection] Perth_Electric Tramway Society The trolleybuses all come from Perth. Because the society's tramway is standard gauge, West Australian trams have had to be regauged from their original narrow gauge when restored for operation.
Operations
The PETS tramway operates regular services within Whiteman Park along a {{Convert|2.5|km|abbr=on|adj=on}} route between Village Junction and Mussell Pool. Trams connect to the Bennett Brook Railway at both ends of the line.{{cite web |url=http://www.pets.org.au/pets02.html |title=Western Australia's Heritage Tramway |website=Perth Electric Tramway Society |access-date=18 August 2023 |archive-date=23 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523145248/http://www.pets.org.au/pets02.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.whitemanpark.com.au/trains-trams-museums/heritage-tram-rides |title=Heritage Tram Rides |website=Whiteman Park |access-date=18 August 2023 |archive-date=23 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523144753/https://www.whitemanpark.com.au/trains-trams-museums/heritage-tram-rides |url-status=live}}
While trams used to also operate to the Dumpellier Drive entrance to Whiteman Park, this section of the tramway has been disused for a number of years.
Connecting service
As part of the development of Whiteman Park railway station on the Ellenbrook railway line, the tramway was extended by {{Convert|1.4|km}} to the new station.[https://web.archive.org/web/20230330184954/https://metronet.wa.gov.au/Portals/31/Project%20Documents/Morley-Ellenbrook%20Line/Whiteman%20Park%20Station%20Precinct%20Concept%20Master%20Plan.pdf Whiteman Park Station Precinct Concept Master Plan] Metronet[https://web.archive.org/web/20240213143944/https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook-Labor-Government/Historic-tramway-to-connect-the-METRONET-Whiteman-Park-Station-20240211 Historic tramway to connect the Metronet Whiteman Park Station] Government of Western Australia 11 February 2024[https://web.archive.org/web/20240213144155/https://www.railexpress.com.au/historic-tram-line-gets-extension/ Historic tram line gets extension] Rail Express 13 February 2024Heritage tramway will connect to Whiteman Park station Railway Digest April 2024 page 57 The extension opened on 8 December 2024.[https://web.archive.org/web/20250104133429/https://www.petswa.org.au/news/whiteman-park-entrance-tram-stop-now-open Whiteman Park Entrance Tram Stop Now Open] Perth Electric Tramway Society
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.pets.org.au/ Official website]
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{{Portal bar|Transport|Western Australia}}
{{TramsAustralia|state=collapsed}}
{{coord missing|Western Australia}}
Category:Tourist railways in Western Australia
Category:Trams in Western Australia