TRAM RESTORATION: Wanganui's No 12 tram now has wheels and restoration efforts are rolling along smoothly.
It is still a few months before the project is planned for completion but the arrival last Thursday of the tram's bogey has those involved in an excited mood.
The bogey, the tram's base containing its wheels and electric motors, will be fitted to the tram's body over the next couple of months.
The bogey's arrival has been five years in the making, with the one originally sourced from Aspen in the United States kept in Auckland as owners did not want it split from another it was attached to.
Because of this an additional bogey had to be sourced, with restorer David Harre eventually finding one at the Minnesota Transport Museum.
While being transported by sea to New Zealand it was wrongly diverted to Australia and went missing for a few weeks before it "arrived at last" in Auckland.
Tramways Trust Wanganui chairman Rob Vinsen said the bogey is an original Brill 21E manufactured around 1900.
It is powered by two 75hp electric motors compared to the original two 25hp motors.
"David [Harre] joked that you'll be able to do wheelies with this much power," Mr Vinsen said.
With the original tram's metal parts melted down for scrap when the tram system was decommissioned in 1950 it has been a worldwide search for parts for Mr Harre.
"We were fortunate with the $30,000 cost of the bogey," Mr Vinsen said.
"The Henderson Tramway Trust paid for it in lieu of the Aspen one they kept and once again Hooker Pacific took care of the transport from Auckland."
The bogey is now stored at the tramshed taking shape on Taupo Quay and the plan is for Mr Harre to spend a couple of months in Wanganui fitting it to No12.
Tram Project manager Doug Rolston said the bogey would require a bit of work before it was ready.
"We have to shorten the length and blast and paint it, plus recondition the motors and braking system," Mr Rolston said. "We would like to hear from local engineering firms who could help, local businesses have been very generous to date."
Trust chairman Mr Vinsen added that the voluntary effort on the project had been "staggering".
"The tramshed is almost ready now to house the tram and we are only a few weeks away from shifting it there," he said.
"Doug Rolston's aim is to drive No 12 out of the shed under it's own power about August. Then we would like to lay some new track in the Old Town area."
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