Old bikes and trams

To commemorate the exact day 50 years ago when Brisbane tram 554 was piped into its depot for the last time, the Brisbane Tramway Museum ran a Gala Open Day on the 13th of April 2019.

Peter Hyde, Museum president, sent a request to the Historic Motor Cycle Club of Queensland inviting a display of historic motorcycles to compliment the era of the Brisbane tram. Ten HMCCQ members obliged, and to our delight we got our fair share of interest from the large crowd that came primarily to see the trams. Trams from as early as 1901, trolley buses and later diesel buses were on display with several mobile units carrying passengers during the day. I was pleasantly surprised to see a chart headed ‘Sunbeam Trolley Bus Chassis Lubrication’ on display in the museum. Indeed Brisbane had trolley buses designed by the same company responsible for Sunbeam motorcycles. Co-incidentally Dave Royston rode his Sunbeam to the event. I noted a trolley bus on display outside a shed and Dave obliged parking beside it for a Sunbeam tribute photo. The official ceremony had a contingent from the Brisbane City Council and the event was officially opened by the new Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. Peter Hyde then explained a little of the history of trams and the museum before introducing the grand-daughter of the original piper. She then piped tram 554 into the depot as her grand dad did 50 years ago. The Queensland Omnibus & Coach Society also displayed and ran historic buses at the event. Ironically buses replaced the trams which are still in service today. The motorcycles on display covered the Tram era from Soapie Sinclair’s Australian-made 1913 Balmain Precision and just creeping to the early ‘70s with Adrian Kerwan’s Kawasaki 900 which was released just after the last tram ran. Fraser McMillan positioned his 1914 New Hudson near the Museum’s 1901 ‘Matchbox’ Tram. These would have been sharing Brisbane streets over 100 years ago. A great day for the club and thanks must be extended to Peter Hyde and Dave Royston for organizing the display.

Fraser McMillan and his 1914 New Hudson would have been sharing the road with the 1901 Matchbox Tram behind. ABOVE Dave Royston’s Sunbeam motorcycle with a Sunbeam Trolley Bus. BELOW LEFT Historic Motorcycles with an historic 1936 Dropcentre tram. BELOW RIGHT Phil Smith checks out Craig Mayer’s Shiny red 1953 Velocette MAC.