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Perth Electric Tramway Society

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Perth Electric Tramway Society
Established1981
LocationWhiteman Park, Perth, Western Australia
TypeHeritage tramway
Public transit accessWhiteman Park railway station (from 2024)
Websitewww.pets.org.au
Perth Electric Tramway Society
Village Junction Heritage railway
street running
Visitor Information Centre
Whiteman Village
street running
Village Circle
Whiteman Park Station Transperth
Mussell Pool East
Pia's Place
Mussell Pool Road
Mussell Pool Road
Workshop Road
Mussell Pool West Heritage railway
Workshops

The Perth Electric Tramway Society (PETS) is a tram preservation society in Western Australia. It operates a heritage tramway in Whiteman Park.

History

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Following the closure of the Perth trolleybus system in August 1969,[1][2] the Western Australian Transport Museum was formed.[3]

However, in 1981 this organisation split into two societies, the Perth Electric Tramway Society, and what would become the Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia.[4] In 1982, PETS found a permanent home in Whiteman Park, with public services commencing over their entire network in 1986. While initially operating former Melbourne trams, the society has gradually restored Western Australian trams to service.[4]

In 1992 the society hosted the Conference of Australasian Tramway Museums.[5]

The Australian Collections Network[6] designates the operation as Western Australia's Heritage Tramway.[7]

Fleet

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PETS owns a fleet of 29 trams and 3 trolleybuses, mainly former Perth and Melbourne trams. Examples of former Fremantle and Kalgoorlie trams also form part of the fleet.[8] Notably, the society's tramway is standard gauge, requiring West Australian trams to be regauged from their original narrow gauge when restored for operation.[4]

Operations

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The PETS tramway operates regular services within Whiteman Park along a 2.5 km route between Village Junction and Mussell Pool. Trams connect to the Bennett Brook Railway at both ends of the line.[9][10]

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.[4]

Connecting service

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As part of the development of Whiteman Park railway station, Metronet has planned for the reactivation and partial realignment of this section to connect to the Morley-Ellenbrook line at the station.[11]

In February 2024, it was announced that the tramway would be extended to the new station. This would involve the provison 1.3 kilometres of rails, 3,900 sleepers and 3,000 tonnes of ballast, as well as other assistance in the development.[12][13][14]

References

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  1. ^ Francis, Ric (Reginald) (2010), Destination West Leederville : a history & pictorial review : Perth Trolley Bus System, Tramone, retrieved 26 January 2024
  2. ^ Culpeffer-Cooke, Tony; Gunzburg, Adrian; Pleydell, Ian Deacon; Brown, David; Perth Electric Tramway Society (2010), Tracks by the Swan : the electric tram and trolley bus era of Perth, Western Australia, Perth Electric Tramway Society, ISBN 978-0-9807577-0-5
  3. ^ Western Australian Transport Museum (1900), Presidential report, annual report, Western Australian Transport Museum, retrieved 26 January 2024
  4. ^ a b c d "Society History". Perth Electric Tramway Society. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  5. ^ Conference of Australasian Tramway Museums (11th : 1992 : Perth, W.A.); Perth Electric Tramway Society; Council of Tramway Museums of Australasia (1994), Proceedings of the eleventh Conference of Australasian Tramway Museums, Whiteman Park, Perth, Western Australia, 29 May - 4 June 1992, Perth Electric Tramway Society for the Council of Tramway Museums of Australasia, retrieved 26 January 2024{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Collections Australia Network". 23 December 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Western Australia's Heritage Tramway", Trove, 2009, retrieved 26 January 2024
  8. ^ "Tramcar Collection". Perth Electric Tramway Society. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Western Australia's Heritage Tramway". Perth Electric Tramway Society. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Heritage Tram Rides". Whiteman Park. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  11. ^ Whiteman Park Station Precinct Concept Master Plan (PDF) (Report). Metronet. March 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Historic tramway to connect the METRONET Whiteman Park Station". WA.gov.au. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Whiteman-Park-tram-extension". www.metronet.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Whiteman Park Tram Extension Fact Sheet" (PDF). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
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