pbaustin2
Banned
Can anyone think of a plausible POD?
A completely different political and social environment would have had to have existed for Sydney to retain its trams. The isolated lines, in particular, wouldn't have lasted, especially as they weren't a going concern even in the late-40s. So, had the system been retained, it would have been retained in a pared-back form, with the busier lines being kept and the doubtful lines being closed.
Had the 250 R1 cars been delivered (instead of being cancelled after 100 were built, due to post-war supply problems delaying delivery), a network using corridor cars may have had a chance. As it was, crossbench trams were a dangerous anachronism by the 1940s and it was unreasonable to expect that in the 'modern 1950s' and beyond, such cars could have been retained.
So, a number of lines served by corridor cars could have had a chance. A system which retained all lines, and had new lines opened was never going to happen.
Even Melbourne had a number of doubtful and lightly-trafficked lines closed in the 60s. Footscray and Point Ormond got the chop, and rightly so.
True, in Sydney, a ride on a corridor car to Watsons Bay or Bondi would be a tourist draw today.
A completely different political and social environment would have had to have existed for Sydney to retain its trams. The isolated lines, in particular, wouldn't have lasted, especially as they weren't a going concern even in the late-40s. So, had the system been retained, it would have been retained in a pared-back form, with the busier lines being kept and the doubtful lines being closed.
Had the 250 R1 cars been delivered (instead of being cancelled after 100 were built, due to post-war supply problems delaying delivery), a network using corridor cars may have had a chance. As it was, crossbench trams were a dangerous anachronism by the 1940s and it was unreasonable to expect that in the 'modern 1950s' and beyond, such cars could have been retained.
So, a number of lines served by corridor cars could have had a chance. A system which retained all lines, and had new lines opened was never going to happen.
Even Melbourne had a number of doubtful and lightly-trafficked lines closed in the 60s. Footscray and Point Ormond got the chop, and rightly so.
True, in Sydney, a ride on a corridor car to Watsons Bay or Bondi would be a tourist draw today.