Australia
is a huge source of old streetcars and parts. For many years,
the proprietors of NEWSTEAD TRAMCARS (Len Millar and Darren
Hutchesson) have been acquiring parts from retired Melbourne
streetcars and parts for eventual reuse. NEWSTEAD TRAMCARS is
therefore well placed to respond to an increasing world-wide
demand for heritage streetcars.
NEWSTEAD TRAMCARS was established in 2000, because we recognised
the need for “as new” heritage streetcars in both
the local and overseas markets. NEWSTEAD TRAMCARS produces only
the highest quality restored streetcars, completely rebuilt
to perform reliably for decades to come! This claim is backed
by readily accessible technical expertise, and a full catalogue
of spare parts. This back-up guarantee can only be made because
NEWSTEAD TRAMCARS applies the highest quality control to the
rebuild process.
Len Millar and
Darren Hutchesson between them have over 40 years of experience
in the field of preservation, restoration and operation
of heritage streetcars.
Len has (since 1969) been variously a member, Life Member,
Board Member, Secretary and/or President of the Tramway
Museum Society of Victoria (Bylands, Vic.), the Ballarat
Tramway Museum Inc., the Bendigo Trust (trading as Central
Deborah - Bendigo Tramways), the Australian Railway Historical
Society; and the Castlemaine and Maldon Railway Preservation
Society (trading as the Victorian Goldfields Railway). |
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Len has (since 1969) been variously a member,
Life Member, Board Member, Secretary and/or President of the
Tramway Museum Society of Victoria (Bylands, Vic.), the Ballarat
Tramway Museum Inc., the Bendigo Trust (trading as Central
Deborah - Bendigo Tramways), the Australian Railway Historical
Society; and the Castlemaine and Maldon Railway Preservation
Society (trading as the Victorian Goldfields Railway).
He has been principally responsible for the restoration of “X-1”
trolley 467, “W3” No.667 and “W4” No.671
at the Bylands and Ballarat streetcar museums. He has been employed
as a driver of a London-style double deck bus doing City circuits
of Ballarat for tourists. More lately he was Operations Co-ordinator
of the Bendigo Tramways, from January to August 2002. He is
a qualified driver at the three streetcar museums above. His
professional career since 1961 has been as a property appraiser
(valuer) with the Australian Government.
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Darren Hutchesson has been actively involved in the preservation,
maintenance and operation of streetcars at the Ballarat and
Bendigo precincts since 1994. He is now Traffic Manager of
the Bendigo Tramways, with day-to-day responsibility for the
timely operation of that city’s tourist streetcar operation.
Darren has had significant experience at Bendigo in planning
and carrying out the commercial restoration of several streetcars,
including Milan “Peter Witt” No.1692; Sydney “R”
class streetcars 1808 and 2001, Sydney “R1” No.1951
and Melbourne “W2” No.249.
Trolleys 249 and 2001 were stripped and rebuilt from the frame
up, in a very tight time-frame, for the prospective entrepreneurs
of a line in the national capital, Canberra. The project was
notable for its quality and speed.
All of the streetcars restored by the Bendigo Tramways are
duly accredited under the stringent requirements of the Victorian
Government’s Rail Safety legislation, as actively audited
by its Department of Infrastructure.
Personal or written testimony as to the very high standard
of Bendigo Tramways’ work can be obtained from Mr. Howard
Clark, Chairman of the Sydney Tramway Museum (telephone +
61 (0) 409719159) To date, four major re-builds have been
carried out by Bendigo Tramways for the Sydney Tramway Museum
- Milan No.1692, Sydney 1808 and 2001 and Melbourne 249.
Newstead Tramcars is attuned to the needs of the heritage
streetcar operator. Reliability and longevity are of paramount
importance. Newstead Tramcars can solve your streetcar problem
with the highest quality product, backed up by a guarantee
of after-sales service - in both technical advice and spare
parts.
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