71-year-old tramcar for Ferrymead

Press, 20 November 1981, Page 14

71-year-old tramcar for Ferrymead

By

JOHN DURNING

Boon tramcar No. 152, built in 1910, retired in 1952 to serve as a shed and workshop, will be recommissioned at Ferrymead tomorrow in mint condition. “Boon cars,” as they were known in honour of their maker, Mr Jospeh Boon, were the backbone of the Christchurch Tramway Board’s fleet for nearly 50 years. The recovery operation on Boon 152 started 12 years ago when the old body, then ■serving as a workshop, was given to Ferrymead. To return the tramcar to its original condition has seen the “cannabalising” of three other tramcars, a world-wide search for mechanical parts, a bill of $17,000, and 23,000 hours of labour. Joseph Kitson Boon, born in England in 1844, came to New Zealand in 1873 and soon went into business as a coachbuilder. By the turn of the century he was looked upon as a leader in the field of tramcar building. In fact, except for an initial order of electric tramcars from the United States and two “Brill” cars built in the tramway workshops, all Christchurch cars and trailers were built, by his company. The firm also built tramcars for Invercargill, Wanganui, Napier, Gisborne, and New Plymouth. In total, 28 Boon cars were

built for the Christchurch service. The unique design of the car, with a saloon built over the “Peckham” trucks at each end and a drop centre, open section with cross bench seats, was to be the forerunner of a style of tramcar which became almost a standard layout in Australia and New Zealand. Over 1600 cars descended from the tram which first appeared on the streets of Christchurch in 1906. More than 400 are still running in Australia. The first cars cost $1360 each at a time when workers’ wages were 12 cents an hour. With the exception of the Cashmere Hills Route, which required specially designed trams, Boon cars operated on all Christchurch routes. They were slow and lumbering, compared with later cars', and as newer models came on line the Boons were confined to through routes (FendaltonOpawa) and short routes (Woolston-Cashel Street). They were also popular for sports meetings and extra transport during rush hour. In fact, a Boon car made the last revenue-earning trip by a tramcaf on the evening of September 10, 1954.

When Boon 152 was donated it was decided to restore it as close to its original condition as possible. Three Temporary Employment Programme workers helped out in the endless task of sanding, planing, and repairing a mountain of worn wooden fittings. The restoration of the mechanical gear was close to impossible. All the unwanted mechanical parts were scrapped 30 years ago, and there are few operating tramways in the world where contemporary equipment exists. One member of the Tramway Historical Society visited England and was able to photograph identical trucks in service there. These photos proved invaluable. More than 25 individual patterns were used for moulding 70 items necessary for the fabrication of the trucks. Had the practical and financial problems that have occurred during the reconstruction been envisaged at the start, Boon 152 may not have been ready for the chairman of the Christchurch Transport Board (Mr Jock Mathison) to commission at Ferrymead tomorrow afternoon.