The
Kapiti Coast Electric Tramway
We offer an interesting and
rewarding experience for people of all ages. Using real old Wellington
trams, you can take a return ride of nearly four kilometres through
the Wellington Region’s premier coastal park, - through the coastal
dunes and with views of Kapiti Island.
The trams date from the 1920’s and 1930’s and were used
in Wellington city until closure of the last tram routes in the early
and mid 1960’s. Now they are lovingly cared for and operated by
volunteer members of the Wellington Tramway Museum – a not-for-profit
incorporated society which built, owns, and maintains the tramway.
Travelling in our trams is an experience not to be missed – for
those who can remember “the trams” it is a nostalgic experience,
bringing back the sounds and feelings of yesteryear. And if you are
younger, it is a piece of history – a learning experience that
will help all people understand life in the city in the early and mid
20th century.
The Kapiti Coast Electric Tramway extends from the depot area just inside
the Queen Elizabeth Park gates at MacKay's Crossing, to Whareroa Beach.
A return ride takes about 20 minutes and the trams run normally every
half hour – more frequently when busy.
An historical display is located in the tram barn and comprises an interesting
selection of photographs and other memorabilia. An old Wellington cable-car
and other trams may also be viewed. A 10 minute video detailing tram
operations in Wellington in the 1950's plays continuously inside our
Brisbane ‘Dreadnought’ tram used in the making of the movie
'King Kong'.
The
Wellington Tramway Museum Incorporated
The Wellington Tramway Museum
society, which owns the Tramway, was incorporated in 1964 as a non-profit
organisation to preserve tramcars and other items of tramway interest,
to establish and operate a working tramcar museum and to foster an interest
in tramways generally.
Seven Wellington trams were
transported from the Newtown tram sheds in Wellington a few weeks after
the closure of Wellington's last tram route on 2 May 1964. After a period
of temporary storage all had arrived at Oueen Elizabeth Park by mid-1965.
First tram operation, which was over a very short track length, was
in February 1965 and the official opening of the first 200 metres of
route was on 19 December 1965. The rails had been obtained from contractors
who were ripping them out of Wellington's streets as scrap. They were
repaired and laid by Museum members who also erected the overhead wires
and installed a 500 volt direct current power supply- initially a generator
in a diesel bus.
The Museum site is leased
from the Wellington Regional Council. Tram operations have helped provide
funds for installation of a permanent (mercury-arc) power supply (1970),
the main tram barn (1978) the large storage building at the rear of
the leased property (1982), together with track extensions in 1985 and
to the Beach picnic area (1988).
Further improvements have been the installation of a tram maintenance
pit (1993) and the large tram workshop building (1996). In addition
much voluntary effort and funds, go into the maintenance and restoration
of the trams with two having so far received major restoration attention.
