The Karachi to Melbourne tram or the W-11 tram is a retired Z class tram Z1 81 decorated by a team of professional Pakistani vehicle decorators, commissioned by the City of Melbourne for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Origin of the name
The name is based on the W-11 buses originally found in Karachi, Pakistan, which are a model of minibus famous for their entertainment value: decorated with lush designs and playing popular Pakistani or Indian music. Competition between buses has made these buses famous for their extravagant designs and entertainment.
The tram
As a showcase of Pakistani culture, Z class tram Z1 81 was commissioned for the Commonwealth Games, and a team of W-11 decorators were invited to decorate the tram at Preston Workshops. For the duration of the games it operated on the City Circle, playing Bhangra and Pakistani music. [1] [2] It returned to service in the summer of 2006/07 operating Friday night City Circle services. [3]
It is currently on permanent display at the Melbourne Tram Museum at Hawthorn depot since June 2015. [4]
References
- ^ Last rides on the Karachi tram Melbourne 2006 25 March 2006
- ^ Vehicle Decoration - The Karachi Decoration Project Australian Broadcasting Corporation 5 April 2006
- ^ The Karachi Tram - back on the streets of Melbourne every Friday night during daylight savings Archived 15 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine Yarra Trams 23 November 2006
- ^ "Yarra Trams Z1 Class No 81 'Karachi W11'". www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au. Melbourne Tram Museum @ Hawthorn Depot. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
External links
Media related to
Karachi to Melbourne tram at Wikimedia Commons