About 20 passengers were evacuated safely before two trams collided at the Sydney Tramway Museum, Loftus, last Sunday.
An investigation is underway by the Office of Transport Safety into the collision between an empty 1904 Sydney J Class tram number 675 and a Japanese model tram No 1054 which was returning from the Sutherland run with passengers at 11.30am on Sunday.
It is believed that a wheel chock failed to hold the empty tram 675 which started rolling towards the 1054.
The young driver of 1054 saw the empty tram coming towards him. He had time to put on the brakes and get people safely off.
Reports said that he had about a minute to get everybody out.
“Passengers were told to abandon the tram quickly before a runaway tram hit head on,” one witness told the Leader.
“There were elderly passengers and familes with small people on the tram.
“The driver’s actions were commendable. He did very well to get everybody off and acted promptly because he knew something wasn’t right.
“We couldn’t see the runaway tram coming from inside the carriage so we couldn’t see what was happening.
“He gave firm, precise directions. You could tell that there was something wrong.
“People got off quickly. We did have elderly people and children on the tram. I had to carry my three-year-old daughter off.
“The crash was really loud. People from across the highway at Loftus came over. They heard the crash from across four lanes of traffic and came over to see if anyone was hurt.
“There was a feeling of shock because everyone wasn’t expecting it.
“A few people checked on the driver who was clearly shaken by the incident.
“The driver was the hero. He clearly needs a pat on the back. I think his actions were commendable.
“Luckily nobody was hurt but it was extremely frightening,’’ she said.
“Everybody is devastated,’’ he said.
“It’s a very serious matter from our point of view.
“We have already changed some procedures to make sure the fail safety procedures are implemented.
‘’Steps are being taken to make sure this doesn’t happen again.’’
The empty 675 tram was damaged and has been secured in a building pending the outcome of the investigation.
Last October fire destroyed a storage shed which housed the museum’s reserve collection, including were six trams, four buses and the chassis of a 1937 double-decker bus.
