Tracks from Sydney's original tram network have been given a new lease of life on the Loftus tramway.
About 150 metres of tracks, dating back to the late 1950s and excavated during Sydney Light Rail works on Anzac Parade in Kensington, were given to Sydney Tramway Museum.
They have been used to upgrade the South Hill track, part of the museum's main line from Sutherland to Loftus.
Transport for NSW coordinator general Marg Prendergast said two semi-trailer loads of steel rails, sleepers and sections of concrete encasements were dug out by CBD and South East Light Rail contractors and donated to the museum in 2017.
Ms Prendergast said the first sections of the tracks were recently relaid.
"The CBD and South East Light Rail project has a commitment to preserving environmental and cultural heritage along the alignment," she said.
"It's heart-warming to think parts of the old tramway rails from Anzac Parade, heading into Ascot Street that led to the original Randwick Racecourse - which is now the site of Randwick Stabling Yards that houses Sydney's new tram fleet - have a new home at South Hill where vintage trams will glide over them again."
Vintage trams dating from 1896 to those operating at the closure of the Sydney system in 1961 - including the popular 80 seat O-Class cars (designed specifically in Sydney for Sydney and often referred to as 'toast racks') - run up the South Hill line and along the Parkline route into Royal National Park.
Sydney Tramway Museum volunteers along with participants from the Justice Department's Community Corrections Program, spent four months in early 2019 excavating, laying rescued track, welding and levelling to upgrade the South Hill line.
Museum director and electrical engineer, Greg Sutherland said the upgrade had taken 12 weeks, with the infrastructure crew working on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
"The parts of track excavated from Anzac Parade, Kensington were originally laid as upgraded rail in the late 1950s to replace even older tracks that were wearing thin," he said.
"No rescued material has been wasted - some of the original concrete has been smashed up and used for reinforcement and sections of rail that is too worn and brittle have been repurposed as sleepers," he said.
The Loftus project was completed about the same time as the first tram in 61 years ran the entire length of the new light rail line from Randwick to Circular Quay as testing ramps up.
Trams are being tested on George Street from Town Hall to Circular Quay at night ahead of daytime testing in the CBD in coming weeks.
Transport for NSW has launched a "Heads Up, Play it Safe around Light Rail" safety campaign to educate all roads users - pedestrians, cyclists and motorists - about changed traffic conditions and safe interaction with trams as tram testing expands.
"Pedestrians are reminded to look out before they step out, use designated crossings and avoid distractions like mobile phones when walking near or crossing the tram corridor," Ms Prendergast said.
