TRAVEL as Ballarat people did in the 1880s by jumping on Australia\u2019s oldest operating tram, a double-decker \u2018Horse Tram\u2019, at Lake Wendouree on Sunday, 14 April.<\/p>\n
The equine powered tramcar, built in 1887, was the first in Ballarat\u2019s horsedrawn fleet.<\/p>\n
On Sunday-week, Tram Number One will be pulled by some of Sovereign Hill\u2019s working horses between 11am and 3.30pm.<\/p>\n
Neville Britton, Operations Manager of Ballarat Tramway Museum said there are not many opportunities for the general public to experience heritage trams in this way.<\/p>\n
\u201cRiding on the tram behind the horses is completely different to any other experience. You get a forward and back motion as they step,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s an enjoyable, slow ride.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tram is running on steel rails using steel wheels so there\u2019s basically no resistance for the horses. They\u2019re walking but not working too much. For the tram driver, there\u2019s a lot of skill to apply braking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having been privately looked after through the middle of last century, Tram Number One was gifted back to Ballarat Tramway Museum in 1985.<\/p>\n
It will depart regularly from the passing loop near Pipers, and halfway through each trip, passengers may swap levels to experience the open-air or the saloon seating inside.<\/p>\n
Tickets are available from the departure site or the Tramway Museum. Adults are $10 and children $5. The tickets also include a ride on the heritage electric trams.<\/p>\n