- 216a Garford SAR62 Brockway Glenelg Co (MTT 299)
- 216 Trams 174,189 Garford SAR 62 Brockway Glenelg Co (MTT 299)
Private buses competed with MTT trams - the buses at that stage being unregulated. As one means of countering this, the MTT used the C type trams as unscheduled extra cars on the routes so affected, with the instructions to beat the private buses to the passengers!
The C type were faster than other trams, and, although only single truck, were built after the D and E type bogie trams.
They got the nickname "Desert Gold" after a well-known race horse of the era.
An interesting curiosity is that "Desert Gold" (the race horse) has been referred to several times recently in the Adelaide Advertiser's racing pages.
A current horse (Winx?) has been breaking records for the most consecutive races won, and, in the process has broken some records held by Desert Gold (it must be nearly 100 years ago!) - it apparently won nineteen on the trot.
Rather interesting to see its name in a current newspaper, after hearing of its name in connection with trams for many years!
Cheers
Trevor