History of Box Car No.11

Box Car No. 11 celebrates her 120th birthday this year (2023). She was built in 1903, by the J.G. Brill Company in Philadelphia, USA and imported to New Zealand by Noyes Bros. Engineers, Sydney, Australia-based contractors to the Dunedin City Corporation in the building of the Dunedin tramway system. Box Car No. 11 entered service as part of the main Dunedin tramway system’s original fleet that commenced operations in December 1903. She was known locally as “Spiff”, reflecting the promotional signage she carried on her rooftop for Spiff shoe polish.

The Dunedin tram fleet comprised 43 Brill 4-wheel trams including 14 Box Cars,14 “Californian Combinations” and 15 open, cross bench “toast rack” cars. Many of the Brill-built trams ran throughout the 53-year life of the Dunedin tramway operation. Box Car No. 11 was withdrawn from service in 1953 and sold at auction to W Hastie, a horse breeder from Pine Hill, to be used as a farm storage shed. She was tracked down by the Tramway Historical Society (THS) in 1964 and donated to THS by Mrs. Hastie.

Restoration commenced in 1981, with parts being recovered and used in the restoration from 8 other Dunedin Box Cars, a 21E truck from Brussels, controllers from Glasgow and other equipment from Melbourne. An estimated 9,000 hours of restoration work saw her completed in December 1986. THS operated a passenger service with Box Car No.11 at Ferrymead Heritage Park until 1994 when she was withdrawn, refurbished, and prepared to operate on Christchurch’s central city tramway. The Dunedin City Corporation insignia was replaced with Christchurch Tramway Ltd in similar Edwardian style.

Locals and visitors alike can now enjoy the experience of travelling around Christchurch’s city streets inside New Zealand’s oldest operating tram. She may be a wee bit rattly, but then you would surely be too if you were her age!