I used to always go to the corner of Chapel Street/Dandenong Road. At least you have a view of the Astor Theatre and if there are disruptions to the line you have Windsor station.
There used to be a lot more tram stops that were located suspiciously close to eachother (less than 100m) but to tidy up the network and improve journey times a lot have closed. There is evidence remaining in the missing stop numbers that are otherwise sequential. Route 58 has been the latest to have redundant stops removed in the last few years (seven stops by my count)
You should try the 208 bus route in Adelaide: On the out run there are stops numbered as follows: 1, 2, 2a, 3, 3a, *4+,* 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10a, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20a, 20b, 21, 22, 22a, 23, 23a, 24, *25,* 25a, 27a, 27b, 27, 26c, 26b, 26a, 26, 27c, 27d, 27e, 27f, 28, *29d,* 29c, 29b, 29a, G. _+was closed but has recently reopened outbound._ The In run as follows: I, 29a, 29b, 29c, 28, 27f, 27e, 27d, 27c, 26, 26a, 26b, 26c, 27, 27b, 27a, 25a, 24, 23a, 23, 22a, 22, 21, 20b, 20a, *20,* 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 11, 10a, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5 3a, 3, 2a, 2, 1. I once came across a youngish Grandma trying to teach her grandchild to count using bus stops & I thought that kid will be very confused if she keeps this up!
I used to take the then 55 from West Brunswick and get off at the stop in the middle of Royal Park to walk to the university colleges. The driver would often check I was sure I wanted to get off there.
What a strong start mate. Congratulations on your first video and you picked an interesting topic for it! Often with first videos, the audio is all messed up level wise, the footage is just repurposed, etc, but you've got all that stuff right from the get go. Audio sounds good, script is good, footage is great. Feedback wise, I think some of your cuts or shots could be a little longer. During the bus interchange, maybe give each shot like three seconds. Remember that the eye takes time to adjust to a new frame and moving object. One thing I would check when doing the narration is pronunciation of place names. Derby is can sometimes pronounced as "Darby", Queensbridge is usually said as one thing, not Queens Bridge. Just curious, what's your nationality? You sounded a bit British but also with hints of an American accent or Canadian accent at times, it's cool to hear different voices talking about Melbourne's big tram network!
Australia has three distinct accents: General (most common, Hugh Jackman type), Broad (crocodile dundee/Julia Gillard type), and Cultivated (Cate Blanchett type) This sounds like a Cultivated Australian accent to me, with some laced Americanisms (likely due to what I'm assuming is the young age of the narrator). I'd argue it's unfortunate, but for better or worse, many young people have the odd word or two they pronounce incorrectly (like an American, not in Australian English, even if the rest of the speech is accurate). Probably the most common would be 'ass'. Words can also often be misspelt in an American way, rather than Australian English, though spoken properly. Ultimately though, I think that while the narrator's accent definitely sounds more distinct, it predominantly has aspects of a Cultivated accent-just the odd Americanism, and maybe even Kiwi-ism peppered in. Edit: It's probably the O sounds that sound American. I've noticed 'stop' and 'honestly' are the most noticeable and have the distinct American 'uh' like an a. It's particularly interesting because words like 'on', 'one' and 'deserve' sound distinctly Australian. Words like 'way' and 'road' sound more British, but I'd say this is just where the Cultivated accent comes out more.
@@ElusiveTy In 2017, I was on a hiking trip through the Mendip hills in the UK when I stopped for a drink at a pub [I'm an Aussie do I need to say more]. After chatting to the barman for about 15 minutes, he said, "I've got it!" I replied, "Well whatever it is you can keep it, I certainly don't want it." "No, I've worked out that you're from a farm in the Upper Mid North of South Australia." Which amazed me, because I'd spent the first 17 years, of my then 56 years, living on 'a farm in the Upper Mid North of South Australia' ... You say we have three distinct accents, that gentleman (who has NEVER left the UK) would say it's more like 300.
@@EarlJohn61 That's impressive that he could guess your accent, but given it's anecdotal, it could also be just a lucky guess. I wouldn't be able to know how the barman thinks/the thought process. I'm not the one defining our accents, it's the ones already defined. We technically do have off-shoots, in the way that our rural Aboriginal population sound different to other rural Australians, though that may have more to do with accents from their local languages coming into play. South Australia is an oddity because it probably has the most distinct 'state accent' out of all of Australia, given it's the only state to never use convict labour and has always held a more refined/posh accent, generally speaking. To that though, I'd simply say more South Australians have 'Cultivated' accents. Australia is unique in that our states and territories really don't vary in accent. Where they do, it's very minor, and usually a case of one of the three previously outlined types being more prevalent ('Broad' is more common in Far North QLD for example). The greatest variance is in word preferences, like how South Australians *more commonly* tend to say 'dance' and 'chance' with a low a (like in a British accent), whereas in Queensland, they'd almost always use a high a (like in an American accent). All to say, there's nuisance to everything, including our accents (and no doubt some people that slip between more than one type), but generally, the three I mentioned are what have been defined as our distinct accents in Australia.
Very good video, well made and good audio quality I'd like to give my own honourable mention to Casino/Southbank Stop 115 on Route 58, as to my knowledge it's the only place where trams and buses share the same physical stop, with buses stopping at the tram platform.
I think they should extend the route 59 to Tullamarine and also they need to reopen the outer and inner circle lines, but as a new tram line. They could convert the Alamein line to tram and then extend it to Monash university via Chadstone shopping centre
Route 59 is also a test for your driving skills - needing to watch out for trams when using the roundabout at Essendon, looking out for other traffic and for pedestrians; it's also a little tricky further up the line with similar cross over of rod and tram lines and needing to look out for traffic as well. It's a road requiring good situation awareness.
I use stop 31 Route 64 (the No.1 strangest stop) EVERY weekday to and from work for about the last 10 years. It is weird being in the middle of the road and you have to be very careful crossing the tramtracks as the stairway is the only way to get up to street level, and there are 2 tram routes using the stop (64 and 5) so it becomes busy at peak time. Some drivers let you cross in front of the tram before it departs but most do not. It is also very loud, and bleak and cold in the winter, and in the summer the stop on the north side travelling away from the city is directly in the sun and you have to hide in the small shadow on the side of the small shelter to avoid the sun. Almost every time I am the only person getting on and off at the stop when I travel.
Nice one mate, you got it right, Queens Way is soooo strange. Not made for the disabled and older folks too. My favourite is the Elizabeth St termination at Finders St. If you only want a tram ride in the free zone, you never know which tram will leave first. It's fun to try and work it out by watching the driver change ends of the tram. Will they wait or are they in a hurry as they are late? You will always see people quickly change trams when they realise theirs it not first
I do the trip to Peter Mac and it's a very reliable route.does have a lot of Melb uni students and shoppers for Queen Vic market. It's mostly a good trip and must be a old line,because it continues to Coburg and trams have been in Melb a long time.🇦🇺🏥
That's actually one of my least favourites. There's a lack of digital signage (I once waited like 20 minutes with many people at the stop and after looking it up realising literally nobody was aware there was an accident on Elizabeth Street and no trams were coming) and it's one of the dodgiest places at night (you can almost guarantee you'll witness an aggro methhead yelling about something)
I used to race trams down Queens Way after school with fellow students on the tram watching along. It used to annoy me if the tram stopped because that killed the race. The race started from Chapel Street once the lights went green. I could always skip to a good lead and I regarded a win for the tram if it overtook me before the junction. Often it was really close and it was a relief to see the tram slow. I would win 70% of the time and hit speeds of 60 kph due to the slight downhill.
I went to a school that was near the stop before queens way and if you ever forgot to press the stop button you would just get abandoned in the middle of nowhere. Worst feeling especially if you were late 😅
Can agree with number 1 I have very mild autism and that loud traffic might effect me a bit because of the loud noise of the cars. And it looks depressing
Wow, first video?? Well done!! As others have said, footage and audio is great but great job on the voiceover as well. Good luck with the channel, looking forward to the next vid! You'll be pleased to know this is being pushed into YT recommendations!
thank you! This is way more views than i was expecting for my first video, very happy with it! Working on the next one now (although ill be away for 3 weeks so it might not be done before then and I'll have to release it later)
you are going to think you are in a different country all together the place has changed so much in the last few decades alone, let alone the last 50 years,, its basically lost its soul these days like every other globalist pump and dump scheme across the planet
Agree with other comments - this is a truly great video!! I appreciate that it would've taken a lot of effort for you to research then actually travel to each stop. I've regularly used 3 of the listed stops and agree they are indeed strange haha! I didn't even think oddly of the Caulfield one until now, and I pass by that everyday!!! Well done mate, and I've now subscribed to your channel.
@@QazzyTransport 109 has proper stops there that do serve passengers, whereas 96 has complete stops - with shelters but platforms for single door only - and those are not for passengers!
Another "honourable mention", perhaps, should go to Balaclava Junction - the only "grand union" on the entire tram network. Meaning trams coming from *any* of the four directions can turn left, turn right, or go straight.
I remember waiting at the waterford avenue stop at 8:00am every morning during 2013-16 for high school. You mentioned it has a drab and depressing atmosphere even when on a sunny afternoon, picture the same place at 8am on a foggy and overcast 2-5° morning and it becomes silent hill, combined with the headlights of the z class tram coming into view at the end of the alley, clatter and screeching of the wheels around the bend, strong buzz of the chopper as it climbs the incline. I never wouldve thought at the time id look back at it fondly now that its a place and time in my past. And yes the giant mounds of sand are always there, never seen another tram stop with so much so regularly before. Drivers are obviously very cautious of slowing down after the very long uninterrupted straight followed by the sharp turn where they join the road.
At Dandenong Road there's also another nearby stop in the other direction past the bridge, although this makes more sense as it takes a few minutes to walk there via Caulfield station, and there is no footpath on the side of the road closest to the rail as it approaches the bridge.
I went to visit Melbourne two months ago for first time ever, relying on the ample tram network to communte. And must say it was hectic at first, but I grew to enjoy it. I got use to the unpredictable trams stops by the end of my week.
i remember in the 70s and 80s there where a lot more unusual tram stops around melbourne.. its funny how you dont notice these things until they gone yeah
Also, I'd like to give an honourable mention to Royal Park Station/Royal Park #24 just because of how it feels to me like you've just been dropped off in the countryside in the middle of nowhere after having come from the inner city just a few minutes earlier.
Not only that, but the tram line crosses over Poplar Road within metres of the railway level crossing, and is just like a second level crossing itself.
Very pleased to see this come up on my recommendations. Take another comment to help the algorithm so many more may see this. Best of luck, I look forward to seeing your journey.
Interesting comments about the Essendon station site, which I have used maybe hundreds of times. It's not really a round-about though - it's a junction point very much like the one further down the road at Moonee Ponds. Also, the Haymarket round about used to have a stop in the middle of it before the 1980's. The Highpoint route mentioned is a bit of a war relic, set up to provide access to the ammunition and explosives factories in the area back in WWII. Had you ridden this route 20-30 years earlier, you would have a lot more strange stations to pop into your video.
I find the Essendon stop dangerous when driving past there, it's quite easy to not pay attention to the tram exiting the round about and get collected by it
Great video, Just a note. Those stops in Caulfield are only recently the closest two (that i know of). Riversdale station used to have one on each side of the rail track on riversdale road (2 for each direction making 4). honestly, it wouldn't shock me if there are more instances of this elsewhere in the network.
that random block of concrete at 1:00 is a grind ledge for skating and bmx etc. its pretty wacky to have a random lone ledge near a tram stop. theyre usually either in a skatepark or have some other ledges and rails near it.
I live very close to that Queens Road stop, I use that bridge every time I walk from St Kilda to Windsor and back, but have never once used that tram stop before (despite being a frequent tram user)! It really does just feel so uninviting.
When it comes to your surprise at so many bus passengers, it's because the trams don't cover enough of Melbourne and there are massive gaps in the Metro. Right now, there are two bus routes I need to take to get to anywhere with more connectivity. And even back when I lived at the end of a tram line... it was something of a trek to get there, but a bus was directly outside my house. When it comes to frequency, though, or quality of service... certainly not terrible, but it could be so much better.
I didn't notice any accent but though I am multi generational Australian, Australian people think I am English but English people don't. I enjoyed the video before realising it was your first. Well done and I welcome your next effort. I imagine you have some up your sleeve. Regarding the Caulfield curve into Derby Road, people with knowledge far superior to mine always maintain the tightest on Melbourne's system is the Gertrude and Smith Street curve.
You're likely one of the rare ones with a Cultivated Australian accent (Cate Blanchett) too then. It's the accent that gets the most identified as 'British'/'English' by anyone that isn't actually from there. Cultivated Australian is a more refined Australian accent, known for clearer speech, so it's less slurred in the way a Broad accent (Julia Gillard) might be.
Oh I did wonder. I’m originally a Melbourne girl but moved to central VIC in 1989 so didn’t know it had changed but it looked different to what I remembered.
I would also like to mention Stop 61 (Wattle Park) on Route 70, Stops 63 (Deakin University) and 75 (Vermont South) on Route 75. Great Video by the way!
Good video. Looking forward to more. One thing though, on the Queens Way Stop 31 bit, the sign you pointed out is not to prohibit you walking "any further", but to remind you not to walk along the tracks AT ALL as it is too dangerous and you are not able to escape an oncoming trams because doing so would put you in other danger.
I was next to a strange tram stop yesterday, but it is not in Melbourne. Nerang St, Southport, Queensland. Between Davenport St, and Scarborough St. The trams have replaced private vehicles on this stretch of Nerang St. Regular traffic is diverted to the above mentioned streets. I was doing a delivery to one of the businesses next to the tram stop. The footpath there has been widened, to permit shared vehicles and pedestrians, for access to the businesses next to the tram stop.
I took a trip to Melbourne specifically to check out Melbourne's sharpest curve. That Derby Road stop is probably there to serve as an interchange with the train station. I do think the Dandenong Road stop is a little too far to call itself an interchange stop. Thanks for motivating me to travel to Melbourne
Very nice video! another weird stop is St Georges Rd/Miller St on route 11, only citybound trams stop there and its only 50m from the New Preston Depot tram stop, it does have a very niche use for terminating Route 11D trams, which run from West Preston to Preston Depot .
Im Late but in Gold Coast, the weirdest g link stop is Broadbeach south, the terminating station of the line it turns from 2 tracks to 1 track right in front of the stop and that second track just keeps going along until it reaches the platform
The waterfod avenue area was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the title of this video. I went to highpoint for the first time a few months ago and the tram stops really threw me off, especially the rails. Its a really strange looking area.
Thanks Qazzy! What about the hump line … unusual. Number 3 tram in Dandy Road and Waverley Road outside Monash is the weirdest complex shunt that I’ve never seen used. The siding in Footscray near the old explosive plant and that funny bit at the end of Flinders street in Jollimont near Punt Road. Lots of funny weird shunts and chutes on the MMTB!
Walsh St/Toorak Rd (South Yarra) by Fawkner park was one I found real weird. The tram stop is essentially just a bus stop on the side of the road you have to walk across oncoming traffic (that did stop for us) to get onto the tram stopped in the middle of the road. Maybe this isn't that uncommon, I was only in Melbourne for a couple weeks.
With regard to the Caulfield station stop spacing I would guess that the Dandenong Rd/Derby Rd stop used to be around the corner a bit further downline on Dandenong Rd/Princes Highway but when they put the Princes Highway in and increased the car traffic they decided to move it from there because of the danger it would pose to pedestrians (but more likely for the annoyance it would pose to drivers speeding down the Princes Highway to slow down for trams)
Well done mate. On the topic of shortest distance between stops, stop 48A at the top of Hawthorn Rd in Caulfield North is about 45 metres from stop 48 on Dandenong Rd
@@QazzyTransport There are two stops in Albert Park on the no. 1 tram route that are also very close to one another. One of these occurs in the Albert Park Shopping Village on Bridport Street, the other ones are the last two stops on Victoria Avenue where the route terminates.
Yes that is true. I’m originally a Melbourne girl and loved using the trams but never liked buses. I even liked the old green trams that in winter were freezing, they had character.
At least with trams and trains you know exactly where they go. Buses are a mystery. They could go anywhere, stop anywhere. How would you even know you are at your stop without a big sign telling you where you are? No thanks, I'm not an anarchist.
The only trams I've ever used are the Gold Coast light rail and the L1, L2 and L3 in Sydney. So it's really nice watching this video and learning about Melbourne's trams, makes me want to visit. Also I am curious to where you are from, you sounded like a mix of American and Australian, maybe you have American parents or something.
@@QazzyTransport Oh! Interesting, well not sure how you got your accent but it doesn't sound very Australian or Kiwi either. The 'O' sound in particular, like an Aussie would say "Bus Stop" but an American sounds like "Bus Stahp" it's interesting how the English speaking world changes vowels. I enjoyed your video and I hope you make more :)
Concerning close tram stops, you should see the three Churchill stops on tram line 7 in Brussels, Belgium. The second stop is only 50 metres from the first, and the third another 50 metres from the second. And the trams of line 7 stop at all three stops. Three stops in just 100 metres. Even stranger, the middle stop is not accessible from outside. It is in the middle of a roundabout and is intended only for interchange between lines 3 and 7.
Spot on about the terrible frequencies of Melbourne's buses - The 246 runs every 10 minutes on weekdays though so that is probably why you saw so many!
I believe that some of these stops were actually train stations but the psychology of the 60/70s was that public transport was over subsidised and will die out to make way for motorised private vehicles.
“St. Vincent’s Plaza” has always puzzled me - and I have travelled to and through it many times. As far as I can see, there is no Plaza there - just a tram stop. Was there ever a plaza there?
Kingway Bridge #58 tram. The dog park is frequented by many dogs at certain times. The other side I have seen four or five skaters at a time sharing that platform for tricks.
I know Waterford Av well. Not the most pleasant experience! At first I didn't know how to get to it so I approached from Williamson Rd walking along the gravel. Didn't do my shoes much good and almost sprained my ankle. I thought this cannot be right! And indeed I found out you're meant to enter from Wests Rd or White St but by then it was too late!
The Caulfield Railway Station/Derby Road #57 stops are used by Monash Caulfield staff and students travelling from/towards Balaclava Road. Outbound stop #58 gets much less use by comparison and if a stop should be removed it would be this one. There is no inbound #58. And while "sharp" the curve is not as sharp as the lens on your camera makes it appear.
Maybe the tram square on Riversdale Road at Riversdale Station, then. That one still exists. In fact, so too does the one on Glenferrie Road at Kooyong Station.
I dare say any tram stop in a median strip on an arterial road is unpleasant to wait at. Even worse if it lacks a controlled pedestrian crossing.
I used to always go to the corner of Chapel Street/Dandenong Road. At least you have a view of the Astor Theatre and if there are disruptions to the line you have Windsor station.
The ones immediately south of Flinders Street are OK because the median is huge
Absolutely, especially if you don't know the area well
I still prefer them to the ones that force you to walk into oncoming traffic to board the tram.
There used to be a lot more tram stops that were located suspiciously close to eachother (less than 100m) but to tidy up the network and improve journey times a lot have closed. There is evidence remaining in the missing stop numbers that are otherwise sequential. Route 58 has been the latest to have redundant stops removed in the last few years (seven stops by my count)
You should try the 208 bus route in Adelaide:
On the out run there are stops numbered as follows:
1, 2, 2a, 3, 3a, *4+,* 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10a, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20a, 20b, 21, 22, 22a, 23, 23a, 24, *25,* 25a, 27a, 27b, 27, 26c, 26b, 26a, 26, 27c, 27d, 27e, 27f, 28, *29d,* 29c, 29b, 29a, G.
_+was closed but has recently reopened outbound._
The In run as follows:
I, 29a, 29b, 29c, 28, 27f, 27e, 27d, 27c, 26, 26a, 26b, 26c, 27, 27b, 27a, 25a, 24, 23a, 23, 22a, 22, 21, 20b, 20a, *20,* 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 11, 10a, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5 3a, 3, 2a, 2, 1.
I once came across a youngish Grandma trying to teach her grandchild to count using bus stops & I thought that kid will be very confused if she keeps this up!
I used to take the then 55 from West Brunswick and get off at the stop in the middle of Royal Park to walk to the university colleges. The driver would often check I was sure I wanted to get off there.
What a strong start mate. Congratulations on your first video and you picked an interesting topic for it! Often with first videos, the audio is all messed up level wise, the footage is just repurposed, etc, but you've got all that stuff right from the get go. Audio sounds good, script is good, footage is great.
Feedback wise, I think some of your cuts or shots could be a little longer. During the bus interchange, maybe give each shot like three seconds. Remember that the eye takes time to adjust to a new frame and moving object. One thing I would check when doing the narration is pronunciation of place names. Derby is can sometimes pronounced as "Darby", Queensbridge is usually said as one thing, not Queens Bridge.
Just curious, what's your nationality? You sounded a bit British but also with hints of an American accent or Canadian accent at times, it's cool to hear different voices talking about Melbourne's big tram network!
Thank you! I am Australian, but half my family is from NZ
Australia has three distinct accents: General (most common, Hugh Jackman type), Broad (crocodile dundee/Julia Gillard type), and Cultivated (Cate Blanchett type)
This sounds like a Cultivated Australian accent to me, with some laced Americanisms (likely due to what I'm assuming is the young age of the narrator). I'd argue it's unfortunate, but for better or worse, many young people have the odd word or two they pronounce incorrectly (like an American, not in Australian English, even if the rest of the speech is accurate). Probably the most common would be 'ass'. Words can also often be misspelt in an American way, rather than Australian English, though spoken properly.
Ultimately though, I think that while the narrator's accent definitely sounds more distinct, it predominantly has aspects of a Cultivated accent-just the odd Americanism, and maybe even Kiwi-ism peppered in.
Edit: It's probably the O sounds that sound American. I've noticed 'stop' and 'honestly' are the most noticeable and have the distinct American 'uh' like an a.
It's particularly interesting because words like 'on', 'one' and 'deserve' sound distinctly Australian.
Words like 'way' and 'road' sound more British, but I'd say this is just where the Cultivated accent comes out more.
@@ElusiveTy When they start saying sodder instead of solder you will know we are doomed. lol
@@ElusiveTy In 2017, I was on a hiking trip through the Mendip hills in the UK when I stopped for a drink at a pub [I'm an Aussie do I need to say more]. After chatting to the barman for about 15 minutes, he said, "I've got it!"
I replied, "Well whatever it is you can keep it, I certainly don't want it."
"No, I've worked out that you're from a farm in the Upper Mid North of South Australia."
Which amazed me, because I'd spent the first 17 years, of my then 56 years, living on 'a farm in the Upper Mid North of South Australia' ...
You say we have three distinct accents, that gentleman (who has NEVER left the UK) would say it's more like 300.
@@EarlJohn61 That's impressive that he could guess your accent, but given it's anecdotal, it could also be just a lucky guess. I wouldn't be able to know how the barman thinks/the thought process.
I'm not the one defining our accents, it's the ones already defined. We technically do have off-shoots, in the way that our rural Aboriginal population sound different to other rural Australians, though that may have more to do with accents from their local languages coming into play.
South Australia is an oddity because it probably has the most distinct 'state accent' out of all of Australia, given it's the only state to never use convict labour and has always held a more refined/posh accent, generally speaking. To that though, I'd simply say more South Australians have 'Cultivated' accents.
Australia is unique in that our states and territories really don't vary in accent. Where they do, it's very minor, and usually a case of one of the three previously outlined types being more prevalent ('Broad' is more common in Far North QLD for example). The greatest variance is in word preferences, like how South Australians *more commonly* tend to say 'dance' and 'chance' with a low a (like in a British accent), whereas in Queensland, they'd almost always use a high a (like in an American accent).
All to say, there's nuisance to everything, including our accents (and no doubt some people that slip between more than one type), but generally, the three I mentioned are what have been defined as our distinct accents in Australia.
Very good video, well made and good audio quality
I'd like to give my own honourable mention to Casino/Southbank Stop 115 on Route 58, as to my knowledge it's the only place where trams and buses share the same physical stop, with buses stopping at the tram platform.
thank you! I might make a part 2 with more stops since there seems to be so many unique ones!
I think they should extend the route 59 to Tullamarine and also they need to reopen the outer and inner circle lines, but as a new tram line. They could convert the Alamein line to tram and then extend it to Monash university via Chadstone shopping centre
@@electro_sykes Well no.
@@smedleyfarnsworth263 great response
It’s so weird seeing a video made on a city and tram network I’m so familiar with and use daily, keep it up!
Route 59 is also a test for your driving skills - needing to watch out for trams when using the roundabout at Essendon, looking out for other traffic and for pedestrians; it's also a little tricky further up the line with similar cross over of rod and tram lines and needing to look out for traffic as well. It's a road requiring good situation awareness.
I just recently started driving and live very close to this tram stop and you're completely right. The lights also don't help.
I use stop 31 Route 64 (the No.1 strangest stop) EVERY weekday to and from work for about the last 10 years. It is weird being in the middle of the road and you have to be very careful crossing the tramtracks as the stairway is the only way to get up to street level, and there are 2 tram routes using the stop (64 and 5) so it becomes busy at peak time. Some drivers let you cross in front of the tram before it departs but most do not. It is also very loud, and bleak and cold in the winter, and in the summer the stop on the north side travelling away from the city is directly in the sun and you have to hide in the small shadow on the side of the small shelter to avoid the sun. Almost every time I am the only person getting on and off at the stop when I travel.
Nice one mate, you got it right, Queens Way is soooo strange. Not made for the disabled and older folks too. My favourite is the Elizabeth St termination at Finders St. If you only want a tram ride in the free zone, you never know which tram will leave first. It's fun to try and work it out by watching the driver change ends of the tram. Will they wait or are they in a hurry as they are late? You will always see people quickly change trams when they realise theirs it not first
I do the trip to Peter Mac and it's a very reliable route.does have a lot of Melb uni students and shoppers for Queen Vic market. It's mostly a good trip and must be a old line,because it continues to Coburg and trams have been in Melb a long time.🇦🇺🏥
I can’t believe that the tram stop right outside the busiest train station doesn’t have an PIDs.
That's actually one of my least favourites. There's a lack of digital signage (I once waited like 20 minutes with many people at the stop and after looking it up realising literally nobody was aware there was an accident on Elizabeth Street and no trams were coming) and it's one of the dodgiest places at night (you can almost guarantee you'll witness an aggro methhead yelling about something)
Like trying to figure out which lane to take at the Macca's drive thru
Hahah definitely the most interesting in terms of eventful behaviour! I've seen so much shit go down around that stop
I used to race trams down Queens Way after school with fellow students on the tram watching along. It used to annoy me if the tram stopped because that killed the race. The race started from Chapel Street once the lights went green. I could always skip to a good lead and I regarded a win for the tram if it overtook me before the junction. Often it was really close and it was a relief to see the tram slow. I would win 70% of the time and hit speeds of 60 kph due to the slight downhill.
Before they closed it the random stop in the middle of Royal Park on route 58 was a good one
Who would have guessed that people and dogs don’t really enjoy running around underneath a motorway.
It isn’t a motorway - it’s an approach to a bridge over the Yarra river (which happens to run through the second floor of the South Bank Casino…)
That #64 ramp at St Kilda junction was like riding a roller coaster when I was a kid.
I went to a school that was near the stop before queens way and if you ever forgot to press the stop button you would just get abandoned in the middle of nowhere. Worst feeling especially if you were late 😅
Can agree with number 1 I have very mild autism and that loud traffic might effect me a bit because of the loud noise of the cars. And it looks depressing
Wow, first video?? Well done!! As others have said, footage and audio is great but great job on the voiceover as well. Good luck with the channel, looking forward to the next vid! You'll be pleased to know this is being pushed into YT recommendations!
thank you! This is way more views than i was expecting for my first video, very happy with it! Working on the next one now (although ill be away for 3 weeks so it might not be done before then and I'll have to release it later)
Not having lived in Melbourne for about 50 years, that was very interesting. I am returning next year, so good to see what I'm in for.
you are going to think you are in a different country all together the place has changed so much in the last few decades alone, let alone the last 50 years,, its basically lost its soul these days like every other globalist pump and dump scheme across the planet
Very interesting. As someone who used to live in Melbourne but never having taken these routes and therefor, stops, I find it fascinating.
Such a cool video concept. I rarely take trams so its cool to see all these interesting routes/stops. Hope your channel grows a lot u deserve it!
That Caulfield station one is where I used to get off to go to Caulfield Tech back in the 80's. That corner shop was a Hobbie shop for decades.
Agree with other comments - this is a truly great video!! I appreciate that it would've taken a lot of effort for you to research then actually travel to each stop. I've regularly used 3 of the listed stops and agree they are indeed strange haha! I didn't even think oddly of the Caulfield one until now, and I pass by that everyday!!! Well done mate, and I've now subscribed to your channel.
Thank you so much! Yes, I spent 6 hours on Saturday going to all the stops, was very tired by the end!
Super interesting video, more Melbourne PT and bicycle infrastructure videos are always welcome
3:44 wasn’t expecting my regular stop do be on this list 😭
i live on the street next to the essendon one its a nightmare to have to drive on that roundabout everyday 😭
Among the weirdest ones, there is also Route 96 Southbank Tram Depot stop which is not in use for passengers!
are you thinking of the one on route 109?
@@QazzyTransport 109 has proper stops there that do serve passengers, whereas 96 has complete stops - with shelters but platforms for single door only - and those are not for passengers!
#4 Clifton Hill interchange Been going through here for the past 35 years.BTW there's a short cut to the Clifton hill RAIL station near by .
Another "honourable mention", perhaps, should go to Balaclava Junction - the only "grand union" on the entire tram network. Meaning trams coming from *any* of the four directions can turn left, turn right, or go straight.
I remember waiting at the waterford avenue stop at 8:00am every morning during 2013-16 for high school. You mentioned it has a drab and depressing atmosphere even when on a sunny afternoon, picture the same place at 8am on a foggy and overcast 2-5° morning and it becomes silent hill, combined with the headlights of the z class tram coming into view at the end of the alley, clatter and screeching of the wheels around the bend, strong buzz of the chopper as it climbs the incline.
I never wouldve thought at the time id look back at it fondly now that its a place and time in my past.
And yes the giant mounds of sand are always there, never seen another tram stop with so much so regularly before.
Drivers are obviously very cautious of slowing down after the very long uninterrupted straight followed by the sharp turn where they join the road.
At Dandenong Road there's also another nearby stop in the other direction past the bridge, although this makes more sense as it takes a few minutes to walk there via Caulfield station, and there is no footpath on the side of the road closest to the rail as it approaches the bridge.
I went to visit Melbourne two months ago for first time ever, relying on the ample tram network to communte. And must say it was hectic at first, but I grew to enjoy it. I got use to the unpredictable trams stops by the end of my week.
looking forward to seeing this channel grow
i remember in the 70s and 80s there where a lot more unusual tram stops around melbourne.. its funny how you dont notice these things until they gone yeah
Also, I'd like to give an honourable mention to Royal Park Station/Royal Park #24 just because of how it feels to me like you've just been dropped off in the countryside in the middle of nowhere after having come from the inner city just a few minutes earlier.
Not only that, but the tram line crosses over Poplar Road within metres of the railway level crossing, and is just like a second level crossing itself.
Another great WW2 relic this one. If you want to get a real sense of the station, do a bit of an internet search on the huts of Royal Park.
Fully agree with that one, it’s a weird feeling!
Yesss
Number 1 channel on youtube, what a fantastic video
Very pleased to see this come up on my recommendations. Take another comment to help the algorithm so many more may see this.
Best of luck, I look forward to seeing your journey.
Interesting comments about the Essendon station site, which I have used maybe hundreds of times. It's not really a round-about though - it's a junction point very much like the one further down the road at Moonee Ponds.
Also, the Haymarket round about used to have a stop in the middle of it before the 1980's.
The Highpoint route mentioned is a bit of a war relic, set up to provide access to the ammunition and explosives factories in the area back in WWII. Had you ridden this route 20-30 years earlier, you would have a lot more strange stations to pop into your video.
first most popular melbourne ytber, congrats mate
you forgot 96's stop at south melboune market
its pretty similar to the other light rail stops along the 96
yeah, true@@QazzyTransport
You missed that the trams go full on x games mode speeds on Queens Way and it's genuinely terrifying if you've never been on the line before
know what you mean haha
I find the Essendon stop dangerous when driving past there, it's quite easy to not pay attention to the tram exiting the round about and get collected by it
Thank you for your review and reaction to this tram stops. You made me laugh and a stop think reaction 😮 keep it up
Love this video. The 59 route has some stops very close together between Matthews Avenue and Keilor Road as well. Wish we had trams in Geelong.
Geelong used to have a tram network just like Melbourne - unfortunately it was removed in the 50s
Great video,
Just a note. Those stops in Caulfield are only recently the closest two (that i know of). Riversdale station used to have one on each side of the rail track on riversdale road (2 for each direction making 4). honestly, it wouldn't shock me if there are more instances of this elsewhere in the network.
A really good video, I’ve gotten interested recently in Melbourne’s transport history recently. So I thoroughly enjoyed this, well done!
that random block of concrete at 1:00 is a grind ledge for skating and bmx etc. its pretty wacky to have a random lone ledge near a tram stop. theyre usually either in a skatepark or have some other ledges and rails near it.
Well done mate. A very interesting video.
1:13 I thought the distance between Glenferrie Station to Burwood Rd (Route 16) would have been the shortest, guess not
I live very close to that Queens Road stop, I use that bridge every time I walk from St Kilda to Windsor and back, but have never once used that tram stop before (despite being a frequent tram user)! It really does just feel so uninviting.
When it comes to your surprise at so many bus passengers, it's because the trams don't cover enough of Melbourne and there are massive gaps in the Metro. Right now, there are two bus routes I need to take to get to anywhere with more connectivity. And even back when I lived at the end of a tram line... it was something of a trek to get there, but a bus was directly outside my house. When it comes to frequency, though, or quality of service... certainly not terrible, but it could be so much better.
its not that bus frequencies are terrible, more so that for trams its much better
@@QazzyTransport I long for the days that the buses are comparable to the trams...
@@QazzyTransportit really depends on the bus. Some bus routes are nearly unusable. Others are quick and frequent
I didn't notice any accent but though I am multi generational Australian, Australian people think I am English but English people don't.
I enjoyed the video before realising it was your first. Well done and I welcome your next effort. I imagine you have some up your sleeve.
Regarding the Caulfield curve into Derby Road, people with knowledge far superior to mine always maintain the tightest on Melbourne's system is the Gertrude and Smith Street curve.
really? the one on Gertrude Street looks to be much looser
I agree but the wise and grumpy old men of tramway groups say Gertrude Street is the one using a radius measurement.
You're likely one of the rare ones with a Cultivated Australian accent (Cate Blanchett) too then.
It's the accent that gets the most identified as 'British'/'English' by anyone that isn't actually from there.
Cultivated Australian is a more refined Australian accent, known for clearer speech, so it's less slurred in the way a Broad accent (Julia Gillard) might be.
The less said about Ms Gillard's accent, the better@@ElusiveTy
amazing first vid mate keep these vids up! subbed!
There were once open roads under the Kingsway elevated roads. Were altered in the early 1990s.
Oh I did wonder. I’m originally a Melbourne girl but moved to central VIC in 1989 so didn’t know it had changed but it looked different to what I remembered.
Qazzy, I remember you from Tabbibia, I didn't expect a video this good haha
That was excellent. I’m familiar with a number of these, and was giggling along as I watched it.
Well Done on your first video mate. Looking forward to more Melbourne Things.
I would also like to mention Stop 61 (Wattle Park) on Route 70, Stops 63 (Deakin University) and 75 (Vermont South) on Route 75. Great Video by the way!
Good video. Looking forward to more. One thing though, on the Queens Way Stop 31 bit, the sign you pointed out is not to prohibit you walking "any further", but to remind you not to walk along the tracks AT ALL as it is too dangerous and you are not able to escape an oncoming trams because doing so would put you in other danger.
Good video! Some interesting stops on the network here.
Essendon Station is a nice vibe, but it could do with a lot more shelter.
I want to drink at that pub and watch trams drift
Organized chaos, I love Melbourne
Great video. Thanks for this.
I like the aus/us accent. It sort of reminds me of Kristina Keneally
I was next to a strange tram stop yesterday, but it is not in Melbourne. Nerang St, Southport, Queensland. Between Davenport St, and Scarborough St. The trams have replaced private vehicles on this stretch of Nerang St. Regular traffic is diverted to the above mentioned streets. I was doing a delivery to one of the businesses next to the tram stop. The footpath there has been widened, to permit shared vehicles and pedestrians, for access to the businesses next to the tram stop.
I took a trip to Melbourne specifically to check out Melbourne's sharpest curve. That Derby Road stop is probably there to serve as an interchange with the train station. I do think the Dandenong Road stop is a little too far to call itself an interchange stop.
Thanks for motivating me to travel to Melbourne
Too bad Melbourne trams don't do multiple-unit trains. That would look pretty cool at the Caulfield Station curve.
Another interesting tram and bus stop is the one on route 58 out side crown casino where the busses and trams actually share the platform
I've used every one of these stops, in most cases multiple times as I used to live in both Caulfield and St Kilda East
Very nice video! another weird stop is St Georges Rd/Miller St on route 11, only citybound trams stop there and its only 50m from the New Preston Depot tram stop, it does have a very niche use for terminating Route 11D trams, which run from West Preston to Preston Depot .
And there are 2 Miller st stops on the 11 line!
Interesting. Can't wait for the next one.
Im Late but in Gold Coast, the weirdest g link stop is Broadbeach south, the terminating station of the line it turns from 2 tracks to 1 track right in front of the stop and that second track just keeps going along until it reaches the platform
This video was so good mate, can’t wait to see more videos from this channel. Keep it up!
The waterfod avenue area was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the title of this video. I went to highpoint for the first time a few months ago and the tram stops really threw me off, especially the rails.
Its a really strange looking area.
I know! That stop is in my Strangest Tram Stops video
Thanks Qazzy!
What about the hump line … unusual.
Number 3 tram in Dandy Road and Waverley Road outside Monash is the weirdest complex shunt that I’ve never seen used. The siding in Footscray near the old explosive plant and that funny bit at the end of Flinders street in Jollimont near Punt Road. Lots of funny weird shunts and chutes on the MMTB!
Walsh St/Toorak Rd (South Yarra) by Fawkner park was one I found real weird. The tram stop is essentially just a bus stop on the side of the road you have to walk across oncoming traffic (that did stop for us) to get onto the tram stopped in the middle of the road. Maybe this isn't that uncommon, I was only in Melbourne for a couple weeks.
this is the most common form of tram stop in Melbourne!
You've got an interesting accent, are you a Canadian or an American who moved to Australia?
nope, never been there
@@QazzyTransport Oh, right. Well erm you've got a bit of an accent yeah. Good video though, I'd love to go round that sharp bend myself.
Sounds more South Australian than Victorian.
@@mbwyatt1978 Sounds English-American
A lot of Asians learned a good chunk of their English from the TV, hence his odd pronunciations.
With regard to the Caulfield station stop spacing I would guess that the Dandenong Rd/Derby Rd stop used to be around the corner a bit further downline on Dandenong Rd/Princes Highway but when they put the Princes Highway in and increased the car traffic they decided to move it from there because of the danger it would pose to pedestrians (but more likely for the annoyance it would pose to drivers speeding down the Princes Highway to slow down for trams)
Well done mate.
On the topic of shortest distance between stops, stop 48A at the top of Hawthorn Rd in Caulfield North is about 45 metres from stop 48 on Dandenong Rd
On google maps it says 70 metres... those ones and the caulfield ones are very close.
@@QazzyTransport There are two stops in Albert Park on the no. 1 tram route that are also very close to one another. One of these occurs in the Albert Park Shopping Village on Bridport Street, the other ones are the last two stops on Victoria Avenue where the route terminates.
the Caufield one is because of the railway station exit being close by. the other one is for people coming out of the pub/TAB/pokies.
I still find it funny how suspicious Melbourne people are of busses ;) Cool vid thanks :)
Yes that is true. I’m originally a Melbourne girl and loved using the trams but never liked buses. I even liked the old green trams that in winter were freezing, they had character.
At least with trams and trains you know exactly where they go. Buses are a mystery. They could go anywhere, stop anywhere. How would you even know you are at your stop without a big sign telling you where you are? No thanks, I'm not an anarchist.
@@saryukulele Ha! Yep it's amazing they're even allowed ;)
The only trams I've ever used are the Gold Coast light rail and the L1, L2 and L3 in Sydney. So it's really nice watching this video and learning about Melbourne's trams, makes me want to visit.
Also I am curious to where you are from, you sounded like a mix of American and Australian, maybe you have American parents or something.
I am definitely not American, half of my family is from aus, the other half is from nz
@@QazzyTransport Oh! Interesting, well not sure how you got your accent but it doesn't sound very Australian or Kiwi either. The 'O' sound in particular, like an Aussie would say "Bus Stop" but an American sounds like "Bus Stahp" it's interesting how the English speaking world changes vowels.
I enjoyed your video and I hope you make more :)
I didn't know the Caulfield ones at all and they were super interesting!
Concerning close tram stops, you should see the three Churchill stops on tram line 7 in Brussels, Belgium. The second stop is only 50 metres from the first, and the third another 50 metres from the second. And the trams of line 7 stop at all three stops. Three stops in just 100 metres. Even stranger, the middle stop is not accessible from outside. It is in the middle of a roundabout and is intended only for interchange between lines 3 and 7.
very interesting!
May I say. Very polite TH-camr. So I subscribed
Great work!!
Spot on about the terrible frequencies of Melbourne's buses - The 246 runs every 10 minutes on weekdays though so that is probably why you saw so many!
I visited on a weekend - I think it was just the 4 routes combined leading to higher frequency total
I don't know why this video is so interesting.. didn't know i had an interest in tram stops hahah
Or maybe the quality is just good :) Nice video!
as a school student who passes over queens way stop, I can confirm it is very strange
Interesting and really enjoyed this, more unique to Melbourne facts…
#5 is also the middle one of seven turns within 900m of travel
Nice vid, looking forward to more!!
Great little vid!
That ledge next to the city road tram stop is for skateboarding.
It’s actually a pretty cool skate spot.
the essendon tram roundabouts feel like death traps
Well made video. Can see potential in this channel! Good luck on your YT journey :)
thank you Straya Trains! big fan of your channel :)
I believe that some of these stops were actually train stations but the psychology of the 60/70s was that public transport was over subsidised and will die out to make way for motorised private vehicles.
none of the stops in this video were train stations - but there are stops on the network that did used to be stations (on route 96 and 109)
“St. Vincent’s Plaza” has always puzzled me - and I have travelled to and through it many times. As far as I can see, there is no Plaza there - just a tram stop. Was there ever a plaza there?
not sure, i always wondered why it wasnt just called st vincents hospital
Good video. Thanks for making!
thank you for the reply! big fan of your videos.
@@QazzyTransport Aweosme to hear that. 😊
Kingway Bridge #58 tram. The dog park is frequented by many dogs at certain times. The other side I have seen four or five skaters at a time sharing that platform for tricks.
freaked out way more than i should when i saw the waterford ave one.. thats my tram stop!!
Excellent video, short and entertaining
thank you!
Cool
I know Waterford Av well. Not the most pleasant experience! At first I didn't know how to get to it so I approached from Williamson Rd walking along the gravel. Didn't do my shoes much good and almost sprained my ankle. I thought this cannot be right! And indeed I found out you're meant to enter from Wests Rd or White St but by then it was too late!
yay for more melbourne pt content creators!
The Caulfield Railway Station/Derby Road #57 stops are used by Monash Caulfield staff and students travelling from/towards Balaclava Road. Outbound stop #58 gets much less use by comparison and if a stop should be removed it would be this one. There is no inbound #58. And while "sharp" the curve is not as sharp as the lens on your camera makes it appear.
Honourable mention: the old Tram Square at Glenhuntly or maybe I should say Glen Huntly 👍👍👍👍
Maybe the tram square on Riversdale Road at Riversdale Station, then. That one still exists. In fact, so too does the one on Glenferrie Road at Kooyong Station.