Popular Culture
Melbourne's trams—especially the W class—are an icon of Melbourne and important part of its history and character. Trams have been featured across several media, and in tourism advertising since World War II.
Trams are a heavily featured in the movie Malcolm, one scene of the controversial film Alvin Purple, and feature in the video clips for, the Beastie Boys "The Rat Cage" and AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top". Among songs written about Melbourne's trams are, "Toorak Tram" by Bernard Bolan, "Taking the tram to Carnegie" by Oscar, and many songs including "Man on a Tram" and "Northcote (So Hungover)" by The Bedroom Philosopher, from the ARIA-nominated album, Songs From The 86 Tram.
For the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games a Z class tram was decorated as a Karachi bus by a team of Pakistani decorators. Dubbed the Karachi tram, it operated on the City Circle tourist route during the Commonwealth Games. While the centrepiece of the Opening Ceremony was a flying W class tram, specially built for the event, from original W class plans and photos.
On 26 October 2011, a Z3 class tram, specially liveried as a Royal Tram was used to convey Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh from Federation Square to Government House, along St Kilda Road during their visit to Melbourne. The Royal Tram is intended to be in regular service for one year following the event.
Read more about this topic: Trams In Melbourne
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