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The original winding house and Grip Car No 3, 1905 |
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A major project for the museum during 2005 was the full conservation and restoration of Grip Car 3, one of the city’s three original cable cars. It is now proudly displayed in the museum extension, which was officially opened in December 2005.
Before undertaking the restoration project, the Wellington Museums Trust (manager of the Wellington Cable Car Museum) engaged heritage transport specialist Colin Perfect to complete a detailed conservation plan for the grip car. Colin was also asked to recommend the period to which the car should be restored and to select a suitable restorer.
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TOP: The contract for the restoration of Grip Car 3 is signed on 1 October 2004 by Emmanuel Makarios, Manager Cable Car Museum, John Gilberthorpe, Chief Executive, Wellington Museums Trust and Greg and Ali Lang of the Wheelwright Shop.
BOTTOM: Grip Car No. 3 - prior to restoration work |
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Back to 1905
Colin recommended that Grip Car 3 be restored to its 1905 appearance as this was a time when the car saw active service and was at its most attractive, and it would also provide a contrast to the other grip cars, which had both been restored to their 1970s appearance (Grip Car 1 has been on display at the museum since it opened in 2000, while Grip Car 2 is housed at the Wellington Tramway Museum at Mackays Crossing, Paekakariki).
The Wheelwright Shop
The meticulously executed restoration was carried out over a nine-month period by Greg Lang and his wife Ali Lang of the Wheelwright Shop in the Wairarapa, under Colin’s supervision and involving other tradespeople and specialist expertise as required. Greg, who holds a City & Guilds Qualification in wheel-wrighting and carriage building, has undertaken other restoration work for local museums and built horse-drawn carriages for movies such as The Last Samurai and The Lord of the Rings.
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