The Dunedin tram car's painstaking restoration by staff at the Heritage Tramways Trust, at Ferrymead, Christchurch, was recently recognised with the Tramway Restoration Award.
The trust gained this national award from the Federation of Railway Organisations of New Zealand.
The United States-built tram car, which had been sent to Ferrymead for restoration, has recently returned to Dunedin.
It will be a leading exhibit when the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum reopens to the public late this year, after its $40 million redevelopment.
Staff at Ferrymead went the extra mile in restoration work on the tram car, which began operating in Dunedin in late 1900.
Aluminium leaf was obtained from the United States to replace some of the external name lettering on the car, museum organisers said.
Museum director Linda Wigley said staff had undertaken a "huge research project" to clarify details of some key items which were missing, including from the car interior, and exact reproductions had been made to replace most of them.
"The detail is fantastic."
Ms Wigley was "very excited" with the outcome and it was "great" that the skills, hard work and wealth of detail involved in the restoration had been recognised through the award.
Museum exhibitions team leader Jennifer Evans said the trust staff had done a "marvellous job" and had restored the tram car to its original, shiny burgundy paintwork.
After the museum reopened, visitors would be able to climb aboard the tram, she said.
The restoration had been made possible by $40,000 raised by the Dunedin East Rotary Club and a further $100,000, bequeathed by the late Norman Davidson, museum officials said.
The once-busy tram arrived in Dunedin in 1900, entering service on the Roslyn-Maori Hill line.
It had not been used as a tram since the line was closed in 1936, and later fell into disrepair.
