Exclusive: A look at Sydney's light rail from over 100 years ago

With the launch of Sydney's light rail network fast approaching, 9News has been given an exclusive insight into how Sydney's tram lines operated more than 100 years ago.

The National Film and Sound Archive have released vision, which shows the view from the driver's cabin as he operates the tram along George Street in 1906.

In the vision, a young boy employed by council to clean manure from the streets is seen crossing the tracks, pushing a pan and broom – known as a block boy.

As the camera continues to pan along, the dome of the Queen Victoria Building – which was built eight years earlier – already dominates George Street.

In the days of the horse and cart, there are no traffic lights and people are seen travelling in all directions around the tram and across the tracks in front of it.

But with today's light rail about to roll out next month, one major problem today is the masses of Sydneysiders who can't take their eyes off of their smart phones or remove their earphones when walking the streets of the CBD.

Whether the new system will operate with traffic lights as seamlessly as the days of old, is yet to be seen.