Melbourne Trams

Founded in 1919, the M&MTB was the government-owned operator of Melbourne's tramway fleet until 1983 when the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) was formed. In 1989, the MTA was merged to become part of the Public Transport Corporation (PTC). Between 1919 and 1956, the M&MTB built around 800 trams, mostly classified as W series, some of which are pictured below.

W2 class 219 was the class leader for Melbourne's most numerous class of trams, the W2 series. 219 was originally built as a W class and later converted to W2. It was photographed at a pretty location in Burwood Road, Hawthorn, bound for Burwood during the mid 1970's. This line has subsequently been extended to East Burwood.

W2 class 269 was photographed at the City terminus in Batman Avenue, just east of Swanston Street in the early 1970's. It is waiting to depart for Prahran on the now discontinued route 77. Note that at this time, 269 had not been fitted with marker headlights and tail lights.

W2 class 425 was photographed on the approach track to Camberwell Depot in the early 1970's. 425 was one of a number of trams originally built as W1 class. After conversion to W2 class, the ex-W1's were readily distinguishable from other W2's by the single pane of glass in each of the windows in the drop centre.

W2 class 444 was photographed at the now closed South Melbourne Depot in the early 1980's. 444 was one of a number of W2 class trams painted by prominent artists under a scheme sponsored by the Ministry for the Arts.

W2 class 558 was photographed at the now closed Essendon Airport terminus in 1976. This line, which had little traffic in later years, was subsequently closed and extended a short distance north parallel to Matthews Avenue. This line was later extended to Airport West to serve a major shopping centre.

W2 class tram 604 was photographed on the attractive tramway reservation in Dandenong Road, at Orrong Road, Caulfield. Note the centre poles with brackets and the green Bundy time recording clock, once common around the system. The Orrong Road crossover is just visible in the background behind 604

The W2 trams were the most numerous of Melbourne's tram fleet. Other than specially preserved W2's in Melbourne's Vintage Tram fleet, all have now been withdrawn from service.

Melbourne SW2 class number 426 has already had its destination sign changed to City' as it waits to proceed to shunt at the Camberwell terminus in Burke Road, at Whitehorse Road in 1976. 426 was one of four trams converted from W1 class to SW2 class. With their power-operated centre doors, the SW2 class trams were clearly distinguishable from W2 class. 426 was one of three SW2 class trams assigned to Camberwell Depot, which at the time provided trams for the Camberwell route.

This view of W5 class tram 733 was taken at Brunswick Depot. The W5 series trams were built in the mid to late 1930's. They underwent two major conversions. Originally, they were built with three centre doors. The first conversion was to fill in the narrow centre door and improve interior seats. The second conversion was to install power-operated doors. This photograph shows number 733 taken during the mid-1970's after the first conversion

W5 class 801 was photographed in the early 1970's at the City terminus in Elizabeth Street at Flinders Street. 801 is about to depart on route 19 to North Coburg. At this time, 801 had yet to be fitted with marker headlights and taillights. It also shows the square-corenered windows on the drivers cabin. Note also that this photograph was taken at the time when the Elizabeth Street terminus was a single track terminus, prior to the installation of two tracks and a central loading platform.

W5 class tram 835 was photographed in Domain Road, South Yarra at St Kilda Road in 1976, bound for the City on route 8 from Toorak-Glenferrie Road. It is shown in original form with three centre doors and canvas blinds.

Melbourne tram 937 has been converted for use as a restaurant tram. The conversion has been very extensive with fittings including tables, curtains, lightings, airconditioning and kitchen and toilet facilities. 937 was photographed in January 1997 at the now closed South Melbourne Depot.

SW6 class 946 was photographed in Collins Street, at Spencer Street, City in 1996, bound for South Melbourne and St Kilda Beach on route 12. Behind 946 is an A class tram, while a Z3 heads eastward along Collins Street. 946 is one of a number of W series trams that have been refurbished and retained for regular use in Melbourne. These retained trams have been repainted in a colour scheme similar to that when they were first constructed.

W6 class 1000 was photographed in Spencer Street at Collins Street in 1996. 1000 is one of a number of trams refurbished and repainted for use on Melbourne's City Circle tram route. The City Circle involved the first new street track constructed in Melbourne's Central Business District for many years.

W7 class tram 1031 was photographed in Plenty Road at the former East Preston terminus at Tyler Street in 1976. This line was subsequently extended to Bundoora RMIT. The East Preston line was the one of the first to receive Z class trams as they entered service.

Works tram 10w was photographed on the entrance track to Camberwell Depot in December 1996. 10w was one of two works trams purchased from Sydney, around the time of the closure of theat system in 1961. It was originally constructed as a K class passenger tram to a cross-bench design.

Reequipment of the fleet - 1973 to 1994

In 1973, the prototype of the of the new generation series of Melbourne trams entered service, followed by 432 trams of the Z, A and B classes. A selection of photographs show the different types of trams introduced.

Tram 1041, which was withdrawn from service in 1984, was the prototype for the reequipment of Melbourne's tramway fleet. It was photographed on its first day of passenger service, on the East Preston line, in Queen's Parade, Clifton Hill outside the former cable tram depot. It utilised bogies from Melbourne's original PCC tram 980.

Z class 40 was photographed in Gertrude Street Fitzroy, near the corner of Nicholson Street, in 1977. The building behind was formerly an engine house for Melbourne's cable tramway system. Z 40 is shown in the original orange livery of these trams. They were later repainted in Melbourne's more traditional green and yellow livery.

Z3 class 130 was photographed in Flemington Road, North Melbourne about to turn left into Racecourse Road, bound for West Maribyrnong in 1996. 130 is painted in the later green and cream colour scheme.

Z3 class tram 185 is in Plenty Road at the East Preston terminus at Albert Street. It is shown in its original yellow colour scheme, a variant on the orange of the original Z class trams. All these trams have subsequently been repainted in the more traditional green and yellow colour scheme. The East Preston line has been subsequently extended from this point in three further stages, with the final section, to Bundoora RMIT, opening in September 1995

This image shows A class tram 275. At the time they were built, the A class trams represented a move back to roving conductors. They were built between 1984 and 1987. 275 was photographed in Spencer Street at Collins Street bound for North Balwyn in 1996. Across the intersection, SW6 tram 905 waits to turn right into Collins Street, followed by a B2 class articulated car. The Flinders Street railway viaduct is visible in the background

B1 class 2002 was photographed at the now closed South Melbourne Depot in January 1997. 2002 was one of two prototype articulated trams constructed for Melbourne. It is distinguishable from the later B2 class by features such as the roller destination blinds, metallic window frames on the drivers cab, and no roof mounted airconditioning units. Photographed beside 2002 is SW6 class tram 881, one of the W series trams retained for service in Melbourne.

The B2 class are Melbourne's only articulated, airconditioned trams and were built between 1987 and 1984. This photograph of B2 2095 bound for Airport West was taken in Mt Alexander Road, just north of Flemington Bridge in 1996. Flemington Bridge, a station on the Upfield Rail line, was the original terminus of the privately built tram lines from Essendon in 1906. This area has now changed in appearance with the construction of the major CityLink freeway development

B2 class 2035 was photographed in Plenty Road at the former Bundoora terminus at Macleans Road in the early 1990's. This line was later extended to Bundoora RMIT to serve the Bundoora Campus of RMIT University.

Acknowledgement:

Tramcar details were obtained from "Destination City", 5th edition, by Norman Cross, Dale Budd and Randall Wilson, published by Transit Australia.

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