The original line to the Essendon Aerodrome was constructed in 1943 to serve the airport and aircraft construction. It was funded by the Commonwealth Government. By 1976, patronage to the airport terminus in Vaughan St had dropped, the crossing of the highway to the Tullamarine Airport opened in 1970, was dangerous, and the highway needed to be widened. The new terminus was a short distance to the north between Mathews Ave and the Highway. This series of photographs show the last day of operations to the original terminus and the changeover, which was done in about 7 hours. No buses were required. It was done by workers of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board. The line was later extended to Airport West. .1 - W5 789, (Essendon Airport Route 59) about to turn from Mathews Ave into Vaughan St. Has new track and footbridge in the foreground. .2 - W5 791 on the siding or spur at the airport terminus, the last tram to use this facility. .3 - W2 571, at the Airport terminus alongside Vaughan St on the last morning of the use of this terminus. The Bundy clock can be seen behind the pole on the lefthand side and the Brick passenger shelter. Shows buffer stops, and Forestair hanger behind. .4 - W2 595 turning from Vaughan St into Mathews Ave. Has the tram stop No. 55 in the view. .5 - W5 839 turning from Vaughan St into Mathews Ave. Shows the flashing yellow light that gave some protection to the trams. .6 - W2 247 about to turn into Vaughan St. Driver about to reboard the tram. Note the new copper trolley wire is up for the new track but has been pulled to the west side using rope. .7 - W5 805, turning from Mathews Ave into Vaughan St, to the old Essendon Airport terminus. Has a new track in the foreground, and the overhead for the curves is still in position. .8 - W6 991 turning from Vaughan St into Matthews Ave, at 855am, the last tram from the old terminus. The track gang has commenced work to remove the outbound curve. Would appear four passengers waiting at the tram stop, two with lunch bags. Note the cattle grid in the foreground between the rails. New rails on the ground on the left-hand side. See Reg Item 6163 for further photos of this event.Yields information about the last day of the operation of the original Essendon Airport tram line.Set of 8 Kodachrome cardboard mount colour slides of the relocation of the Essendon Airport tram terminus 7-10-1976, by Ron Scholten.All slides have detailed descriptions on the reartrams, tramways, essendon aerodrome, essendon airport, closure, new tramways, route 59, w5 789, w5 791, w2 571, w2 595, w5 839, w2 247, w5 805, w6 991, w2 class, w5 class, w6 class, mmtb, trackwork

The original line to the Essendon Aerodrome was constructed in 1943 to serve the airport and aircraft construction. It was funded by the Commonwealth Government. By 1976, patronage to the airport terminus in Vaughan St had dropped, the crossing of the highway to the Tullamarine Airport opened in 1970, was dangerous, and the highway needed to be widened. The new terminus was a short distance to the north between Mathews Ave and the Highway. This series of photographs show the operation of a tram service during the changeover. Trams ran from the Niddrie crossover near Keilor Road to a temporary terminus just short of the worksite, with cars running "bang" road or the wrong way for one trip along either line. This would have been controlled by an Inspector at the Niddrie end. The work was done over a 7-hour period, including changing the overhead over. Work would have been completed after the changeover period. .1 - W5 800 at “temporary” Essendon Airport terminus, Cnr Mathews Ave, Vaughan St. after running “bang” road or the wrong way to this point from the Niddrie or Keilor Road crossover. Curves have been removed.. Has an Inspector chatting to a man with a hat standing alongside the tram. The shelter has a City of Keilor logo on it. .2 - W5 684, taken from the overbridge at the TAA stop - during the changeover of the tracks. Tram running “bang” road from Niddrie to the temporary terminus. .3 - SW5 787, temporary terminus in Mathews Ave, about to return to Niddrie as an “up” car on the “down” line. .4 - MMTB Track gang commissioning and placing rails at the new terminus with scrubber 10 waiting. Overhead in position with overhead for the curves partly removed. Mobile Crane on the left-hand side moving a formwork piece into position .5 - 10W cleaning new track at the new terminus. .6 - Rail Scrubber 10W at work cleaning head of rails where new concrete section. Has a TAA bus on the right side. .7 - W5 783 is about to be the first passenger tram to the terminus, at 3.50 pm About 20 workmen are completing the inbound or up track. .8 - W5 783 about to be the first passenger tram to the terminus, at 3.50 pm About 20 workmen are completing the inbound or up track.Yields information about the last day of the operation of the original Essendon Airport tram line and the works done for the new terminus.Set of 8 Kodachrome cardboard mount colour slides of the relocation of the Essendon Airport tram terminus 7-10-1976, by Ron Scholten. All slides have detailed descriptions on the rear trams, tramways, essendon aerodrome, essendon airport, closure, new tramways, route 59, mmtb, trackwork, w5 800, w5 684, sw5 787, scrubber 10w, w5 783, w5 class, sw5 class, taa airlines, city of keilor

Provides the specifications and conditions of contract for the manufacture, supply and delivery of the track or permanent way materials for the construction of the Melbourne cable tram system. Includes rails, yokes, fish plates, slot rails, bolts, and a delivery schedule to the Spencer St railway station. Signed by George Duncan. Tenders closed 17 - 8 - 1886. Drawings detail the various components. Has a Schedule of rates form - per tonne of materials. Document dated 21 June 1886.Yields information about the tendering of rail materials for the Melbourne Cable tram system. Document, The Melbourne Tramways Trust - Contract No. 42 - Permanent Way Material - 9 foolscap sheets, 3 folded drawings bound within heavy card covers, stapled covered in dark grey tape. 2nd & 3rd copies paper only, stapled and covered with brown tape on the left hand side.tramways, melbourne tramways trust, cable tramways, mtt, rails, yokes, tender documents, contracts

Photo shows trams W7 1008 and Scrubber 9 at the Bourke St terminus on the corner with Spencer St. In the background is the Spencer St station building and the Carlyons Hotel. The scrubber tram is used to clean the head of the rails.Yields information about the use of scrubber trams on Bourke St.Black and white photograph of Trams W7 1008 and Scrubber 9 at Bourke and Spencer Sts.Has details on rear in red ink.tramways, trams, bourke st, tram 1008, tram 9, scrubber 9, spencer st, carlyons hotel

Photograph shows the H crossing (where two sets of tracks cross each other) at the intersection of Market St and Flinders St which consisted in the north - south direction cable tram slot rails. Date of removal and replacement to be determined. Date and photographer not recorded.Yields information about H crossing at the intersection of Market and Flinders Street Melbourne.Black and White - Flinders and Market Streets H crossingtramways, trams, h crossing, cable trams, flinders street, market street

This photograph shows empty maximum traction tram at right angle to the rails with both trolley poles lowered rests against a span pole. It is clearly marked as Municipal Tramways but no car number or destination is evident. The crew and some young children are clustered at the end that has mounted the footpath.Yields information about potential of derailments Black and white photograph fixed to cardboard, no notes tram, accident, collision, maximum traction, prahran and malvern tramways trust, derailment