Historical information

Photograph shows a group of five cable tramway employees with a cart containing batteries to supply power for lights in Melbourne Cable trams. This lighting was introduced by the Tramway Board (TB), the forerunner to the MMTB during 1917. A motor generator at each car house or depot provided the power to charge the batteries which were then placed in each tram for the day. Reference - The Commonwealth Engineer 1/8/1917 - Reg Item 2568. The equipment was provided by the General Electric Company. The cart has the letters "TB CH" possibly indicating Clifton Hill Depot and the batteries are lettered "NE" and then given a number. Photo date unknown - 1917 to 1940.

This photograph is Public Records Office photo H84 in the Victorian Railways collection.

Significance

Yields information about the type of batteries used to provide lighting power to cable trams and the workers involved and their clothing.

Physical description

Photograph - Black and White of a group of 5 cable tram battery workers and their cart.