We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
"Cable Trams passing Parliament House, Melbourne Vic."
Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes
Public domain
This media item is listed as being within the public domain. As such, this item may be used by anyone for any purpose.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Melbourne Tram Museum
Divided back postcard with a black and white view of the corner of Spring and Bourke St with Parliament House in the background and a cable car sets. Titled "Parliament House & Treasury Melbourne", along lower edge. Rose Series P 4090. Photo c1940.
On rear - postcard divided into two by the Rose Stereograph Co rose symbol. Has the name of the company on the left hand side.
Letterhead used by the MMTB possibly during the late 1970s early 1980s with address, PO Box, and telex code.
Demonstrates a MMTB letterhead of the late 1970s or early 1980s.
Letterhead - printed A4 sheet with MMTB logo.
tramways, mmtb, letterhead
Letterhead used by the MMTB possibly during the 1970s with address, PO Box, telegram address and telex code. The MMTB logo is in gold.
Demonstrates a MMTB letterhead of the 1970s
Letterhead - printed A4 sheet with MMTB logo printed in gold.
tramways, mmtb, letterhead
Form used by the MMTB to release and discharge any further liability from an accident claim. Has places for the persons name, details, amounts, dates and signatures.
Demonstrates a MMTB Accident release form.
Form - foolscap single sided, printed.
tramways, mmtb, accidents
Certificate presented to N C Boucher after retiring as President of the Tramway Division of the Australian Railways Union in 1947. Signed by A J Cregan as State President and J J Brown as State Secretary. The Union seal has been applied to the item. The Union had several divisions such as guards, signalmen, shunters etc. The Tramway Division represented the tramway depots at Elwood and Sandringham. The certificate includes a photo of the Union building, a train hauled by A2 945 and an Electric Train. The Union did not represent locomotive or electric train crews, these were represented by the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees. For notes on Mr Boucher's career see item 7056.
Demonstrates an ARU Illuminated address of the 1940s
Framed Certificate - printed base on paper with name, position inked on over a light blue wash. Timber surround with gold surround and glazed.
n c boucher, unions, vr trams, aru, certificates, illuminated address
Union badge that belonged to Victorian Railways tram motorman Norman Charles Boucher - see item 7056 for biography. VR Tram crews were members of the Australian Railways Union Tramway Division. The ARU was formed in 1920 was merged with other rail and public transport unions to form the RTBU in 1993. Manufacturer's name obscured - possibly Treloar of Sydney.
Demonstrates an ARU badge.
badge - brass, pressed and formed for use in a button hole. Dark and light blue enamel with a silver surround. The centre of the badge forms an image of the front of a steam locomotive.
Manufacturer's name stamped on rear.
n c boucher, badges, unions, vr trams, aru
Framed photo of D2 class tram 5006 passing Luna Park St Kilda, celebrating 100 years of electric trams in Melbourne. See item 864 for the associated pamphlet.
Yields information about tram 5006 decorated for the celebration of 100 years of Electric Trams in Melbourne.
Framed photo with white window mat, black wood framed and glazed with a gold engraved lable or plaque, with brown paper backing and a wire hanging strip.
Engraved lable - "The Centenary Art Tram - Luna Park - Celebrating 100 years of Electric Trams in Melbourne, Proudly sponsored by Yarra Trams & Siemens, 2006"
100 years of electric trams, d2 class, tram 5006, luna park, siemens, yarra trams, decorated trams
SSet of 24 The Met bus timetables, with diagrammatic map, major stops and contact details. All dated during1993 unless noted otherwise. 1 - Route 216/9 - Deer Park West & Sunshine Park - City 2 - Route 220 - Sunshine - City - 1992 3 - Route 232 - Altona North - City - 1992 4 - Route 233 - Fishermens Bend - City - 1992 5 - Route 254 - Northland Shopping Centre - City - 1992 6 - Route 256 - La Trobe Uni - City - 1992 7 - Routes 258 & 259 - Northland Shopping Centre, and La Trobe Uni - City via Eastern Freeway - 1992 8 - Route 260 etc - Deep Creek Templestow - Donvale - City 9 - Route 264 - Mitcham, Donvale City 10 - Route 265 - Deep Creek - City 11 - Route 602 - Brighton - city 12 - Route 269, 291 and 296 - Greensborough, Heidelberg & Newmans Road to Box Hill 13 - Route 272 - Warrandyte - City 14 - Route 276 & 278 - Warrandyte - City 15 - Route 284 & 270 - East Kew - City or Box Hill 16 - Route 285 - The Pines - Box Hill 17 - Route 286 & 288 - The Pines and Templestowe - Box Hill 18 - Route 290 - North Nunawading - Box Hill 19 - Route 292 etc - Box Hill, Deep Creek, Ringwood, Warrandyte 20 - Route 301, 281 315 - Ringwood, Park Orchards and Donvale - City 21 - Route 305 - Box Hill - Ringwood 22 - Route 366 & 367 - Ringwood - Croydon 23 - Route 600 - St Kilda - Brighton Beach - 1992 24 - Route 601 - Gardenvale - City - 1992
Yields information about some of The Met bus services 1993
Set of 24 The Met timetables, DL size, printed in two colours.
timetables, the met, route 216, route 220, route 232, route 233, route 254, route 258, route 259, route 260, route 264, route 265, route 256, route 602, route 269, route 272, route 276, route 284, route 270, route 285, route 286, route 288, route 290, route 292, route 301, route 305, route 366, route 367, route 600, route 601
SSet of 16 The Met timetables, diagrammatic map, major stops and contact details. All dated May 1993 unless noted otherwise. 1 - Route 3 - East Malvern - City with a note that route 377 bus service replaces trams on Sunday. 2 - Route 5 - Malvern (Burke Rd) - City 3 - Route 6 - Glen Iris - City 4 - Route 8 - Toorak - City 5 - Route 10 - Sth Melbourne Beach and St Kilda Beach - West Preston 6 - Route 19 - North Coburg - City with a note that route 319 bus service to Gowrie and Upfield was included - ran Saturday afternoons and Sundays only. 7 - Route 42 - Mont Albert - City 8 - Route 48 - North Balwyn - City 9 - Route 55 - West Coburg - Domain Road interchange - with a note that route 68 operates via Elizabeth St on Sunday. 10 - Route 57- West Maribyrnong - City - with a note that route 357 bus services replaces trams on Sunday 11 - Route 59 - Airport West - City 12 - Route 64 - East Brighton - City 13 - Route 69 - Kew (Cotham Rd) - St Kilda Beach via Glenferrie Road 14 - Route 70 - Wattle Park - Princes Bridge 15 - Route 72 - Camberwell - City 16 - Route 82 - Moonee Ponds - Footscray and that route 223 bus replaces trams on Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday,
Yields information about some of The Met tram services May 1993
Set of 16 The Met timetables, DL size, printed in two colours.
timetables, the met, route 8, route 3, route 5, route 6, route 10, route 19, route 42, route 48, route 55, route 57, route 59, route 64, route 69, route 70, route 72, route 82
Pamphlet produced by Met Tram Marketing about the hiring of trams - gives rates, seating capacity, depots and tram types. Has a list of depots and the contact details. Not dated, c1995. Has an enquiry form attached.
Yields information about hiring a tram c1995.
Pamphlet, 3 fold DLfull colour.
met tram, tramways, tram hire, charters
Pamphlet produced by Met Bus, the Government operator of 7 routes following the 1993 tender to provide information on the operation, its plans, public transport, routes operated, contact details and general information. Managing Director John G Wilson. Services were operated out of the former Footscray Tram depot in Buckley St.
Yields information about Met Bus in 1993.
Pamphlet, 3 fold DLfull colour.
met bus, buses, public transport
Typed report by Mr Alex Cameron of the PMTT titled "Chairman giving a comparison between Original and Revised estimate of Noyes Bros in regard to proposed tramways" Orginal Estimate dated May 1906, revised June 1907. One of the principal savings was the purchase of power from the Electric Traction and Lighting Co instead of building their own Power Station. There were other changes to the estimates for track, alterations to sewers, water mains and drains, and rolling stock.
Yields information about the cost of construction of the first stage of the PMTT in 1907.
Document or report 5 foolscap sheets - carbon copy
tramways, tramcars, pmtt, costs, new tramways
Typed report on the type of brake shoe fittings fitted to each tram as at 8/7/1963. The report lists each passenger tram from VR 52 to W71040, and what their status was if not in use - eg stored, sold, scrapped. The list excludes the early MMTB trams of A to V class. Works cars are not listed.
Yields information about the status of the MMTB Passenger fleet in 1963 and the type of brake shoe types fitted to each.
Document or report 5 foolscap sheets - carbon copy
tramways, tramcars, lists, scrapped trams, brakes
Typed report on the possibility of converting solid steel wheels to wheel centres after they were worn out and then placing a tire or tyre onto them. Looks at the costs, and mileages. Understood this was not proceeded with. Report dated 24/7/1964.
Yields information about the examination of costs and methods of recycling solid wheels as wheel centres.
Document or report 1 foolscap sheet - carbon copy
tramways, technical information, preston workshops, costs, wheels, tyres
Typed report on the use of precision casting methods at Preston Workshops foundry to reduce the amount of machining post-casting. Looks at the methods of precision casting, the type of equipment needed for this, and those companies in Melbourne using shell moulding, Includes an extensive list of items and the number of units used each year that this method could be used for. Report by J Scholtz dated 12-7-1963.
Yields information about the examination of costs and methods of using shell moulding processes at Preston Workshops.
Document or report 7 foolscap sheets - carbon copy
tramways, technical information, preston workshops, costs, foundry, castings, plate shop
Typed report on the costs of overhauls by Preston Workshops for 01, 02 and 03 type split in to tram type for three financial years 1960 to 1963. Shows that the cost of overhauls of W2's class tramcars was more expensive than that of the steel framed tramcars. Dated 4/9/1963.
Yields information about the costs of overhauling trams during the early 1960s.
Document or report foolscap sheet - carbon copy
tramways, technical information, overhauls, preston workshops, tramcar maintenance, costs
Booklet published by the Melbourne Tramways Trust outlining its operations to Oct. 1888. Gives details on the formation, Trust members, Committee, motive power, Officers, agreements, Acts, description of the cable system including materials, relocation of services, horse or cable, contracts, engines and boilers, issues with patents, and dates of opening of lines to 26/10/1888. Gives details of each line, contracts, engine houses, issues, including horse tramways with some notes on finance.
Yields information about the construction of Melbourne Cable tramways to 10/1888.
Booklet - 48 pages stapled and glued within light manila coloured cover.
tramways, cable trams, mtt, mtoco, track construction, engine houses
Produced by Yarra Trams - Keolis Downer for the information of tram drivers, providing information on each tram route. Dated 12/2021. For each route gives details of the suburbs served, attractions, public hospitals and police stations. The fold out sheets lists every tram stop with with their stop number, stop id, zone and symbols regarding the location such as the Arts Centre.
Demonstrates a Yarra Tram publication for the use of employees to provide information to passengers.
Wire bound booklet, 24 foldout pages, + 1 sheet + card covers, titled "Network Guide"
yarra trams, tram routes, tramways, routes, stop information
Provides information on the General Electric B series controllers, including BA, BA-2, B3, B4, B8, B13, B16, B19, B23, B24 controllers. Lists the various parts, with some illustrations. Has sheets giving the drum development or connections as the controller is moved through the various notices. The B23 type controller was used on Melbourne Maximum Traction bogie trams.
Yields information about early General Electric controllers
Document 32 pages printed on quarto paper within a cardboard folder, with pages 3 & 4 missing - parts catalogue No. 4724A of Oct. 1910.
tramways, technical information, tramcars, electrical equipment, tram controllers, general electric
Provides information on the British Westinghouse 90 and 90M controllers. Lists the various parts, prices and illustrations. Has a sheet giving the drum development or connections as the controller is moved through the various notices. The 90M controller was used on some ESCo Ballarat tramcars.
Yields information about early Westinghouse controllers
Document 18 pages printed on quarto paper within a cardboard folder - parts catalogue No. 6554, May 1913
tramways, technical information, tramcars, electrical equipment, tram controllers, westinghouse
Report by T Hamilton Engineer and Secretary of the Melbourne Tramways Trust dated 10/3/1913 on the wear of the Melbourne cable rails with the assistance of Mr Gerard Wight on Melbourne University. Looks at the type of rail used, the wear per annum on average, life span, wood blocks and a summary of the wear on each line including the opening dates. Includes comments on the renewal of the rails and the relationship with the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Co.
Yields information about the wear on the Melbourne cable tram rails by 1913.
Document printed quarto paper, four pages.
tramways, technical information, motors, cable trams, rails, track materials, track maintenance, mtt, mtco
Provides information on the GE 264 Ventilated Commutating Pole Motor, prepared by the MMTB dated 4/8/1922. Gives graphs for various gear ratios and wheel sizes. Would have been used for gear and wheel size selection. This type of motor was used in X 217 - see reference.
Yields information about the motor used in Birney X 217
Document printed on foolscap paper.
tramways, technical information, tramcars, electrical equipment, motors, x class, tram 217
"Westinghouse Australia self-lapping driver's brake valve Type W" circular No. C6 dated 1936, describing the type of brake valve, its features, operations, adjustment, associated double check valve and drawings shown with parts. This type of valve was used by the MMTB, replacing the Manual Lap type on almost the entire fleet. It gives a lot better control over the braking of a tram by drivers.
Yields information about the Westinghouse Type W brake valve.
Document or catalogue circular - 4 loose pages, quarto No. C6
tramways, technical information, tramcars, brakes, brake valves, westinghouse
EMB circular No. 45 giving details of their "steel case controllers for tramways, ships winches etc. This type was not used by the MMTB.
Yields information about the EMB "Steel case controllers"
Document or catalogue circular - 4 pages with two punch holes on the left hand side.
tramways, technical information, emb, tramcars, electrical equipment, tram controllers
EMB circular No. 63 giving details of their "Unbreakeable jointless rustless grid type resistances" used in tramcars such as the Melbourne W7 class trams, steelworks, cranes etc. Gives details of the materials, repairs, terminals, and their use in tramcars either underfloor or in steel cases.
Yields information about the EMB "Unbreakeable jointless rustless grid type resistances"
Document or catalogue circular - 12 pages centre stapled with two punch holes on the left hand side.
tramways, technical information, emb, resistance grids, tramcars, electrical equipment
British Westinghouse (UK) Technical information document titled "Circular B1080 - No. 200 Tramway Motor" - providing details of the motor, its characteristics, technical details, photographs, dimensions and output graph. On the rear cover is a list of company offices
Yields information about the Westinghouse No. 200 tramway motor.
Document or catalogue circular - 12 pages centre stapled with four punch holes on the left hand side.
tramways, westinghouse, motors, technical information
British Westinghouse (UK) Technical information document titled "Circular B1113 - No. 220 Tramway Motor" - providing details of the motor, its characteristics, technical details, photographs, dimensions and output graph. On the rear cover is a list of company offices
Yields information about the Westinghouse No. 220 tramway motor.
Document or catalogue circular - 16 pages centre stapled with two punch holes on the left hand side.
tramways, westinghouse, motors, technical information
Hawthorn Tramways Trust form No. 95, recording the work done on the reconstruction of the HTT track for the week ending. The card has been marked up in ink for changes to the layout, at the time of the takeover of the Trust by the MMTB and the formation of the Eastern System. The HTT tramway track had fell apart due to poor ballasting material and had to be reconstructed by the Trust and the MMTB.
Demonstrates an HTT track reconstruction form.
Printed form on off white - form No. 95
tramways, htt, forms, trackwork, track repairs
Hawthorn Tramways Trust form No. 89, recording the inspection of the various electrical components of tramcars. The three cards have been marked up in pencil for changes to the layout, at the time of the takeover of the Trust by the MMTB and the formation of the Eastern System.
Demonstrates an HTT tramcar maintenance form.
Printed form on blue card - form No. 89 - set of 3
tramways, htt, forms, tramcar maintenance, tramcar inspection
Hawthorn Tramways Trust form No. 82, recording the oiling of the various components of tramcars over 28 day period. Has been marked up in pencil for changes to the layout, at the time of the takeover of the Trust by the MMTB and the formation of the Eastern System.
Demonstrates an HTT tramcar maintenance form.
Printed form on off white card - form No. 82
tramways, htt, forms, tramcar maintenance, tramcar inspection
Hawthorn Tramways Trust form No. 91, recording the inspection, and repair work needed on the body of tramcars. Has been marked up in pencil for changes to the layout, possibly at the time of the takeover of the Trust by the MMTB and the formation of the Eastern System. Notes 800 wanted.
Demonstrates an HTT tramcar maintenance form.
Printed form on green card - form No. 91
tramways, htt, forms, tramcar maintenance, tramcar inspection
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
