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"The Melbourne Tram Fleet (Service Trams)
Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Melbourne Tram Museum
Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Melbourne Tram Museum
Digital image of a report titled "The Melbourne Tram Fleet (Service Trams), listing trams sorted by Tram number with a table giving the age of the tram for tramcars operated by the Colonial Tram car restaurant, privately owned, Public Transport Corporation, Swanston and Yarra trams. Gives the number, class, operator, in service date and age in years. Does not give the actual depot. Dated 5/7/1999.
Provides information in the form of a letter to Parliamentary members about the reasons why the electrification of Collins St should proceed from the MMTB viewpoint, though it was not part of the 1923 General Scheme. The City of Melbourne initially wanted a conduit system, main issue was overhead wires, looks at other possibilities. Has a statement to the Press regarding the Board's decision to convert Collins St - options, Bourke St, Flinders St, traffic issues, and passenger / business development along Collins St. There was a lot of opposition to the proposal from the Doctors in the street.
Yields information about the replacement of the Collins St cable tramways with electric trams and the reasons why.
Set of six duplicated foolscap sheets secured by a foldable brass clip in top left hand corner.
trams, tramways, parliament, mr strangward, collins st, cable trams, tram replacement, electrification
Transcript of Evidence given to the Parliamentary Committee of Accounts by Mr W O Strangward, Secretary to the MMTB 13/9/1927 - in response to the question "What would be the extra cost to the public if motor buses were substituted for the existing tramways?" Looks at Fare Revenue, operating cost per vehicle mile, relative average speeds, number of tram and bus miles required to carry 224,000,000 passengers, standing passengers and capacity. Notes that 2.25 buses would be required to replace each existing tramcar. Examines Annual Operating cost for both forms, capital outlay including provision for spares, amortization of the present tramway debt and cost of roads. Has a financial summary showing the additional cost would be 1.878,500 pounds to run buses requiriing a fare increase of 75%. Conclusions also note that there is a place for buses on light routes, petrol or diesel production in Australia and accidents.
Yields information about the cost of running buses in Melbourne instead of trams based on 1927 information.
Set of nine duplicated foolscap sheets secured by a foldable brass clip in top left hand corner.
trams, tramways, bus replacement, buses, parliament, evidence, mr strangward, costs
The two pieces of laminate show the different shades used by the MMTB in their vehicles, both trams and buses. These two pieces have been cut for use in the Uniform Workshops to separate size and type of items, in this case trousers and lumber jackets.
Demonstrates two types of laminates used in MMTB vehicles and then used in the the MMTB or The Met uniform store clothing racks.
Set of two sheets of laminex with dymo letter punched into adhesive tape.
See item.
trams, tramways, uniforms
Article - "Melbourne cable and electric tramways" - with the subheading "First Substitution by Diesel Buses", with H H Bell, MMTB Chairman as the author. Describes the current system, cable tram operation, formation of the Board, Chairman Bell, Cameron, conversion, H H Bell's tour, closure of the cable system and operation by diesel buses, the new SW6 tram, Australian PCC cars, Diesel bus development, Fare Structure and notes the Board's payments to the fire brigade etc. Has photos of Y 469, Leyland cub buses, W5 736. Has adverts for Bell Punch ticket machines, Smith's clocks and Karrier trucks. There is a report from Thomas Tilling Ltd about their operation and annual reporting.
Yields information about Melbourne tramways in 1939 and the background history.
Magazine cutting from Modern Transport 25/2/1939 - pages 43 and 44
trams, tramways, mmtb, cable trams, buses, bus replacement, h h bell., melbourne, y class, w5 class, tram 469, tram 736, leyland cub
Used by the MMTB as a Transfer ticket from cable to electric trams. Enabled the passenger to pay one 2 1/2d fare rather than two separate fares. Printed for week day use only. See item 7410 for a 2d example.
Yields information about tickets used on Melbourne Trams in the 1920s
Paper cable tram tickets - 2 1/2d No. 260710 - red ink on a light red paper.
trams, tramways, mmtb, cable trams
Used by Doncaster bus depot to indicate to Inspectors and other staff the allocated run or timetable trip for a particular service. Was displayed in the front window of the vehicle.
Demonstrates a MMTB Run Number plate used on both trams and buses.
Run Number pressed plastic sheet with rounded corners, off white or cream sheet with the letter "D" and number "118" using a red adhesive tape.
trams, tramways, mmtb, timetables, buses, doncaster depot
Card features PCC Class tram 1041 in Bourke St at a tram stop on route 96 to East Brunswick. The tram entered service during August 1973, so presumed this card was printed in 1973. The tram is on display at the Museum at Hawthorn depot.
Demonstrates a MMTB Christmas Card issued with a photo of prototype tram 1041.
Card printed - 8 pages glued - colour photograph and gold front with MMTB logo. Two copies held.
tramways, mmtb, tram 1041, pcc class, christmas, greeting cards, bourke st, route 96
This type of ticket was issued by "safety zone sellers" at the busy city stops to relieve the work on tram conductors. The tram conductor would punch the ticket to cancel it. Has the issuer "MMTB" printed on the ticket and ticket number, Issued using Ultimate ticket machines. See item 7003 for an example.
Demonstrates a roll of tickets of the type that would be issued to ticket sellers.
Roll of Ultimate ticket machine paper tickets commencing 04099.
tramways, mmtb, tickets, ultimate, machine issued tickets
The two photographs show cable trams being shunted into the Brunswick Cable Tram Depot or car house from Sydney Road. The first shows a horse pulling a bogie tram trailer into the car house while the second shows the grip being pushed in by hand. Note the raised position of the grip when this shunting task is performed - 1920s.
Yields information about the shunting of cable trams at the Brunswick car house or depot.
Set of two black and white copy photographs with adhesive marks on the rear.
tramways, tramcars, cable trams, brunswick, brunswick depot, car house, shunting, mmtb, tram 41, trams, grip
Research Essay, possibly the final draft, by Leigh J Harding looking at the engine houses that powered the Melbourne cable tram system from an Engineering and Architectural viewpoint. Has pencil notations to where photographs would be placed. Provides details on the background to their construction by the Melbourne Tramways Trust in the 1880s. Includes notes on the land acquisition, site plan, internal layout plan and notes on the operations and disposal. Notes on the Essendon, Bendigo and Ballarat power stations are included. The author was a Melbourne University Architecture student with this very detailed study part of his course.
Yields information about the Melbourne cable tram engine houses and similar buildings.
Report - 82 foolscap pages - typed and handmade
tramways, tramcars, cable trams, engine house, winding houses, architects, power station
The report titled "Proposed Melbourne to Burwood Electric Tramway and Electrification of Hawthorn Horse Tramway" by McCarty Underwood dated May 1914. Report prepared as a precursor to the formation of the Hawthorn Tramways Trust. The report looks at the estimated costs, revenue, expenditure and engineering difficulties. Only considered a line to Burwood, not Wattle Park. Has a page looking at the use of Storage Battery cars.
Yields information about the establishment of the Burwood tram line.
Report - 16 printed foolscap sheets plus a fold out plan in colour, centre stapled.
Has "1" in a circle in indelible pencil in the top right hand corner.
tramways, tramcars, htt, burwood, report, battery trams
Book published by G D Peters & Co. of Caxton House Westminster London detailing the National Pneumatic door control systems. Provides an introduction, system types, door engines, folding door and step equipment, treadle plates, electrical and pneumatic fittings and location advice. This type of equipment was used on Melbourne tram and buses. Has the stamp of the Melbourne agents - Railways & Rolling Stock Equipment Ltd. throughout.
Yields information about the pneumatic door control systems of G D Peters.
Book - green paper covers containing approx 90 pages detailing the equipment offered with some coloured diagrams. Pages secured by two metal clips.
tramways, tramcars, g d peters, electro pneumatic, door controls, buses
Notes prepared by Norm Wadeson 1961 from Lands Department Records about the history of the Sorrento Tramway. Has notes on the formation, operation, passengers carried, land, possible extension, deputations to the Minister, Mr George Copin, and closure.
Yields information about the Sorrento tramway co. and its Lands Department records.
Two quarto sheets, typed - stapled in top left hand corner.
tramways, tramcars, sorrento, george coppin
A report was written by Alf Twentyman titled "The Horse Omnibuses" about the operation firstly by the Melbourne Omnibus Co from 23/3/1869 and then from 1877 the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Co. Looks at the routes, buses, staff, and stables operated. Includes notes on Race days, St Patrick's Day and other special traffic days, passenger loadings, operations and why the Johnston St cable line was known as the Carlton line.
Yields information about Melbourne's horse omnibuses operated by the Melbourne Omnibus Co.
Three foolscap sheets - photocopied - stapled in top left hand corner.
tramways, tramcars, horse buses, omnibues, melbourne omnibus co., mtoco, races, st patricks day
Third Annual Report of the Footscray Tramway Trust, for the year ending 30/9/1919. Lists the Trust Members, Consulting Engineers, and Secretary. Details the Trust's activities, finances, and a short review of activities noting the supply of energy from the Victorian Railways Newport Power Station. Engineering report by Christie & Gardiner detailing the construction, welding of joints, tar surfacing, substation equipment, fitting equipment to the seven ex HTT tramcars at Footscray, delivery of equipment for the tramcars, but a delay in the delivery of the trolley wire. There are four pages of accounts and one page for the Auditor's statement. The Trust was taken over by the MMTB during Feb. 1920 who completed the work and commissioned the tramway.
Yields information about the construction of the Footscray Tramway Trust tramways.
Eleven foolscap sheets, duplicated, pinned with a removable foldable clip in top left hand corner. Two copies held.
tramways, tramcars, ftt, footscray tramways trust, new tramways, rails, tramway construction, annual reports, htt
Second Annual Report of the Footscray Tramway Trust, for the year ending 30/9/1918. Lists the Trust Members, Consulting Engineers, and Secretary. Details the Trust's activities, finances and a short review of activities. Engineering report by Christie & Gardiner detailing the construction, supply of materials, rails, special work, and that 7 Combination Cars had been purchased along with motors and trucks. Has four pages of financial statements. The First World War restricted progress in acquiring materials. The tramcar bodies were purchased from the Hawthorn Tramway Trust (HTT). The change in Consulting Engineers was mostly likely due to issues that the firm of McCarty Underwood had with the HTT.
Yields information about the construction of the Footscray Tramway Trust tramways.
Ten foolscap sheets, duplicated, pinned with a removable foldable clip in top left hand corner.
tramways, tramcars, ftt, footscray tramways trust, new tramways, rails, tramway construction, annual reports, htt
First Annual Report of the Footscray Tramway Trust, for the year ending 30/9/1917. Lists the Trust Members, Consulting Engineers, and Secretary. Details the Trust's activities, financial loans, construction, car barn, and that it is the first Australian Tramway to use Australian-made rails. Engineering report by McCarty Underwood lists the lines to be built, and rails to use an 80lb/yard NSW railway section with a 30lb/yard bolt-on check rail. Notes the intention to have 7 one-man-operated cars and 3 combination cars. Gives expected cost of operations. Lists the Footscray Council Officers that were involved in the project. Supplementary letter from McCarty Underwood about the cost of the rails and the composite section dated 15/11/1917.
Yields information about the construction of the Footscray Tramway Trust tramways.
Ten foolscap sheets, duplicated, stapled in top left hand corner.
tramways, tramcars, ftt, footscray tramways trust, new tramways, rails, tramway construction, annual reports
Document gives the data about scheduled speeds in miles per hour for General Electric GE-264 motors for stops per miles, gear ratios, and wheel sizes for form A and B motors. Has a table for truck or bogie data and weights. Enabled street car or tramway operators to select their equipment and motors.
Demonstrates a GE data sheet to assist tramway engineers in their equipment selection.
Data sheet typed on foolscap paper.
tramways, tramcars, ge, general electric, motors, specifications
The colour prints show a Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust - PMTT electrical switching or cable pillar box in City Road, near Queensbridge St, South Melbourne.
Yields information about a former PMTT Electrical switch box
Set of 2 colour prints on Crystal Archive paper and 35mm negatives.
tramways, pmtt, electrical engineering, electrical equipment, electrical switching, switch box
Set of four colour prints of the Victorian Railways tramway shelter at the Brighton Beach Gardens and three of the shelter in The Esplanade Brighton Beach. See item 7479 for colour slides as well.
Yields information about VR tramway shelters
Set of 7 colour prints on Crystal Archive paper and 35mm negatives.
tramways, shelters, vr, brighton beach, sandringham, esplanade, bay road
Set of 23 colour slides of MMTB tramway substations and the Victoria St Office, by Robert Green Mar 1990. 1 - Carlton Substation - Queensberry St. 2 - Carlton Substation - Queensberry St. 3 - Coburg - Moore St 4 - Glen Huntly Depot substation 5 - Fitzroy - Young St. 6 - Fitzroy - Young St. 7 - Station St Camberwell 8 - Malvern Tram depot 9 - Brunswick Rd, Brunswick 10 - Brunswick Rd, Brunswick 11 - Brunswick Rd, Brunswick 12 - Holden St North Fitzroy 13 - Holden St North Fitzroy 14 - East Kew - High St. 15 - East Kew - High St. 16 - East Kew - High St. 17 - East Kew - High St. 18 - Little Bourke St Melbourne 19 - Former branch offices - Victoria Parade Fitzroy 20 - Former branch offices - Victoria Parade Fitzroy 21 - Former branch offices - Victoria Parade Fitzroy 22 - Former branch offices - Victoria Parade Fitzroy - 2004 23 - Former branch offices - Victoria Parade Fitzroy = 2004
Yields information about Melbourne tramway substations
Set of 23 Kodak colour slides in plastic mounts.
All slides have their location marked on them in black ink.
tramways, mmtb, substations, carlton, queensberry st, coburg, glen huntly, north fitzroy, young st, camberwell, malvern depot, brunswick road, brunswick, holden st, east kew, little bourke st, branch offices, victoria parade
Set of 15 colour slides of Tramway Board and MMTB tramway shelters, by Robert Green Feb1990. 1 - Macarthur St and St Andrews Place (Tramway Board) 2 - Macarthur St and St Andrews Place (Tramway Board) 2A - Macarthur St and St Andrews Place (Tramway Board) - logon on the shelter 3 - SW Corner of St Kilda Road & High St 4 - Cnr St Kilda Road and Dorcas St 5 - Batman Ave and St Kilda Road - removed with Batman Ave closed, now at the TMSV Bylands 6 - ditto 7 - ditto - shows the Bundy clock on the office wall. 8 - Victoria and Brunswick Streets 9 - ditto 10 - Cnr St Kilda Road and Bromby St 11 - Victoria and Brunswick Streets 12 - Cnr Dandenong Road and Wattletree Road 13 - Victoria and Brunswick Streets 14 - Bourke and Spencer Streets - note the Bundy clock. Behind is the MTOCo Offices and Carlyons Hotel.
Yields information about Melbourne tramway shelters.
Set of 14 Kodak colour slides in plastic mounts and one unmounted phtograph
All slides have their location marked on them in black ink.
tramways, shelters, tramway board, mmtb, macarthur st, st kilda road, brunwick st, batman ave, victoria parade, wattletree road, bourke st
Tramway Pass for a Totally and Permanently Disabled Soldier pass No. 505 made out to R H Prentice of Prahran and signed by R A Spencer MMTB Secretary. Has the availability conditions, and is available until 30/6/1948. Mr Bob Prentice was a tramway enthusiast who collected VR Tramcar No. 20, photographs and items and authored several small books about Victorian Tramways. See January 1993 and the April. 2024 (page 9) issues of Ballarat Tramway Museum Fares Please - (reference links)
Has a strong association with a well respected tramway enthusiast and collector.
Grey cloth card folded item with two pre-printed pieces of paper glued to the inside, one with details of the holder on the left hand and the right hand side with a photograph of the holder.
tramways, trams, soldiers, tickets, mmtb, passes, bob prentice
Letter addressed to Mrs B Bartley of Carlton dated 6/6/1965 regarding the possibility of rejoining the Board as a conductress. Details the wages average earnings, and leave etc. Signed by the Secretary W Aird. The photograph shows a lady conductress on a tram step of W2 258, presumably Mrs. Bartley. Not known whether she took up the offer.
Has a close association with Mrs Bartley and demonstrates MMTB recruiting at the time of a shortage of staff.
Letter on a sheet of quarto MMTB Letterhead with a black and white photograph taped to the bottom right hand corner.
tramways, tramcars, conductress, w2 class, tram 258, job offer, mmtb
Drawing of the floor plan showing seats, controls, dimensions and technical data for the Birney X class tram No. 217. Drawn by C Andrews 10/1967 and based on MMTB drawing R2462.
Yields information about the MMTB Birney X 217
Drawing - ink on mylar sheet.
tramways, tramcars, x class, tram 217, drawings, birney
Set of 14 colour slides of Victorian Railways tramway shelters, by Robert Green March 1990. 1 - VR Tram shelter - Esplanade Brighton Beach 2 - ditto 3 - ditto 4 - ditto 5 - ditto 6 - ditto 7 - ditto 8 - VR Tram shelter - Brighton Beach Gardens 9 - VR Tram shelter - Brighton Beach Gardens 10 - VR Tram shelter - Brighton Beach Gardens 11 - VR Tram shelter - Brighton Beach Gardens 12 - VR Tram shelter - Brighton Beach Gardens 13 - VR Tram shelter - Brighton Beach Gardens 14 - VR Tram shelter - Brighton Beach Gardens
Yields information about VR tramway shelters and a replica.
Set of 14 Kodak colour slides in plastic mounts.
tramways, shelters, vr, brighton beach, sandringham, esplanade, bay road
Map Includes description of tram and bus routes, private bus routes, and rail lines. Has contact details for bookings and lost property etc and how to use the map. Gives details of the ticketing system, along with photographs of the various modes. Dated May 1995 with a stylised image of some of Melbourne's landmarks on the cover. Published by the Public Transport Corporation.
Yields information about Melbourne public transport services in 1995.
Fold out map (36 sections 9 across x 4 deep), "Public Transport Map", coloured of Melbourne's Tram and Bus routes, route numbers, rail lines, detailed for the central part of Melbourne and the outer Metropolitan services.
tramways, melbourne, tram services, bus services, maps, railways
Map No. 13 undated with the buzzing bee symbol on the front and throughout at the time of the introduction of the neighbourhoods. Includes description of tram and bus routes, private bus routes. Has contact details for bookings and lost property etc and how to use the map. Gives extensive details of the neighbourhood tickets and their used. C1984.
Yields information about Melbourne public transport services in 1984.
Fold out map (36 sections 9 across x 4 deep), "Public Transport Map", coloured of Melbourne's Tram and Bus routes, route numbers, rail lines, detailed for the central part of Melbourne and the outer Metropolitan services.
tramways, melbourne, tram services, bus services, maps
Set of 17 colour slides of tramway shelters, poles, and substations by Robert Green c1990. Shelters by the PMTT, HTT and MMTB 1 Tramway Shelter (PMTT) - Cnr Balaclava and Orrong Road, Caulfield 2 - ditto 3 - Tramway Shelter (PMTT) - Cnr. Cotham Road and Burke Road, Deepdene 4 - Tramway Shelter (PMTT) - Cnr. Cotham Road and Burke Road, Deepdene with telephone box alongside. 5 - Cnr. Malvern Rd and Orrong Road, Toorak 6 - Cnr. Malvern Rd and Orrong Road, Toorak 7 - Cnr. Dandenong Road and Hawthorn Road, Caufield 8 - ditto 9 - PMTT Substation - Rusden Street, Elsternwick 10 - PMTT poles cnr. Dandenong Road and Wattletree Road 11 - Tram shelter (HTT) Riversdale Road and Highfield Road - Camberwell - Highfield Park 12 - Tram shelter (HTT) Riversdale Road and Wattlevalley Road, Camberwell 13 - ditto 14 - Tram shelter (HTT) Camberwell Road, cnr Bowen St. Camberwell. 15 - Tram Shelter (HTT) Camberwell Depot, Riversdale Road, Hawthorn 16 - Merri Creek Bridge, St. Georges Road, North Fitzroy 17 - Merri Creek Bridge, St. Georges Road, North Fitzroy - foundation stone
Yields information about Melbourne's tramway stop shelters and other infrastructure.
Set of 17 Kodak colour slides in plastic mounts.
tramways, shelters, caufield, deepdene, toorak, orrong road, cotham road, balaclava road, pmtt, htt, mmtb, riversdale road, camberwell depot, merri creek bridge, foundation stone, dandenong road, poles, rusden st, substations, hawthorn road, st.georges road
Black and white photograph of a cable tram set (bogie trailer 472) with gripman and conductor near the Brunswick terminus in Sydney Road. For full details of the image and the story behind it, see page 10 of Bellcord No. 53, March 2022 - see reference for the link.
Yields information about a bogie cable tram set and its location.
Black and white print block mounted onto thick card.
tramways, tramcars, cable trams, crews, gripmen, conductors, sydney road, brunswick, tram 472
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