Historical information

Five of the nine photographs show W5 class 743 (with destination 'City-Spencer St route 9A') with a demolished drivers cabin, severely burnt and derailed just south of the St Georges Road/Normanby Avenue intersection on a sunny dry day. They also show other vehicle, an overturned truck. Tramway workers, bystanders and fire brigade can be seen along with foam and smoke. Two further photographs show damaged 743 on an outside road at Preston Workshops. And two further photographs show the collision intersection days or weeks later from Normanby Avenue looking west. The collision appears to have occurred as south-bound 743 crossed Normanby Avenue and the truck cabin hit the driver's cabin and front left saloon wall. Perhaps the truck driver was travelling west on Normanby Road or turning west from St Georges Road and did not expect a south-bound tram on the west side of the centre reservation.

Records show that the drop-centre section of 743 had its centre doors removed later in the 1970s and in 1985 was converted to an SW5.

Significance

Yields information about the impact on W class trams of a major traffic collision and fire. Also the history or W5 class 743.

Physical description

Black and white prints with stamp and note on rear.

Inscriptions & markings

"Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board Ref No. P251.1898"