Historical information

Set of 2 black and white photos:

1 - A conductor-instructor (trainer) showing a young M&MTB student conductor (trainee) how to punch tickets. The student is wearing the full navy blue uniform including cap and a cash bag while holding a ticket punch in his left hand. The instructor has a WW2 returned serviceman's badge on his left lapel.
2 - Group photo of student conductors sitting at tables covered with papers and books.

The conductor training school was located at Hawthorn Depot for many decades before and after WWII. However, for a short period around 1969-71, it was relocated to the old Gertrude Street, Fitzroy Engine House along with a retired W2 class tram body for the student conductors' use. During the 1960s and 1970s, many students conductors were male university students on summer holidays filling vacancies that could not be filled by full-time recruits. The young age and nationality of the male students pictured suggests they were university students, some from overseas countries.

The conductor training process took eight days. Prior to the first day, the student attended the uniform branch at Hawthorn Depot to be fitted with a cap, jacket, trousers or skirt for women, two shirts and tie. Overcoats were not provided to university students. The first day was spent in the classroom in full uniform with instruction on ticketing, forms, rules, duties on a tramcar and safety procedures. Practice of these tasks occurred in the classroom, then on a stationary tramcar 'selling' tickets to fellow students and learning the bells, handbrake, destination signs, etc. The next six days were spent working on trams at assigned depots under the instruction of a trainer-conductor, with students gradually taking on more of the conductor duties as trainers lessened involvement. Various tramway officers rode the trams to observe the students and write reports.

The final day was spent at the training school for oral and written examinations. When completed, each probationer conductor was allocated to a depot on 13 weeks probation. Many university students worked for several summer holidays, returning their uniforms to Hawthorn in February and collecting them again in November. They required no further training.

Significance

Yields information about the training of conductors.

Physical description

Black and white photo with a plain back - set of 2