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 a university students.
The conductor training process took eight day. Prior to the first day, the student attended the uniform branch at Hawthorn Depot to be fitted with the uniform of 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 the assigned depot under the instruction of a trainer-conductor, while various officers rode the trams to observe and write reports. The final day was spent at the training school for oral and written examinations, then allocation to a depot as a probationer conductor for 13 weeks.
Significance
Yields information about the training of conductors.
Physical description
Black and white photo with a plain back - set of 2
