Misplaced Pages

Melbourne's tram classification system is based on classes originally devised by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (M&MTB). At first this was largely based on the order in which the original tramway operators had introduced each different type of tramcar between 1906 and 1920.

The classification system was simplified in 1928 (or possibly earlier). All the drop-end combination trams of the B, H, J, M, and S classes were added to A class. The straight sill combination classes F, K, Q, and R, were added to G class. Drop-end-and-centre Maximum traction bogie combination classes D, E, N, and P, were added to C class. Sometimes variations on a design were given extra letters or numerals. For example, W type trams classified as W3, CW5, or SW6. Over the years many of the trams were modified and then reclassified – for example, every one of the original 200 W class trams were converted to W2 class between 1928 and 1933.

Individual tram fleets had been numbered (from 1 upwards) by each of the pre-M&MTB tramway operators, but by 1924 the M&MTB had consolidated the numbering across the combined fleet. With the introduction of Z class trams, the M&MTB started a new numbering system. Tramways in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Sorrento and the Victorian Railways had their own tram numbering systems. Trams which were moved between the systems were renumbered.

There were also many non-passenger trams, such as rail grinders, breakdown cars and freight cars which were not included in the classification system.

Classes

MMTB Tram Classification and Number

Image	Class	Description	Fleet numbers
	A class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1910–1911) for PMTT	1–20
	B class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1917–1918) for PMTT	21–24, 84–91
	C class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT	25–35
	D class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1914) for PMTT	36
	E class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1914) for PMTT	36–45
	F class	Single truck, straight sill, clerestory-roofed, single aisle summer car, built by Duncan & Fraser (1912) for PMTT	46–47
	G class	Single truck, straight sill, single aisle summer car, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT	48–53
	H class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT	54–63
	J class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Meadowbank Manufacturing Company (1915) for PMTT	64–83
	K class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Moore (1919–1920) for PMTT	92–100
	L class	Bogie combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1921) for PMTT	101–106
	M class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917) for HTT and FTT	107–116, 183–189
	N class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1916) for HTT	117–126
	O class	Maximum traction, bogie, straight sill, combination with one drop end, built by Duncan & Fraser (1912) for PMTT	127–130
	P class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917–18) for HTT	131–138
	Q class	Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by MMTB (1922–1923)	139–150, 190–201
	R class	Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1920) for FNPTT	151–153
	R class	Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by MMTB (1920)	172–176
	S class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination built by Duncan & Fraser (1916–1922) for MBCTT and MMTB	154–171
	T class	Single truck, drop end, open combination with long saloon, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917) for MBCTT	177–182
	U class	Single truck, saloon, built by Duncan & Fraser (1906) for NMETL	202–211
	V class	Single truck, open cross bench, built by Duncan & Fraser (1906) for NMETL	212–216
	W class	Bogie drop centre combination, built 1923–1927 by Holden, James Moore & Sons and MMTB	219–418
	W1 class	Bogie drop centre combination, built by MMTB (1925–1928)	419–438, 470–479
	W2 class	Bogie drop centre combination, built by MMTB and James Moore & Sons (1927–31)	439–458, 480–609, 624–653
	W3 class	Bogie drop centre combination, built MMTB (1930–1934)	654–669
	W4 class	Bogie drop centre combination, built MMTB (1933–1935)	670–674
	CW5 class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop centre combination, built MMTB (1934–1935)	681–685
	W5 class	Bogie, drop centre combination, built by MMTB (1935–1939)	720–839
	SW2 class	Bogie drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1938, 1953, 1955)	275, 426, 432, 436, 478, 644
	SW5 class	Bogie, drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1939–1940, 840–849), converted by Metropolitan Transit Authority (1983–1986, all the other tram cars)	681–682, 721–734, 736–750, 752–755, 757–760, 764–765, 767–770, 773, 775–777, 780–781, 784–791, 793, 796–797, 800, 802, 805–812, 814–816, 818–819, 824, 828–830, 834, 836–838, 840–849
	SW6 class	Bogie drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1939–1951)	850–969
	PCC class (1950)	Two door bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1950)	980
	W6 class	Bogie, drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1951–1955)	970–979, 981–1000
	W7 class	Two door bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1955–1956)	1001–1040
	W8 class	Bogie drop centre saloon, converted from SW6/W6/W7 trams 946, 959 (2013), 957 (2015), 1010 (2016), 983 (2017), 856, 928, 961 (2019), 888 (2020)	856, 888, 928, 946, 957, 959, 961, 981, 983, 1010
	X class	Single truck saloon safety car, built by JG Brill Company & St Louis Car Company (1923)	217–218
	X1 class	Single truck saloon, built by MMTB (1926–1928)	459–468
	X2 class	Single truck saloon, built by MMTB (1930)	674 (later 680), 675–679
	Y class	Bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1927)	469
	Y1 class	Bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1930)	610–613
	PCC class (1973)	Prototype two door bogie saloon, last ever tram built by MMTB (1973). Formed the basis of the Z1 class tram design	1041
	Z1 class	Two door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1974–1978)	1–100
	Z2 class	Two door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1978–1979)	101–115
	Z3 class	Three door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1979–1984)	116–230
	A1 class	Three door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1983–1985)	231–258
	A2 class	Three door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1985–1987)	259–300
	B1 class	Articulated saloon, built by Comeng (1984–1985)	2001–2002
	B2 class	Articulated saloon, built by Comeng (1987–1994)	2003–2132
	C1 class	Three-section articulated saloon, low floor Alstom Citadis 202 tram(2001–2002)	3001–3036
	C2 class	Five-section articulated saloon, low floor Alstom Citadis 302 trams (2008)	5103, 5106, 5111, 5113, 5123
	D1 class	Three section, low floor Combino trams, made by Siemens (2002–2003)	3501–3538
	D2 class	Five section, low floor Combino trams, made by Siemens (2003–2004)	5001–5021
	E1 class	Three-section, four-bogie articulated trams built by Bombardier Transportation (2013–2017)	6001–6050
	E2 class	Three-section, four-bogie articulated trams built by Bombardier Transportation (2017–2021)	6051–6100
	G class	Three-section, low floor Flexity 2 trams built by Alstom (2025–)	7001–7100

References

1. ^ Cross, Norman (2001). Destination City. Sydney: Transit Australia. ISBN 0-909459-17-7.
2. "SW5 Class". vicsig.net.
3. "W8 Class". vicsig.net.
4. "PCC.1041". vicsig.net. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
5. "Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board PCC No 1041". Melbourne Tram Museum. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
6. "C2 Class, VICSIG – Trams". vicsig.net. 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
7. "D1 class, VICSIG – Trams". vicsig.net. 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
8. "D2 class, VICSIG – Trams". vicsig.net. 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
9. "E class, VICSIG – Trams". vicsig.net. 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
10. "E2 class, Trams DownUnder". Retrieved 9 April 2018.

• Trams in Melbourne
• Tram vehicles of Australia