Melbourne tram classification

Melbourne's tram classification system is based on classes originally devised by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB).^[1]:8 At first this was based on the order in which the original tramways companies had purchased the different types of tram between 1910 and 1921.^[1]:8

The classification system was simplified in 1928.^[1]:8 All the drop end combination trams: 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. 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 class trams classified as W3 or CW5. Over the years many of the trams were modified and then reclassified. For example, all the W class trams were converted to W2 class between 1928 and 1933.^[1]:23

Individual trams were also numbered by the tramways companies. In 1924 the MMTB unified the numbering across the fleet.^[1]:8 With the introduction of Z class trams, the MMTB started a new numbering system.^[1]:8 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 a large number of 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]:49	1-20
	B class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1917-1918) for PMTT[1]:50	21-24, 84-91
	C class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT[1]:51	25-35
	D class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1914) for PMTT[1]:51	36
	E class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1914) for PMTT[1]:52	36-45
	F class	Single truck, straight sill, clerestory-roofed, single aisle summer car, built by Duncan & Fraser (1912) for PMTT[1]:52	46-47
	G class	Single truck, straight sill, single aisle summer car, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT[1]:53	48-53
	H class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT[1]:54	54-63
	J class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Meadowbank Manufacturing Company (1915) for PMTT[1]:54	64-83
	K class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Moore (1919-1920) for PMTT[1]:55	92-100
	L class	Bogie combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1921) for PMTT[1]:56	101-106
	M class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917) for HTT and FTT[1]:58	107-116, 183-189
	N class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1916) for HTT[1]:59	117-126
	O class	Maximum traction, bogie, straight sill, combination with one drop end, built by Duncan & Fraser (1912) for PMTT[1]:60	127-130
	P class	Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917–18) for HTT[1]:61	131-138
	Q class	Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by MMTB (1922-1923)[1]:62	139-150, 190-201
	R class	Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1920) for FNPTT[1]:63	151-153
	R class	Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by MMTB (1920)[1]:63	172-176
	S class	Single truck, drop end, open California combination built by Duncan & Fraser (1916-1922) for MBCTT and MMTB[1]:64	154-171
	T class	Single truck, drop end, open combination with long saloon, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917) for MBCTT[1]:65	177-182
	U class	Single truck, saloon, built by Duncan & Fraser (1906) for NMETL[1]:66	202-211
	V class	Single truck, open cross bench, built by Duncan & Fraser (1906) for NMETL[1]:67	212-216
	W class	Bogie drop centre combination, built 1923-1927 by Holden, James Moore & Sons and MMTB[1]:23:112	219-418
	W1 class	Bogie drop centre combination, built by MMTB (1925-1928)[1]:25	419-438, 470-479
	W2 class	Bogie drop centre combination, built by MMTB and James Moore & Sons (1927–31)[1]:26	439-458, 480-609, 624-653
	W3 class	Bogie drop centre combination, built MMTB (1930-1934)[1]:32	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)[1]:38	681-685
	W5 class	Bogie, drop centre combination, built by MMTB (1935-1939)[1]:35	720-839
	SW2 class	Bogie drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1938, 1953, 1955)[1]:37	275, 426, 432, 436, 478, 644
	SW6 class	Bogie drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1939-1951)[1]:40	850-969
	PCC class	Two door bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1950)[1]:42	980
	W6 class	Bogie, drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1951-1955)[1]:43	970-979, 981-1000
	W7 class	Two door bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1955-1956)[1]:42	1001-1040
	W8 class	Bogie drop centre saloon, converted from SW6 trams 922 (1993), 946 (2012) and 959 (2013)	1101, 946, 959
	X class	Single truck saloon safety car, built by JG Brill Company & St Louis Car Company (1923)[1]:22	217-218
	Y class	Bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1927)[1]:29	469
	X1 class	Single truck saloon, built by MMTB (1926-1928)[1]:28	459-468
	Y class	Bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1927)[1]:29	469
	X2 class	Single truck saloon, built by MMTB (1930)[1]:30	674 (later 680), 675-679
	Y1 class	Bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1930)[1]:31	610-613
	Z1 class	Two door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1974-1978)[1]:13	1-100
	Z2 class	Two door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1978-1979)[1]:13	101-115
	Z3 class	Three door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1979-1984)[1]:16	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)[1]:19	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)[2]	5103, 5106, 5111, 5113, 5123
	D1 class	Three section, low floor Combino trams, made by Siemens (2002-2003)[3]	3501–3538
	D2 class	Five section, low floor Combino trams, made by Siemens (2003–2004)[4]	5001–5021
	E class	Three-section, four-bogie articulated trams built by Bombardier Transportation (2013-)[5]	6001–6070

References