In the Shed

In the Shed at Ballarat Tramway Museum during Heritage Week Ballarat Victoria

25/05/2024

MMTB W4 No. 671 - 1935

One of 5 cars built by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board between 1933 and 1935 and classed "W4". This was the first class of Melbourne cars to have wide bodies and transverse seating in the saloons. Purchased by the Society in 1975.

W2 Class 407 entered service in Melbourne on the 5 October 1926 as a W Class tram, being converted to a W2 Class tram in the early 1930’s.

For the most part 407 is a stock-standard W2 Class tram, however its fate irreversibly changed one evening in February 1972 when it collided with a cement truck at the corner of Dandenong Road and Chapel Street.

One end of 407 was severely damaged in the collision, yet it was driven under its own power to Preston Workshops for repair. The insurance payout from the truck’s insurer was used to fund the reconstruction of 407 as an apprentice training project.

To assist in the rebuild, sister car 259 which had been withdrawn from service was dismantled to provide a replacement chassis, roof structure and other components for the damaged end of 407. This work was recorded as an 03 overhaul in 407’s car records, but was in reality more of an 01 overhaul.

Prior to returning to service, 407 was fitted with the multiple head and tail lights that were fitted to trams of this class from the early 1970’s.

407 continued to run for a number of years until it was withdrawn from service on the 12 January 1982, arriving at Haddon on the 18 February 1982 after having run a total of 2,523,134 kilometres in Melbourne.

Tram 407 was purchased without trucks and was mounted on trucks from W2 499 on arrival at Haddon. The number 4 motor in 499’s trucks was found to be defective and required replacement with a serviceable motor prior to 407 being made operable. 407 is fitted with British Thompson Houston (BTH) 265D motors, which were a favourite among tram enthusiasts for their fast running and unique sound.
407 has been restored to its final form in service as a representative of how these trams appeared in their later life.

This tram is currently on loan to the Ballarat Tramway Museum and can be viewed by visiting their museum in the Lake Wendouree gardens.

SEC Ballarat No. 13 - 1915

SEC Ballarat No. 13 built in 1915 by the Meadowbank Manufacturing Co. for the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust as number 68. Classified "J" class when taken over by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board. Purchased by the Melbourne Electric Supply Co. Ltd. in 1928 and became Geelong number 30. Transferred to Ballarat in 1936, becoming car number 13. On closure of the Ballarat tramways, this car was donated to the Lake Goldsmith Steam Preservation Society and returned to Ballarat in 1983 on loan to the Ballarat Tramway Museum. Re-entered service in May 1988 after repairs

SEC Ballarat No. 39 - 1914

Built in 1914 by Duncan and Fraser for the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust and ran as number 42. Retained this number when classed "E" by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board. Sold to the State Electricity Commission in 1951 and renumbered 39. This car was acquired by the Lismore Lions Club when the tramways closed in 1971 and displayed in a recreational reserve until purchased by the Society in 1976. No. 39 was converted by the Society into a museum display and souvenir centre located at the depot.

MMTB Scrubber No. 8 - 1934

The tram was built by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board in 1934 using the cabs from a C class tram (No. 32). It was transported to the isolated Footscray system a number of times to clean the rails there. In 1961 it received additional body bracing and repainted in the diagonal black and string (light cream) stripes. The tram became 8W during 1975 as the then new Z class trams came into service. By the early 1990's the need for the tram and the other similar cars used to "scrub" the surface of the rails was no longer. The tram was stored at Malvern depot for many years before being donated to the Ballarat Tramway Museum by the Public Transport Commission in September 1999. It has been scrubbing the rails in Ballarat since March 2001

SEC Ballarat No. 26 - 1916

Built in 1916 by Duncan and Fraser for the Hawthorn Tramways Trust where it ran as No. 5. Renumbered 111 and classed "M" by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board in 1920. Sold to the Electric Supply Co. of Victoria Ltd. in 1931 and received its present number, passed on to the SEC. in 1934.