Y class Melbourne tram

Y-class
ManufacturerMelbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board
Constructed1927
Number built1
Fleet numbers469
Capacity53
Specifications
Car length13.87 m (45 ft 6 in)
Width2.64 m (8 ft 8 in)
Height3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Wheel diameter673 mm (26.5 in)
Weight16.8 t (37,000 lb)
Current collectionTrolley pole
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

The Y-class was a one-member tram class built by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board. It entered service in September 1927 initially operating a 24-mile tourist service, before being used on regular services on the Burwood line and all night services from Camberwell depot in company with the Y1-class.[1][2][3]

In 1965, it was transferred to Glenhuntly depot to avoid running into the city due to a lack of number boxes.[4] It was withdrawn in April 1965 and retained as a driver training car.[5]

It has been preserved as part of the VicTrack heritage fleet at Hawthorn depot.[6]

Y1-class
Y1 611 preserved in operating condition at the Sydney Tramway Museum
ManufacturerMelbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board
Constructed1930
Number built4
Fleet numbers610-613
Capacity53
Specifications
Car length13.72 m (45 ft 0 in)
Width2.64 m (8 ft 8 in)
Height3.11 m (10 ft 2 in)
Wheel diameter838 mm (33.0 in) (as built)
711 mm (28.0 in) (as modified)
Wheelbase1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight20.1 t (44,000 lb)
Current collectionTrolley pole
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

Y1-class

Interior of Y1 611 at the Sydney Tramway Museum

The Y1-class was a class of four trams built by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board built as a modified version of the Y-class to trial one man operation. Initially used on East and West Preston routes from Collins Street, from 1934 they were transferred to the Toorak line. From 1936 they were used on Burwood services from Camberwell depot. In 1933, 613 was used on Victorian Railways' Sandringham railway station to Black Rock line.[7][8][9]

In 1965, the class was transferred to Glenhuntly depot to avoid running into the city due to a lack of number boxes.[10] Withdrawn in 1965, they were retained as driver training cars at Hawthorn depot with 613 having just been overhauled at Preston Workshops.[11] In late 1990, 611 was briefly used in regular service out of Kew depot.[8]

Preservation

All four have been preserved:

References

  1. ↑ "60 Years of the M&MTB" Trolley Wire issue 186 February 1980 page 14
  2. ↑ Cross, Norman; Budd, Dale; Wilson, Randall (1993). Destination City Melbourne's Electric Trams (5 ed.). Sydney: Transit Publishing Australia. p. 29. ISBN 0 909459 18 5.
  3. ↑ Y Class Archived 10 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine Vicsig
  4. ↑ "Hawthorn Depot Closed" Trolley Wire issue 97 April 1965 page 11
  5. ↑ "Melbourne Tram Notes" Trolley Wire issue 98 June 1965 page 13
  6. ↑ Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board Y Class No 469 Archived 15 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine Melbourne Tram Depot
  7. ↑ "60 Years of the M&MTB" Trolley Wire issue 186 February 1980 page 15
  8. 1 2 Cross, Norman; Budd, Dale; Wilson, Randall (1993). Destination City Melbourne's Electric Trams (5 ed.). Sydney: Transit Publishing Australia. pp. 31, 116. ISBN 0 909459 18 5.
  9. ↑ Y1 Class Vicsig
  10. ↑ "Hawthorn Depot Closed" Trolley Wire issue 97 April 1965 page 11
  11. ↑ "Melbourne Tram Notes" Trolley Wire issue 98 June 1965 page 13
  12. ↑ #610 Four Motor Tram Bendigo Tramways
  13. ↑ Welcome to Melbourne Y1 611 Sydney Tramway Museum
  14. ↑ M&MTB Y1 No 612 Tramway Museum Society of Victoria
  15. ↑ Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board Y1 Class No 613 Hawthorn Tram Depot