Yarra Trams - Melbourne CBD and Docklands
December 10, 2018
Melbourne trams around the CBD and Docklands areas.
Melbourne tram bits and pieces
December 06, 2018
Photos of bits and pieces on and around Melbourne's trams
Yarra Trams tram replacement buses
December 03, 2018
When tracks replacing, or trams get blocked by road accidents, Yarra Trams has to call in the replacement buses
Yarra Trams - Melbourne's northern suburbs
November 21, 2018
Melbourne trams in the northern suburbs: routes 1, 8, 19, 96, 112 and 86 operated from the Brunswick and East Preston Depots.
Yarra Trams - Melbourne's north-western suburbs
November 18, 2018
Melbourne trams in the north-western suburbs: routes 55, 57, 59 and 82 operated from Essendon Depot.
Yarra Trams - diverted and out of place
November 18, 2018
Usually Melbourne's trams stick to a home depot and set of usual routes, but when disruptions occur, trams can be sent along alternate routes in order to maintain a limited service.
Melbourne tram tracks
November 18, 2018
Tram tracks, pointwork, junctions, signals and so on from around the Melbourne tram network.
Yarra Trams road fleet
November 15, 2018
Yarra Trams operates a variety of cars and trucks to support the operation of Melbourne's tramway network.
Melbourne tram stops
November 08, 2018
Tram stops around Melbourne fall into three groups: platform stops, safety zones, and signs beside the road.
Motorists delaying trams
November 08, 2018
Wherever you go in Melbourne you are certain to find some moron who doesn't know how to drive, either queuing through an intersection or overhanging a tram lane, resulting in delays to dozens of tram passengers.
Yarra Trams - Melbourne's southern suburbs
October 29, 2018
Melbourne trams in the southern suburbs: routes 1, 96, 109 and 112.
Melbourne tramway traction substations
September 21, 2018
As of 2009 there were 41 traction substations scattered around Melbourne, converting the AC mains power to the 600 V DC required by trams. (a different source in 2008 put it as 46)
Melbourne tramway squares
August 26, 2018
Melbourne has four 'tramway squares' where 1500 V DC powered trains cross the tracks of 600 V DC powered trams on the level. They are located at Glenhuntly, Riversdale, Kooyong and Gardiner stations
Yarra Trams - Melbourne's eastern suburbs
July 21, 2018
Melbourne trams in the eastern suburbs: routes 48, 70, 75 and 109 operated from Kew and Camberwell depots
Yarra Trams missed a turn
May 05, 2018
This southbound route 96 tram missed the turn from Spring Street into Bourke Street, so Yarra Trams staff directed it 'bang road' back to the points to try again.
Melbourne tram depots
January 05, 2018
Trams on the Melbourne network are based out of eight depots: Brunswick, Camberwell, Essendon, Glenhuntly, Kew, Malvern, Preston and Southbank. Additional storage is available at the former North Fitzroy and Hawthorn depots, as well as the Preston Workshops.
Melbourne tram termini
January 05, 2018
Melbourne's tram network consists of 29 regular routes, and quite a number of regular termini!
Tram infrastructure of Melbourne
December 10, 2017
Bits and pieces of tramway infrastructure from around the Yarra Trams network in Melbourne
Melbourne Art Trams 2017
November 17, 2017
As part of the 2017 Melbourne Festival eight trams have been decorated in designs by eight Melbourne artists: https://www.festival.melbourne/2017/events/melbourne-art-trams/
Preston Workshops
May 24, 2017
On the corner of St George's Road and Miller Street it was once the main workshops of the M&MTB. Nowdays it seems to be just a dumping ground for W class trams.
Accident damaged SW6.866, May 2017
May 24, 2017
On 24 May 2017 a truck collided with tram SW6.866 at the corner of Flinders and Spencer Street.
Yarra Trams - Anzac Day diversions
April 25, 2017
Every Anzac Day special tram services on routes 57, 59 and 19 from the northern suburbs run to the Shine of Remembrance on St Kilda Road via the little used section of track on Victoria Street between Elizabeth and Swanston Streets. In addition, routes 3a, 64 & 67 from the southern suburbs are diverted via Park Street, Kings Way and William Street to the Dudley Street sidings, due to the closure of St Kilda Road and Swanston Street.
'A Tram to the Park' tour, March 2017
March 19, 2017
On 19 March 2017 tram A2.300 lead the 'A Tram to the Park' tour across Melbourne.
Yarra Trams - tennis specials
January 24, 2017
Every year for Australian Open patrons Yarra Trams operates additional trams between Melbourne Park and Flinders Street, with also results in routes 70 and 75 getting cut back to much smaller A class trams
E class tram testing and first day
March 22, 2016
The E class tram are three-section, four-bogie articulated trams built by Bombardier. The first two trams spent a number of months in testing around the Melbourne tram network, before they entered service on Monday November 04, 2013.
B1 tram farewell tour, January 2016
January 30, 2016
On January 30, 2016 tram B1.2001 travelled the Melbourne tram network as part of a farewell tour for the B1 class of trams.
Melbourne Tram Museum at Hawthorn Depot
January 30, 2016
Housed in the former Hawthorn Tram Depot, the Melbourne Tram Museum features a collection of 20 heritage tramcars and related tramway memorabilia
Z class 'Ruby Jubilee' tour
November 14, 2015
On November 14, 2015 trams Z1.22 and Z2.101 travelled around Melbourne to celebrate 40 years of Z class trams in Melbourne. The tour commenced at Malvern Depot and visited St Kilda Road, Brunswick Depot, West Maribyrnong, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne Docklands, and a lunch break at Hawthorn Depot. Followed by travel to East Preston, Preston Depot, St Kilda, East Malvern, then returning to Malvern Depot.
Melbourne tram sidings
November 14, 2015
Around the Melbourne tram network are a small number of sidings that lie off the main running lines, usually used to store trams before and after special events.
Trams stalled on section insulator
November 05, 2015
The network of overhead wires used to power trams are divided into multiple electrical sections, so that faults can be isolated and maintenance work completed in safety. However if a tram stops with the pantograph resting in the middle of a section insulator, getting the tram moving again is hard work!
Kew Depot centenary
June 25, 2015
Kew Depot celebrated its centenary on 3 May 2015. W2.431 was on display after being transported by road from the Melbourne Tram Museum at Hawthorn Depot, with W8.946 running shuttle trips to Victoria Gardens, restaurant tram SW6.935 was open for morning tea, with E.6005, C.3031 and A2.283 on display.
Tram Bar at the Arts Centre Melbourne
February 05, 2015
In 2011 retired tram SW6.969 was converted into a bar and setup at the Arts Centre in Melbourne, being removed a number of times, only to return again come summer. In February 2013 it appeared again as 'Tram Bar', which closed for good in January 2015.
Melbourne Art Trams 2014
November 14, 2014
As part of the 2014 Melbourne Festival eight trams have been decorated in designs by eight Melbourne artists: http://2014.festival.melbourne/connect/artist-statements/
Unsafe 'safety' zone in Ascot Vale
October 14, 2014
Located on Epsom Road at Flemington Drive in Ascot Vale, stop 30 on route 57 seems to get wiped out by dimwitted drivers a few times a year. Southbound traffic is required to slew sideways to avoid a right turn lane, which seems to be too hard for some drivers, who plow straight into the safety zone fence.
Yarra Trams - Flemington Racecourse and Melbourne Showgrounds specials
October 01, 2014
Yarra Trams operates additional tram services for major events at Flemington Racecourse and the Melbourne Showgrounds.
Remnants of the Melbourne cable tramways
August 06, 2014
Engine houses, tram depots, and other pits and pieces remaining of Melbourne's once extensive cable tramway network. The last Melbourne cable tram ceased running on 26th October 1940.
Melbourne Art Trams 2013
December 24, 2013
As part of the 2013 Melbourne Festival eight trams have been decorated in designs by eight Melbourne artists: http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2013/exploring-melbourne%27s-art-trams/
W8 class tram trials
October 21, 2013
In 2013 work the first two refurbished W class trams arrived in Melbourne - W8.946 and W8.959. Fitted with modernised traction, braking and suspension systems, the trams form a new class - W8.
Rescuing a failed D2 class tram, October 2012
October 07, 2013
D2.2009 failed somewhere on the route 986, so classmate D2.5020 was sent out on a rescue mission to drag the tram home to Southbank Depot.
Wild winds delay Ascot Vale trams, October 2013
October 01, 2013
On the night of September 30 strong winds blew the roof from an apartment block in Maribyrnong Road in Ascot Vale, blocking trams on routes 57 and 82 until the wreckage was removed.
Derailed tram on Elizabeth Street, May 2013
May 23, 2013
On May 18, 2013 tram works were underway on Elizabeth Street in the Melbourne CBD, with a temporary crossover in used just north of La Trobe Street. Z3.229 was headed south over the crossover when the trailing bogie derailed, leaving the tram skewed across the tracks. Once the tram was rerailed the crossover stayed out of use for the rest of the day, while the bolts holding it down were adjusted.
Collins Street power failure, January 2013
January 30, 2013
Power went out in the section due to a truck taking out the overhead at Collins and King Street, with recovery vehicle R10 needing to rescue the stranded trams
Keep clear of the tram tracks- October 2012
October 25, 2012
Where trams turn corners, there are yellow lines painted along the road so that cars know to keep clear. This bloke at the corner of Victoria and Errol Streets in North Melbourne didn't pay attention to them, which resulted in Z3.205 ripping off the rear quarter panel off his van.
TMSV - Footscray tour 2012
March 24, 2012
On March 24, 2012 the Tramway Museum Society Of Victoria chartered Z3.185 in the Royal Tram livery to run a tram to commemorate the closure of the Footscray tramways.
The route was Brunswick Depot > Lygon Street > Franklin Street > Victoria Street > Royal Park > Showgrounds Loop > Footscray > Moonee Ponds > West Maribyrnong > Ascot Vale > Haymarket > Flagstaff Station > Footscray Road > Melbourne Central Station > Franklin Street > Victoria Street> Sydney Road > Brunswick Depot.
Tram vs car on Nicholson Street, February 2012
February 08, 2012
On February 8, 2012 a Mercedes headed southbound on Nicholson Street near Elgin Street managed to find it's way onto the tram tracks, with D2.5009 bashing in the entire drivers side of the car. More details at the Herald Sun - "Man, 60, in hospital after car-tram crash"
Rescuing a failed D2 class tram, September 2012
September 25, 2011
On September 24, 2011 D2.5002 damaged it's pantograph at Showgrounds Loop, with D2.5017 being sent out to rescue it. After the pantograph couldn't be tied down low enough, the mechanics cut it off with an angle grinder.
Malvern tram depot centenary
May 30, 2010
Malvern Depot celebrated its centenary on 30 May 2010 when it hosted a function to commemorate the opening of the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust on 30 May 1910. Former P&MTT trams 44 and 84 were brought from Bendigo for the occasion with 44 running several special trips between the depot and Dandenong Road.
Yarra Trams - Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs
Melbourne trams in the south-eastern suburbs: routes 3, 5, 6, 8, 64, 67, 78 and 79 operated from the Malvern and Glenhuntly Depots along St Kilda Road.
Yarra Trams - Grand Prix specials
Each year for the Australian Grand Prix special trams are operated by Yarra Trams from the Melbourne CBD to the circuit at Albert Park.
Stored trams at Newport Workshops
With W class trams heritage listed and unable to be scrapped or exported to tram museums overseas, Newport Workshops has become a dumping ground while they wait a final home.