VPRS 21036 Tramcar Fleet Plans

This series comprises the plans used to construct and maintain Melbourne's tramcar fleet. The plans were mostly created by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB – VA 2694) and its predecessor tramways. Prints from these plans were typically used by tradespeople to construct parts and assemble and maintain the trams. The plans in the series are a combination of linen tracings, prints and pencil drawings on tracing paper. Drawings were initially prepared in pencil on tracing paper. An inked copy on linen was then traced from the pencil drawing. The pencil copy was then usually destroyed, but some survived if they were not subsequently traced in ink. The linen tracings are the primary copies of the drawings which were intended for permanent retention. Prints were typically taken from these primary copies as needed and distributed as required for internal business purposes. The linen tracings were amended as design alterations were made and then updated prints were taken. The linen tracings consequently usually represent the final version of the drawing, which may have changed in either subtle or major ways from when they were originally prepared. These plans were held at the Preston Tramway workshops until closure, after which when they were donated to the Melbourne Tram Museum at Hawthorn, before being transferred to PROV.