VPRS 7795 Engineer's Department Files

Series comprises the central filing system of the Engineering Department of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (VA 2694), and after July 1983, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (VA 1044). Individual files contain inward and outward correspondence and other papers pertaining to the various engineering branches and the operation of the department.The series dates from 1952 when the position of Chief Engineer was re-established by the agency to directly control the work of the several branches. Only a few files contain papers predating 1952. The earliest item identified on a file dates from 1936.Engineering Department Records 1919 -1952The position of Chief Engineer previously existed from the time of the Board's inception in 1919 to 1938. During this period the Engineering Department's Correspondence was arranged in a multiple number filing system and items were stamped with the letter E to distinguish them from items in the other central record keeping system of the Board (VPRS 7809 Registered Correspondence Files and Dividers : Multiple Number System 1). Very few files from this sequence are believed to be extant although a small number have been located, see VPRS 8082 Registered Correspondence Files : Engineer's Department.The position of Chief Engineer did not exist between 1938-1952. In this period the various engineering branches (viz: Rolling Stock, Distribution, Permanent Way, Bus Maintenance and Building) reported directly to the Chairman of the Board and apparently maintained separate filing systems. No files from these systems seem to be extant.It also appears that the contents of individual files were culled during the 1970's to save storage space. Items culled were thought to have been duplicated within the other record keeping systems of the agency.

本系列档案为墨尔本及都市有轨电车委员会（Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board，VA 2694）工程部的核心归档系统藏品，1983年7月起并入都市交通局（Metropolitan Transit Authority，VA 1044）的归档体系。单份档案包含往来函件及与各工程分支、部门运营相关的其他文件。
本系列档案的时间跨度始于1952年，当年该机构重新设立总工程师职位，以直接统筹各分支的工作。仅少量档案包含1952年之前的文件，目前已确认的单份档案最早可追溯至1936年。
工程部档案（1919年—1952年）
总工程师一职最早设立于1919年委员会成立之时，直至1938年。此阶段工程部的往来函件采用多编号归档系统，文件均加盖字母"E"印章，以与委员会其他核心档案系统（VPRS 7809 注册函件档案及分隔页：多编号系统1）相区分。目前该序列留存的档案极少，仅发现少量，详见VPRS 8082 注册函件档案：工程部档案。
1938年至1952年间，总工程师职位被撤销。此阶段各工程分支（即：轨道车辆、配电、线路工程、巴士维保及建筑部门）直接向委员会主席汇报工作，且各自维护独立的归档系统。目前未发现该时期的任何档案留存。
此外，1970年代为节省存储空间，曾对单份档案的内容进行精简剔除。被剔除的文件被认为在机构其他档案系统中存有副本。