# Melbourne tram classification

Melbourne's tram classification system is based on classes originally devised by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (M&MTB). At first this was largely based on the order in which the original tramway operators had introduced each different type of tramcar between 1906 and 1920.
The classification system was simplified in 1928 (or possibly earlier). All the drop-end combination trams of the B, H, J, M, and S classes were added to A class. The straight sill combination classes F, K, Q, and R, were added to G class. Drop-end-and-centre Maximum traction bogie combination classes D, E, N, and P, were added to C class. Sometimes variations on a design were given extra letters or numerals. For example, W type trams classified as W3, CW5, or SW6. Over the years many of the trams were modified and then reclassified – for example, every one of the original 200 W class trams were converted to W2 class between 1928 and 1933.
Individual tram fleets had been numbered (from 1 upwards) by each of the pre-M&MTB tramway operators, but by 1924 the M&MTB had consolidated the numbering across the combined fleet. With the introduction of Z class trams, the M&MTB started a new numbering system. Tramways in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Sorrento and the Victorian Railways had their own tram numbering systems. Trams which were moved between the systems were renumbered.
There were also many non-passenger trams, such as rail grinders, breakdown cars and freight cars which were not included in the classification system.

## Classes

MMTB Tram Classification and Number :
| Class | Description | Fleet numbers |
| A class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1910–1911) for PMTT$^{:49}$ | 1–20 |
| B class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1917–1918) for PMTT$^{:50}$ | 21–24, 84–91 |
| C class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT$^{:51}$ | 25–35 |
| D class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1914) for PMTT$^{:51}$ | 36 |
| E class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1914) for PMTT$^{:52}$ | 36–45 |
| F class | Single truck, straight sill, clerestory-roofed, single aisle summer car, built by Duncan & Fraser (1912) for PMTT$^{:52}$ | 46–47 |
| G class | Single truck, straight sill, single aisle summer car, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT$^{:53}$ | 48–53 |
| H class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT$^{:54}$ | 54–63 |
| J class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Meadowbank Manufacturing Company (1915) for PMTT$^{:54}$ | 64–83 |
| K class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Moore (1919–1920) for PMTT$^{:55}$ | 92–100 |
| L class | Bogie combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1921) for PMTT$^{:56}$ | 101–106 |
| M class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917) for HTT and FTT$^{:58}$ | 107–116, 183–189 |
| N class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1916) for HTT$^{:59}$ | 117–126 |
| O class | Maximum traction, bogie, straight sill, combination with one drop end, built by Duncan & Fraser (1912) for PMTT$^{:60}$ | 127–130 |
| P class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917–18) for HTT$^{:61}$ | 131–138 |
| Q class | Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by MMTB (1922–1923)$^{:62}$ | 139–150, 190–201 |
| R class | Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1920) for FNPTT$^{:63}$ | 151–153 |
| R class | Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by MMTB (1920)$^{:63}$ | 172–176 |
| S class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination built by Duncan & Fraser (1916–1922) for MBCTT and MMTB$^{:64}$ | 154–171 |
| T class | Single truck, drop end, open combination with long saloon, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917) for MBCTT$^{:65}$ | 177–182 |
| U class | Single truck, saloon, built by Duncan & Fraser (1906) for NMETL$^{:66}$ | 202–211 |
| V class | Single truck, open cross bench, built by Duncan & Fraser (1906) for NMETL$^{:67}$ | 212–216 |
| W class | Bogie drop centre combination, built 1923–1927 by Holden, James Moore & Sons and MMTB$^{:23}$$^{:112}$ | 219–418 |
| W1 class | Bogie drop centre combination, built by MMTB (1925–1928)$^{:25}$ | 419–438, 470–479 |
| W2 class | Bogie drop centre combination, built by MMTB and James Moore & Sons (1927–31)$^{:26}$ | 439–458, 480–609, 624–653 |
| W3 class | Bogie drop centre combination, built MMTB (1930–1934)$^{:32}$ | 654–669 |
| W4 class | Bogie drop centre combination, built MMTB (1933–1935) | 670–674 |
| CW5 class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop centre combination, built MMTB (1934–1935)$^{:38}$ | 681–685 |
| W5 class | Bogie, drop centre combination, built by MMTB (1935–1939)$^{:35}$ | 720–839 |
| SW2 class | Bogie drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1938, 1953, 1955)$^{:37}$ | 275, 426, 432, 436, 478, 644 |
| SW5 class | Bogie, drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1939–1940, 840–849), converted by Metropolitan Transit Authority (1983–1986, all the other tram cars) | 681–682, 721–734, 736–750, 752–755, 757–760, 764–765, 767–770, 773, 775–777, 780–781, 784–791, 793, 796–797, 800, 802, 805–812, 814–816, 818–819, 824, 828–830, 834, 836–838, 840–849 |
| SW6 class | Bogie drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1939–1951)$^{:40}$ | 850–969 |
| PCC class (1950) | Two door bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1950)$^{:42}$ | 980 |
| W6 class | Bogie, drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1951–1955)$^{:43}$ | 970–979, 981–1000 |
| W7 class | Two door bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1955–1956)$^{:42}$ | 1001–1040 |
| W8 class | Bogie drop centre saloon, converted from SW6/W6/W7 trams 946, 959 (2013), 957 (2015), 1010 (2016), 983 (2017), 856, 928, 961 (2019), 888 (2020) | 856, 888, 928, 946, 957, 959, 961, 981, 983, 1010 |
| X class | Single truck saloon safety car, built by JG Brill Company & St Louis Car Company (1923)$^{:22}$ | 217–218 |
| X1 class | Single truck saloon, built by MMTB (1926–1928)$^{:28}$ | 459–468 |
| X2 class | Single truck saloon, built by MMTB (1930)$^{:30}$ | 674 (later 680), 675–679 |
| Y class | Bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1927)$^{:29}$ | 469 |
| Y1 class | Bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1930)$^{:31}$ | 610–613 |
| PCC class (1973) | Prototype two door bogie saloon, last ever tram built by MMTB (1973). Formed the basis of the Z1 class tram design | 1041 |
| Z1 class | Two door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1974–1978)$^{:13}$ | 1–100 |
| Z2 class | Two door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1978–1979)$^{:13}$ | 101–115 |
| Z3 class | Three door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1979–1984)$^{:16}$ | 116–230 |
| A1 class | Three door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1983–1985) | 231–258 |
| A2 class | Three door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1985–1987) | 259–300 |
| B1 class | Articulated saloon, built by Comeng (1984–1985)$^{:19}$ | 2001–2002 |
| B2 class | Articulated saloon, built by Comeng (1987–1994) | 2003–2132 |
| C1 class | Three-section articulated saloon, low floor Alstom Citadis 202 tram(2001–2002) | 3001–3036 |
| C2 class | Five-section articulated saloon, low floor Alstom Citadis 302 trams (2008) | 5103, 5106, 5111, 5113, 5123 |
| D1 class | Three section, low floor Combino trams, made by Siemens (2002–2003) | 3501–3538 |
| D2 class | Five section, low floor Combino trams, made by Siemens (2003–2004) | 5001–5021 |
| E1 class | Three-section, four-bogie articulated trams built by Bombardier Transportation (2013–2017) | 6001–6050 |
| E2 class | Three-section, four-bogie articulated trams built by Bombardier Transportation (2017–2021) | 6051–6100 |
| G class | Three-section, low floor Flexity 2 trams built by Alstom (2025–) | 7001–7100 |