Melbourne's tram classification system is based on classes originally devised by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (M&MTB).[1] 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.[1]
The classification system was simplified in 1928[1] (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.[1]
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.[1] With the introduction of Z class trams, the M&MTB started a new numbering system.[1] 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.
| Image | Class | Description | Fleet numbers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1910–1911) for PMTT | 1–20 | ||
| B class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1917–1918) for PMTT | 21–24, 84–91 | ||
| C class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT | 25–35 | ||
| D class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1914) for PMTT | 36 | ||
| E class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1914) for PMTT | 36–45 | ||
| F class | Single truck, straight sill, clerestory-roofed, single aisle summer car, built by Duncan & Fraser (1912) for PMTT | 46–47 | ||
| G class | Single truck, straight sill, single aisle summer car, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT | 48–53 | ||
| H class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1913) for PMTT | 54–63 | ||
| J class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Meadowbank Manufacturing Company (1915) for PMTT | 64–83 | ||
| K class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Moore (1919–1920) for PMTT | 92–100 | ||
| L class | Bogie combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1921) for PMTT | 101–106 | ||
| M class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917) for HTT and FTT | 107–116, 183–189 | ||
| N class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1916) for HTT | 117–126 | ||
| O class | Maximum traction, bogie, straight sill, combination with one drop end, built by Duncan & Fraser (1912) for PMTT | 127–130 | ||
| P class | Maximum traction, bogie, drop end and centre combination, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917–18) for HTT | 131–138 | ||
| Q class | Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by MMTB (1922–1923) | 139–150, 190–201 | ||
| R class | Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by James Moore & Sons (1920) for FNPTT | 151–153 | ||
| R class | Single truck, straight sill, closed combination, built by MMTB (1920) | 172–176 | ||
| S class | Single truck, drop end, open California combination built by Duncan & Fraser (1916–1922) for MBCTT and MMTB | 154–171 | ||
| T class | Single truck, drop end, open combination with long saloon, built by Duncan & Fraser (1917) for MBCTT | 177–182 | ||
| U class | Single truck, saloon, built by Duncan & Fraser (1906) for NMETL | 202–211 | ||
| V class | Single truck, open cross bench, built by Duncan & Fraser (1906) for NMETL | 212–216 | ||
| W class | Bogie drop centre combination, built 1923–1927 by Holden, James Moore & Sons and MMTB | 219–418 | ||
| W1 class | Bogie drop centre combination, built by MMTB (1925–1928) | 419–438, 470–479 | ||
| W2 class | Bogie drop centre combination, built by MMTB and James Moore & Sons (1927–31) | 439–458, 480–609, 624–653 | ||
| W3 class | Bogie drop centre combination, built MMTB (1930–1934) | 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) | 681–685 | ||
| W5 class | Bogie, drop centre combination, built by MMTB (1935–1939) | 720–839 | ||
| SW2 class | Bogie drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1938, 1953, 1955) | 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) [2] | 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) | 850–969 | ||
| PCC class (1950) | Two door bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1950) | 980 | ||
| W6 class | Bogie, drop centre saloon, built by MMTB (1951–1955) | 970–979, 981–1000 | ||
| W7 class | Two door bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1955–1956) | 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)[3] | 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) | 217–218 | ||
| X1 class | Single truck saloon, built by MMTB (1926–1928) | 459–468 | ||
| X2 class | Single truck saloon, built by MMTB (1930) | 674 (later 680), 675–679 | ||
| Y class | Bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1927) | 469 | ||
| Y1 class | Bogie saloon, built by MMTB (1930) | 610–613 | ||
| PCC class (1973) | Prototype two door bogie saloon, last ever tram built by MMTB (1973).[4] [5] Formed the basis of the Z1 class tram design | 1041 | ||
| Z1 class | Two door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1974–1978) | 1–100 | ||
| Z2 class | Two door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1978–1979) | 101–115 | ||
| Z3 class | Three door bogie saloon, built by Comeng (1979–1984) | 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) | 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)[6] | 5103, 5106, 5111, 5113, 5123 | ||
| D1 class | Three section, low floor Combino trams, made by Siemens (2002–2003)[7] | 3501–3538 | ||
| D2 class | Five section, low floor Combino trams, made by Siemens (2003–2004)[8] | 5001–5021 | ||
| E1 class | Three-section, four-bogie articulated trams built by Bombardier Transportation (2013–2017)[9] | 6001–6050 | ||
| E2 class | Three-section, four-bogie articulated trams built by Bombardier Transportation (2017–2021)[10] | 6051–6100 | ||
| Three-section, low floor Flexity 2 trams built by Alstom (2025–) | 7001–7100 |