The L-class was a class of six trams ordered from James Moore & Sons by the
Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust
The Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust (PMTT) was a former tram operator in Melbourne, Australia. The trust was formed in 1907, with its first line operating in 1910. Its functions were taken over by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board in ...
(PMTT). However, by the time they were delivered in 1921, the PMTT had been taken over by the
Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board
The Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) was a government-owned authority that was responsible for the tram network in Melbourne, Australia between 1919 and 1983, when it was merged into the Metropolitan Transit Authority. It had be ...
(MMTB).
In 1934 they were modified with the four narrow doors replaced with two wider doors, and new drivers cabins fitted. When introduced they were considered too fast and re-geared. The ratios were restored in the early 1950s, with the
W-class having replaced many of the older trams. They were withdrawn from regular service in 1969, but remained available as backups until the early 1980s.
[
Two (104 and 106) were overhauled in 1981 for use on a Sundays only service from Elizabeth Street to ]Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Zoo is a zoo in Melbourne, Australia. It is located within Royal Park in Parkville, approximately north of the centre of Melbourne. It is the primary zoo serving Melbourne. The zoo contains more than 320 animal species from Aust ...
being based at Essendon depot. To allow for new Z-class trams to reuse the numbers, 104 and 106 were renumbered 1104 and 1106 on paper, although continued to display their original numbers. In 1982, both were repainted in MMTB chocolate and cream for use in the film ''Squizzy Taylor
Joseph Theodore Leslie "Squizzy" Taylor (29 June 1888 – 27 October 1927) was an Australian gangster from Melbourne. He appeared repeatedly and sometimes prominently in Melbourne news media because of suspicions, formal accusations and some co ...
''.[
]
Preservation
Four have been preserved:
*101 by the Tramway Museum Society of Victoria
The Tramway Museum Society of Victoria Incorporated (TMSV) owns a large collection of trams from Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong, Adelaide, and Sydney as well as preserved buses and other work vehicles. History
The TMSV was founded in 1962 with ...
*103 by the Melbourne Tramcar Preservation Association
*104 as part of the VicTrack
VicTrack, the trading name of Victorian Rail Track Corporation, is a Victorian Government state-owned enterprise which owns all railway and tram lines, associated rail lands and other rail-related infrastructure in the state of Victoria, Austr ...
heritage fleet at Hawthorn
Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to:
Plants
* '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae
* ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...
*106 as part of the VicTrack heritage fleet at HawthornMelbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board L Class No 106
Hawthorn Tram Depot
References
{{MelbourneTramNavbox, state=collapsed
Melbourne tram vehicles
600 V DC multiple units