Former A class

(A, B, H, J, M & S classes - Single-truck California combination cars)

Nos: A(1-20),B(21-24,84-91),H(54-63),J(64-83), M(107-116,183-189),S(154-171)
Introduced: A: 1910-11, B: 1917-18, H: 1913, J: 1915, M: 1916,18, S: 1916-22
Withdrawn: Sold to State Electricity Commission or scrapped in the late 1920s
Electrics: 2 x 50 hp motors (various), assorted controllers
Size: 9.43/9.73 m x 2.72 m
Seating/Crush load: 36/

The A, H, J and B classes were built for the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust (PMTT), the M class for the Hawthorn Tramways Trust (HTT), and the S class for the Melbourne, Brunswick and Coburg Tramways Trust (MBCTT). The Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board gave them these letter codes when it took over the trusts.

In 1928, these codes were rationalised by the MMTB. The A, B, H, J, M and S classes are all single truck, drop end, open California combination cars, so they were all re-designated A-class. The ride quality on these trams must have been pretty poor - see the comments about No. 185 below.

Preserved (old) A-class trams

• at the Ballarat Vintage Tramway can be found:
  • H63 (originally PMTT-63, at MMTB takeover became H63, in 1928 re-designated A63, in 1931 became Ballarat No. 18), preserved as Ballarat No. 18.
  • J75 (originally PMTT-75, at MMTB takeover became J75, in 1928 became Geelong No. 29, in 1936 became Ballarat No. 14), preserved as Ballarat No. 14.
  • M111 (originally HTT-5, at MMTB takeover became M111, in 1928 re-designated A111, in 1930 became Ballarat No. 26), preserved as Ballarat No. 26.
  • M113 (originally HTT-7, at MMTB takeover became M113, in 1928 re-designated A113, in 1930 became Ballarat No. 28), preserved as Ballarat No. 28.
  • M116 (originally HTT-10, at MMTB takeover became M116, in 1928 re-designated A116, in 1930 became Ballarat No. 27), preserved as Ballarat No. 27.
  • M189 (originally would have been HTT-39 but first ran on the Footscray lines, at MMTB takeover became M189, in 1928 re-designated A189, in 1935 became Ballarat No. 33), preserved as Ballarat No. 33.
• at the Bendigo Tramways can be found:
  • J76 (originally PMTT-76, at MMTB takeover became J76, in 1928 re-designated A76, in 1931 became Ballarat No. 19 in 1931, and in 1960 became Bendigo No. 7), preserved as Bendigo No. 7.
  • B84 (originally PMTT-84, at MMTB takeover became B84, in 1928 re-designated A84, later became Bendigo No. 16), preserved as Bendigo No. 16
  • M185 (originally would have been HTT-35 but first ran on the Footscray lines, at MMTB takeover became M185, in 1928 re-designated A185, in 1935 was sold to the SECV and became Bendigo No. 19), preserved as Bendigo No. 19. Because of its tendency to jump around on (or even jump off) the tracks, and to throw passengers about, the crews refer to this tram as 'Leaping Lily'.
  • M187 (originally would have been HTT-37 but first ran on the Footscray lines, at MMTB takeover became M187, in 1928 re-designated A187, in 1935 was sold to the SECV and became Bendigo No. 20), preserved as Bendigo No. 20
  • M188 (originally would have been HTT-38 but first ran on the Footscray lines, at MMTB takeover became M188, in 1928 re-designated A188, in 1935 was sold to the SECV and became Bendigo No. 21), preserved in HTT colours with 'Footscray Tramways' on the side.
• J71 (originally PMTT-71, at MMTB takeover became J71, in 1928 re-designated A71, in ???? became Geelong No. ??, and in ???? became Ballarat's 2nd No. 12), preserved as ????? at the Sydney Tramway Museum.
• J73 (originally PMTT-73, at MMTB takeover became J73, in 1928 re-designated A73, in ???? became Ballarat No. 17), preserved as Ballarat No. 17 at the Tramway Museum of Victoria
• M114 (originally HTT-8, at MMTB takeover became M114, in 1928 re-designated A114, in 1930 was sold to the SECV and became Bendigo No. 3). It has been restored to its original condition as HTT-8. This tram, which belongs to the Tramway Museum of Victoria, is currently on loan to the Hawthorn Tram Depot. This is a beautiful looking tram, complete with stained glass windows. There is a picture of this tram on David Bromage's Railpage Australia.
• S164 (originally MBCTT-11, at MMTB takeover became S164, in 1928 re-designated A164), preserved as S164. This tram, which belongs to the Tramway Museum of Victoria, is currently on loan to the Hawthorn Tram Depot.
• M184 (originally HTT-34, and was sold to the SECV and became at MMTB takeover became S164, in 1928 re-designated A164, in 1935 sold to the SECV and became Ballarat No. 31), preserved as Ballarat No. 31 at Whiteman Park Tramway Museum

• at the Ballarat Vintage Tramway can be found:
  • J65 (originally PMTT-65, at MMTB takeover became J65, in 1928 became Geelong No. 28, and in 1935 became Ballarat No. 11). Awaiting restoration.
  • J68 (originally PMTT-68, at MMTB takeover became J68, in 1928 became Geelong No. 30, and in 1936 became Ballarat No. 13). Awaiting restoration.
  • M189 (originally would have been HTT-36 but first ran on the Footscray lines, at MMTB takeover became M186, in 1928 re-designated A186, in 1935 became Ballarat No. 32). In storage.
• at the Bendigo Tramways can be found:
  • M107 (originally HTT-1, at MMTB takeover became M107, in 1928 re-designated A107, in 1930 was sold to the SECV and became Bendigo No. 19, and later Bendigo's 2nd No. 12 ??), preserved as Bendigo No. 12.
  • M110 (originally HTT-4, at MMTB takeover became M110, in 1928 re-designated A110, in 1930 was sold to the SECV and became Ballarat No.25, and later Bendigo's 3rd No. 6), preserved as Bendigo No. 6.
• H55 is awaiting restoration at the Tramway Museum of Victoria
• M183 (originally HTT-33, at MMTB takeover became M183, in 1928 re-designated A183, in 1935 was sold to the SECV and became Ballarat No. 30), damaged by fire in a museum in Oregon, USA.

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[14] Thanks to Andrew Cox and the Ballarat Vintage Tramway for these images. Photos taken by Andrew Cox. Used by permission.

[17] Thanks to Russell Jones for information about TMSV trams at Hawthorn.