L class tram No. 103 was built in 1921 by James Moore & Sons Pty Ltd as one of six trams numbered 101 to 106. The L Class were ordered by the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust in 1919, but were not delivered until after the formation of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board.
When built, the L Class dropcentre section differed in that it had four doorway openings, similar to the Adelaide F and F1 Type trams. The dropcentre sections were rebuilt during the early 1930’s to resemble the layout of the W2 Class trams, with the dropcentre floor also being raised slightly during the mid 1940’s to equalise the step heights into the tram.
This tram is currently on loan to the Ballarat Tramway Museum and can be viewed by visiting the museum in the Lake Wendouree gardens.
-
MUSEUM STATUS
Operational vehicle, general use in museum service.
History
1919 – Ordered by the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust
5/1921 – Built and entered service with the MMTB
2/1931 – painted in MMTB green and cream colour scheme
3/1934 – conversion to three doors from a four-door layout to match those of the W2 class trams
8/1939 – route number boxes fitted
2/1952 – Lined ceiling fitted
5/1982 – sold to the Melbourne Tramcar Preservation Association without motors and a compressor
12/2002 – MV101 Motors fitted to the Brill 77E trucks and a DH16 compressor installed.
3/2008 – Restoration work complete and a COTMA Achievement award attained.
10/2023 – Loaned to the Ballarat Tramway Museum
Historical Significance
-
HISTORIC
L 103 was acquired by the Association on the 26 May 1982 after having run a total of 1,793,116 miles in service in Melbourne.
When acquired from Melbourne, the GE247 motors and the DH 16 compressor were retained by the MMTB as spares for the W series trams in its fleet. The Association set about modifying the Brill 77E trucks to accommodate MV101A/AN motors from W2 class tram 222, and also sourced a DH16 compressor allowing L 103 to become mobile again in December 2002.
Restoration works on L 103 were completed in March 2008, with 103 being returned to its late 1950’s/early 1960’s appearance featuring green window pillars, gold pinstriping, numbers to the sides of the headlights, and numbers and logos on the saloon panels.
The restoration work undertaken on 103 was recognised by our peers, with COTMA awarding 103 an Achievement Award at its 2008 Conference in Launceston.
-
TECHNICAL
One of a small group of MMTB trams that used the Brill 77E type bogie.
-
PROVENANCE
Known in detail, full service records held.
-
SOCIAL
Allocated to Glen Huntly depot for most of its working life.
-
RARITY
The only one of the six strong L class trams currently (2026) in operable condition.
-
condition integrity
Remains in operable condition.
-
interpretive potential
Depicts a tram design that preceded the MMTB W-class trams, featuring more costly but decorative curved body sides.
-
conservation plan
Retain the MMTB colour scheme of the 1960s appearance.
Technical Details
-
TYPE
Equal wheel four motor bogie
-
TRUCK (BOGIE)
Brill 77E
-
WHEEL SIZE
28" solid disc wheels
-
LENGTH
13.87 metres (45'6")
-
WIDTH
2.78 metres (9ft, 1.5in)
-
BOGIE CENTRES
7.47 mertres (24'6")
-
APPROXIMATE MASS
17.85 tonnes (17.5 tons)
-
motors
4 x 30 kW (40HP) Metropolitan Vickers MV101A/AN
-
controllers
General Electric K35AA2
-
brake valves
Westinghouse Type “W” Self Lapping
-
compressor
Westinghouse DH 16
-
compressor governor
General Electric Type ML
-
Line Breaker
General Electric Type D.B. 276
-
passenger capacity
48 seated
