I am seeking the dimensions of a Glenhuntly Depot Run Number plate:  width and height - hoping someone can help.

Also,  what does the run number GH 33 indicate?

Also,  what is route number 64?  destinations?

Thanks

I am seeking the dimensions of a Glenhuntly Depot Run Number plate:  width and height - hoping someone can help.

Also,  what does the run number GH 33 indicate?

Also,  what is route number 64?  destinations?

Thanks

Anybody???

Can't help you with the dimensions of the Run plates, but each tram that is in service on the road is identified by its individual run number.
The run number is known to the Depot Starter, Fleet controller and driver of the tram. The tram (usually?) keeps the same run number from the time it cars out of the depot till the time it cars in. The driver of the tram has to do his best to keep the tram on schedule to that particular run (keeping in mind traffic and loading conditions and that he has to obey all the road rules and tram driving rules and his duty of care to any person who may be effected by his actions) The table card the driver is doing notes the scheduled times of the particular run or runs he/she will be doing during the shift. That includes the time the tram has to leave the depot, its destination, the time it is scheduled to arrive there and its departure time and its next destination and eventually the time it returns into the depot. It also notes the 3 timing points between the 2 termini. The driver should not pass these timing points ahead of schedule.
Route number 64 indicates that the tram runs between East Brighton and Melbourne University. The route number is the same for trams heading in either direction.

Can't help you with the dimensions of the Run plates, but each tram that is in service on the road is identified by its individual run number.
The run number is known to the Depot Starter, Fleet controller and driver of the tram. The tram (usually?) keeps the same run number from the time it cars out of the depot till the time it cars in. The driver of the tram has to do his best to keep the tram on schedule to that particular run (keeping in mind traffic and loading conditions and that he has to obey all the road rules and tram driving rules and his duty of care to any person who may be effected by his actions) The table card the driver is doing notes the scheduled times of the particular run or runs he/she will be doing during the shift. That includes the time the tram has to leave the depot, its destination, the time it is scheduled to arrive there and its departure time and its next destination and eventually the time it returns into the depot. It also notes the 3 timing points between the 2 termini. The driver should not pass these timing points ahead of schedule.
Route number 64 indicates that the tram runs between East Brighton and Melbourne University. The route number is the same for trams heading in either direction.

Thanks very much - very interesting.  Are the Run Plates still displayed in the current generation of trams?

The run plates were about 8" x 5" Approx. They ceased being used when the Automatic Vehicle Monitoring (AVM) system was introduced. The driver then had the run number displayed on the AVM monitor.
The only time I have noticed run numbers displayed recently is on the Grand Prix shuttle trams. These would be in the form of laminated A4 paper attached to the inside of the windscreen of the trams. Like the metal plates they would note the Prefix of the depot where the tram came from and the run number.

The run plates were about 8" x 5" Approx. They ceased being used when the Automatic Vehicle Monitoring (AVM) system was introduced. The driver then had the run number displayed on the AVM monitor.
The only time I have noticed run numbers displayed recently is on the Grand Prix shuttle trams. These would be in the form of laminated A4 paper attached to the inside of the windscreen of the trams. Like the metal plates they would note the Prefix of the depot where the tram came from and the run number.

I'm pretty certain the run plates still exsisted untill the late 1990s; when the AVM system was first introduced the Met produced a document stating that unless the run card was correctly inserted into the run plate correctly, the AVM system wouldn't work and the tram and/or bus wouldn't be recognised on the system.

E bay has just sold a "run number plate"  P 49

The seller says this is for Preston depot,  does anyone know what the run P 49 number meant,  was it a particular route or jut the schedule as discussed below?

The letter signifies what depot the tram is running from and the number is the run number. P is for Preston.

The letter signifies what depot the tram is running from and the number is the run number. P is for Preston.

Thankyou Watsa,

here is a link to a photo of the item:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Melbourne-Tramways-MMTB-Preston-Depot-Run-number-49-/201108904844?pt=AU_Transportation_Collectables&hash=item2ed3065b8c

1. Where can I find details of what the timetable was for P49?  Going on the info above, P49 signified some sort of timetable

And,

2. if P is Preston depot, is that the same as Preston workshops, is the depot part of the workshops or a separate location?

Why dont you email Yarra Trams and ask them, those plates are old and i dont know if run 49 now is the same as run 49 when those plates were in use.

Why dont you email Yarra Trams and ask them, those plates are old and i dont know if run 49 now is the same as run 49 when those plates were in use.

Thanks for the suggestion and a good idea but I doubt a large commercial concern would be interested in breaking into their archives (which probably don't exist anyway) on the basis of a casual enquiry from a tram fan.

I was hoping an enthusiast out there or retired/current/interested driver/connie may have some more information on it,  whatever it was, the system must have operated for decades and someone might have a rough idea what the schedule/timetable was.

I am thinking it may also have something to do with those green boxes and special keys which used to be operated at strategic locations along the various routes.

Thanks for the suggestion and a good idea but I doubt a large commercial concern would be interested in breaking into their archives (which probably don't exist anyway) on the basis of a casual enquiry from a tram fan.

I was hoping an enthusiast out there or retired/current/interested driver/connie may have some more information on it, whatever it was, the system must have operated for decades and someone might have a rough idea what the schedule/timetable was.

I am thinking it may also have something to do with those green boxes and special keys which used to be operated at strategic locations along the various routes.

The details the Run Numbers would change over the years as the schedule of the running times/frequencies changed.

The green boxes are called Bundy Clocks. The following link explains their purpose.

http://www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/papers/keepingtime.htm

Does Preston Depot still exist?  Is it part of the workshops,  adjacent to the workshops or nearby?

Does Preston Depot still exist? Is it part of the workshops, adjacent to the workshops or nearby?

Now I am no expert but........

There are actually two tram depots in Preston there is one at 211 Plenty rd, this is I think the Plenty depot serving routes 86 112 then there is the large workshops at the corner of St George rd and Dundas st.

woodford

Now I am no expert but........

There are actually two tram depots in Preston there is one at 211 Plenty rd, this is I think the Plenty depot serving routes 86 112 then there is the large workshops at the corner of St George rd and Dundas st.

woodford

refer to following link..http://yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2014/historic-depot-redevelopment-to-drive-a-brighter-tram-future/

Interestingly, the article mentioned in a previous post at
http://www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/papers/keepingtime.htm
gives a list of the depot prefixes used for run numbers. One omission from the list is the Port Melbourne depot (buses), which I think was S (but I am open to be corrected as to this).
The article also states that it was the driver's task to "punch" the bundy clock, whereas the photo shows a conductress. In fact, it's quite possible that the photo is of a bus conductress doing her job (although the clock is attached to a tramway pole, which raises a small doubt in my mind). On the 2 person buses, it was the conductor/conductress's job to "punch" the clock, not the driver's.

The run number shows the line inspector and depot starter where (i.e what routes) and when that particular tram will travel throughout the day. The line inspectors used to carry cards that they looked at to determine if the tram was at the correct time point.

A depot might have up to four different blocks in a normal week. I.e. Sunday, Monday-Thursday, Friday and Saturday and of course public holidays have their own.

A block shows all of the run numbers that will be used in a day and where the tram will be at any given time and what table is operating the tram at that time.

Another function of the run numbers was so that change-over crews knew which tram to take.   Failing this, there would be obvious potential for confusion if trams were running late.
Presumably the AVM system is similar?