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M&MTB SW5 No 739

M&MTB SW5 No 739 at Bylands

No 739 was built in 1935 by the M&MTB Preston Workshops as a W5 class tram, one of 120 tramcars as built, with an additional five tramcars being converted to this type from the CW5 class. The W5 was the final stage in the development of the three door, canvas blind, drop centre Melbourne tramcar of the W5 series. All W type tramcars of subsequent classes were sliding door drop centre cars.

These tramcars were primarily built for the Elizabeth Street and other associated routes operated out of Essendon Depot, as a result of the conversion of the Elizabeth Street cable tram routes. However, they also operated throughout the Melbourne system from a variety of depots.

In 1976 this tramcar was modified by closing off the narrow doorways in the drop centre and general upgrading of the interior, which included the replacement of the wooden drop centre seats with upholstered seats. This was part of a general programme of upgrading W5 class tramcars to improve passenger comfort.

This car was further upgraded in 1986 as part of a program to convert W5 tramcars to SW5 class, which involved a radical rebuild and upgrading of the tramcar to include sliding doors, changed seating arrangements and other interior changes. This was part of a programme which resulted in 83 tramcars being rebuilt to this condition, joining ten tramcars that were originally built as SW5 tramcars during 1939-40 and two mid-1950s conversions from W5 as a result of accident damage. All three series of SW5 class tramcars were substantially different in interior appearance, and to a lesser extent different externally.

No 739 was in a reasonably severe accident late in the 1980s, and received major body work to both ends, being the last SW5 tramcar to receive significant attention to the body before general withdrawal of most of these tramcars.

This car was allocated to Brunswick Depot until it was converted to an SW5 car, when it was allocated to South Melbourne Depot, where it remained until its withdrawal.

This tramcar is one of eight tramcars on loan to the TMSV from the State Government. The transfer occurred on withdrawal in 1993. It is planned to retain this tramcar in its final condition as a mid-1980s SW5 rebuild, with Metropolitan Transit green and gold livery.