Tram No. 504

1928 – Body built by the James Moore and Co. of South Melbourne as a W2 class tram. Delivered to the MMTB Preston Workshops where the electrical and mechanical equipment was fitted. Issued to traffic 18/4/1928. Allocated to Essendon Depot.
1929 – Route Number boxes fitted.
1934 – Operating from the Glenhuntly Depot. In the 1950’s and 1960‘s, the tram was based at Essendon, then Kew in the 1970’s.
1942 – Converted from manual lap brake valves to self lapping brake valves.
1962 – The tramcar body and equipment received an “01” overhaul at Preston Workshops. This is a very extensive overhaul.
1973 – Head and Tail lights fitted.
1975 – The tramcar body and equipment received an “02” overhaul at Preston Workshops.
1978 – Painted by Clifton Pugh at the Preston Workshops.
1985 – Shown in a 1985 depot allocation list, as being a Ministry of Arts tram running out of East Preston Depot.
1986 – Withdrawn from service following a minor accident. One saloon body and the end panels replaced around headlight. It had been hoped that Clifton would repaint the damaged section but this did not happen.
1987 – Tram stored at Preston Workshop’s Paint shop undercover and valued by the staff there.
2015 – Tramcar relocated to the Museum’s offsite store during the period the Preston Workshops redevelopment.
2019 – Following consultation with the artist’s family and others, the ownership of the tram was formally transferred to the Museum. Conservation Report for the artwork obtained.