# Preston Workshops

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{{Short description|Tram depot/workshops in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox tram depot
| title = 
| image = File:Entrance_to_New_Preston_Tram_Depot.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| image_alt = Preston tram depot in 2018
| caption = Miller Street entrance, March 2018
| location = Miller Street, [Preston](/source/Preston%2C_Victoria)
| opened = 1926
| owner = [VicTrack](/source/VicTrack)
| operator = [Yarra Trams](/source/Yarra_Trams)
| roads = 
| rollingstock = 48 [E Class](/source/E-class_Melbourne_tram)<br>24 [E2 Class](/source/E-class_Melbourne_tram)
| routes = [11](/source/Melbourne_tram_route_11), [86](/source/Melbourne_tram_route_86)
}}

'''Preston Workshops''' is the heavy maintenance facility for the [Melbourne tram network](/source/Trams_in_Melbourne). The workshop is located on a block surrounded by Miller Street, [St Georges Road](/source/St_Georges_Road), Oakover Road and the [Mernda railway line](/source/Mernda_railway_line) in [Preston](/source/Preston%2C_Victoria), a suburb in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne), [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(state)), [Australia](/source/Australia). Following a major redevelopment in April 2016, it also became an operational depot under the name '''New Preston Depot''', taking over from [East Preston](/source/East_Preston_tram_depot).

==History==
[[File:Z3.168PrestonWorkshops.jpg|thumb|[Z3](/source/Z-class_Melbourne_tram) 168 at Preston Workshops, August 2007]]
The Preston Workshops were erected by the [Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board](/source/Melbourne_%26_Metropolitan_Tramways_Board) (MMTB) in 1924-26, to provide manufacturing and maintenance facilities for Melbourne's trams in conjunction with the introduction and production of the [W class trams](/source/W-class_Melbourne_tram).

The earlier tram maintenance workshops were located on the corner of Holden Street and [St Georges Road](/source/St_Georges_Road), [Fitzroy](/source/Fitzroy%2C_Victoria), where today only a tramways substation remains, following demolition and sale in 1937.<ref>K S. Kings ‘50 years of the M&MTB’ ''[Running Journal](/source/Running_Journal)'' volume 6 no 3 December 1969</ref>

In the mid-1920s, the MMTB sought a suitable place to build its own tramcars, having previously manufactured the steel chassis and truck frames at the Cable Repair Workshops at [Nicholson Street](/source/Nicholson_Street), [Fitzroy North](/source/Fitzroy_North), built the wooden bodywork in temporary sheds behind the Fitzroy cable car shed, done painting and varnishing at Preston and [Glenhuntly](/source/Glenhuntly_tram_depot) depots, and let tenders to private companies for completed bodies. The running maintenance and overhaul was conducted at workshops attached to the [Malvern](/source/Malvern_tram_depot), [Hawthorn](/source/Hawthorn_tram_depot), Coburg and [Essendon](/source/Essendon_tram_depot) depots.<ref name=Vines2010>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/heritage/publications-and-research/thematic-and-typological-studies/tram-heritage-study |title=Vines, G. 2010 ''Melbourne Tramway Heritage Study'', report to Heritage Victoria |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501135113/http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/heritage/publications-and-research/thematic-and-typological-studies/tram-heritage-study |archive-date=1 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A single comprehensive workshop was desperately needed, and a site was ultimately chosen opposite Thornbury depot on St Georges Road adjacent to the Miller Street line, covering 17 acres. Tenders were let progressively for each building - the paint and car erecting shops and first traverser completed early in 1925; the main store and sub-station in 1925/26; the large truck, wheel, machine, fitting and electrical shops and second traverser to the car shop in late 1926; the timber storage racks, office block, blacksmiths and plate shops, foundry and pattern shop in the next few months; and finally the mess hall and amenities.<ref name=Vines2010/>

Preston became the most modern tramway workshop in Australia and took over the maintenance, overhaul and new construction tasks for the whole system. W-class cars were built to replace cable trams for the cable conversions, and subsequently W1 and W2 types were built at the workshops.<ref name=Vines2010/>

A distinctive workplace culture grew up around the workshops, evident in the oral traditions and characters of the workshops, such as Norm Cross, who may have been the inspiration for [Malcolm](/source/Malcolm_(film)) in the film of the same name by [Nadia Tass](/source/Nadia_Tass).<ref>[http://www.kitezh.com/trams/preston.htm Kevin Murray, “Preston Tram Workshops, Life after Malcolm, Atlantis Found in Preston,”]</ref>

The [Tudor style](/source/Tudor_Revival_architecture) “Melbourne Room” which provided a ballroom, theatre, concert and lecture hall for tram events, still features the gaily decorated stage that hosted 3DB's ''Lunchtime Funtime'' with [Bill Collins](/source/Bill_Collins_(television_presenter)).<ref name=Vines2010/>

In the 1990s, part of the works was leased to [A Goninan & Co](/source/UGL_Rail) to refurbish [Z1 and Z2 class trams](/source/Z-class_Melbourne_tram) as well as fit out light rail vehicles for the [Hong Kong Light Rail](/source/Light_Rail_(MTR)) system.<ref>"Other Melbourne News" ''[Trolley Wire](/source/Trolley_Wire)'' issue 269 May 1997 page 21</ref><ref>"Z Series Cars - Overhauls & Modifications" ''Trolley Wire'' issue 273 May 1998 page 16</ref>

In 2014, a project commenced to revitalise the workshop. The heavy maintenance facility was reconfigured, a new servicing facility for the [E-class trams](/source/E-class_Melbourne_tram) built and seven kilometres of track relaid. It was officially reopened in 17 April 2016 as New Preston Depot, replacing [East Preston](/source/East_Preston_tram_depot).<ref>[http://ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/trams/tram-procurement-program/ New Preston depot] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513161451/http://ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/trams/tram-procurement-program/ |date=13 May 2013 }} Public Transport Victoria</ref><ref>[http://www.colemanrail.com.au/index.php/component/k2/item/50-coleman-rail-awarded-preston-tram-workshops-redevelopment Coleman Rail Awarded Preston Tram Workshops Redevelopment] Coleman Rail</ref><ref>"Tender awarded for Preston Tram Depot redevelopment" ''[Railway Digest](/source/Railway_Digest)'' August 2014 page 25</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2016/past-meets-future-at-new-home-of-e-class-trams/ | title=Past meets future at new home of E-Class trams |date=18 April 2016 |website=Yarra Trams |access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref>

==Rolling stock==
As of May 2024, the depot has an allocation of 72 trams: 48 [E1-Class](/source/E-class_Melbourne_tram) and 24 [E2-Class](/source/E-class_Melbourne_tram).<ref>[http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams&depot=preston Preston Depot] Vicsig</ref>

==Routes==
The following routes are operated from Preston depot:
*{{ric|Yarra Trams|11}}: [West Preston](/source/Preston%2C_Victoria) to [Victoria Harbour Docklands](/source/Melbourne_Docklands)<ref>[http://www.yarratrams.com.au/using-trams/route-guides/route-11/ Route 11] Yarra Trams</ref> 
*{{ric|Yarra Trams|86}}: [Bundoora RMIT](/source/RMIT_University) to [Waterfront City Docklands](/source/Melbourne_Docklands)<ref>[http://www.yarratrams.com.au/using-trams/route-guides/route-86 Route 86] Yarra Trams</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.onmydoorstep.com.au/heritage-listing/12621/preston-tramway-workshops Heritage Listing]
*[http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/melbourne-trams-step-aboard/12945/recollections-and-images-of-the-preston-workshop/ Culture Victoria, Oral history interview]
*[http://www.railpage.com.au/modules.php?set_albumName=album52&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php Railpage Tram Photo Gallery]

{{MelbourneTramNavbox|state=collapsed}}

Category:Railway workshops in Victoria (state)
Category:Tram depots in Melbourne
Category:Transport infrastructure completed in 1926
Category:1926 establishments in Australia
Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Darebin
Category:Heritage-listed buildings in Melbourne
Category:Transport in the City of Darebin

{{coord|-37.750901|144.99728|dim:2000_region:AU|display=title}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Preston Workshops](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Workshops) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Workshops?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.