The Cable Tram

Cable trams came in sets or 'trains' - the open 'dummy' at the front and the closed car behind. The dummy contained the 'grip' mechanism which attached or detached the tram set from the moving cable below the road. Melbourne's first tram cars were imported from New York but all later rolling stock was built at the company's workshop at Nicholson Street, North Fitzroy.

The trams were small and light. The cars weighed 2.5 tons (2.54 tonnes), with room for 22 passengers seated inside and licensed to carry 34 standing. The dummies were a little heavier. They had seating for 20 and were licensed to carry 22 standing. Services were frequent, coming as often as at two minute intervals on the busiest lines at the busiest times.

Conductors collected fares using a bell punch. Fares paid were recorded not by issuing tickets to passengers but by punching a small hole in the long cardboard trip slips the conductor pinned to his uniform. At the end of the day, the 'confetti' collected in the punch was counted to balance with the amount of money taken.