VPRS 12905 Photographic Collection: Prints: Railways

Full description

This series consists of photographic prints created by the agencies responsible for managing the Victorian railways. It encompasses black and white prints, some of which have been mounted on index cards or cardboard. Images depicted in this series include trains, rolling stock, stations, publicity pictures and other railway facilities.

Between c 1990 and June 2000, all of the items in this series were maintained within a Photographic Collection that had been established by the Public Transport Corporation. This series is one of a number of series that have been created following transfer of the Photographic Collection to PROV.

This particular series brings together a number of sequences of prints that were created to identify the negative containing the original image. Most of these sequences, however, contain prints from a number of different negative series. It would appear that, unlike the negatives which were maintained in their original order, the corresponding prints were intersorted into broader sequences. Consequently it has been decided to register all of the railway prints within a single archival series with each sequence of prints organised into separate consignments.

PRINTS AVAILABLE FOR ORDERING VIA THIS WEBSITE

The specific print sequences and the consignments in which these have been processed and which can be ordered online are:

Index Prints (refer to consignment P00001)

This sequence consists of small photographic prints arranged by the subject of image. These were originally stored in drawers in a sequence of metal cabinets or folders; each drawer or folder usually contained the prints for a nominated subject category. PROV has attempted to recreate this arrangement when possible by placing the prints from within a drawer into one unit (i.e a box) and has retained the folders as units.

This sequence contains prints from a mixture of negative sequences. The majority of prints are from three alpha-numeric negative sequences; PR (Public Relations - created between 1965-1976), PRC (Public Relations Colour (1965-1976) and M (Miscellaneous 1946-1967). Smaller numbers of prints come from the CN (colour Negative 1959-1969), CNF (Colour Negative Feature 1962-1971), F (thought to also be Miscellaneous 1949-1970) sequences as well as photographs from an annual single number sequence created between 1969-1986. A very small number of prints originate from the H (or Historical sequence - all available on-line) and from a sequence controlled by box numbers prefaced by the letter A created between 1953-1968.

Prints either stand alone or pasted to index cards; identifying information is written on the reverse of the print or on the card. The word "index" is superimposed across the PR & PRC prints.

Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Construction (refer to consignment P0002)

This sequence consists of colour prints pertaining to all phases of the construction of the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop. Prints show the opening of the project (ie first diggings), construction of most aspects of the loop including site works, tunnels, stations and shafts, visits and inspections, portraits of Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Authority members and photos taken for various reports. Originally found within a sequence of seriously overpacked metal drawers, these were arranged mostly according to the construction zones (known as areas) established for the project with some additional headings and a miscellaneous classification. It is unclear whether this was the original arrangement. There appears to be no evidence of an order within subject categories and there is a high probability of mis-sorting. The negative number and a description are written on the reverse of most prints.

Index Print Cards (refer to consignment P0003)

This consignment consists of prints mounted on thick cardboard backing. It is possible that these cards were maintained by the Advertising Division of Victorian Railways. Again, prints are from a number of other Railways negative sequences. A significant number are from the H (Historical) sequence with others from the RS (or Rolling Stock ? - 1969) and another box number sequence created between c1920 - c1980. (These are identified by the prefix "P.C Box" or "Box" written on the card,) This consignment also contains prints from the P (Publicity, also known as Scenic) sequence. The negatives for the P sequence were transferred to the State Library of Victoria prior to the establishment of Public Record Office Victoria.

The subjects of prints include trains, carriages and rail travel locations inside and outside Victoria. These cards were originally stored within a minimum of two, three drawer cabinets and were divided within drawers by divider cards that indicated the subject. A number of divider cards were found without prints and it is assumed the prints were either lost or redistributed within other categories. (These dividers have been placed in the final unit of the consignment and are listed on the website.) Index sheets found within the drawers were removed as there did not seem to a direct relationship between these and the images in the drawers.

Individual cards were numbered both as part of the original system and within the Photo Collection; the latter saw approx 60% of cards numbered in a sequence from 1 - 1283 irrespective of the category. This was seemingly done to ensure that the cards could not be placed out of sequence within the drawers. The remaining cards were not numbered. Cards include negative number or numbers (in the case of two numbers one is the original negative and the other is a copy negative located in another negative sequence). Most have a complete or partial description on the reverse.