VPRS 7795 Engineer's Department Files

Full description

Series comprises the central filing system of the Engineering Department of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (VA 2694), and after July 1983, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (VA 1044). Individual files contain inward and outward correspondence and other papers pertaining to the various engineering branches and the operation of the department.

The series dates from 1952 when the position of Chief Engineer was re-established by the agency to directly control the work of the several branches. Only a few files contain papers predating 1952. The earliest item identified on a file dates from 1936.

Engineering Department Records 1919 -1952

The position of Chief Engineer previously existed from the time of the Board's inception in 1919 to 1938. During this period the Engineering Department's Correspondence was arranged in a multiple number filing system and items were stamped with the letter E to distinguish them from items in the other central record keeping system of the Board (VPRS 7809 Registered Correspondence Files and Dividers : Multiple Number System 1). Very few files from this sequence are believed to be extant although a small number have been located, see VPRS 8082 Registered Correspondence Files : Engineer's Department.

The position of Chief Engineer did not exist between 1938-1952. In this period the various engineering branches (viz: Rolling Stock, Distribution, Permanent Way, Bus Maintenance and Building) reported directly to the Chairman of the Board and apparently maintained separate filing systems. No files from these systems seem to be extant.

It also appears that the contents of individual files were culled during the 1970's to save storage space. Items culled were thought to have been duplicated within the other record keeping systems of the agency.