The slides attributed to the TMSV and being shared on TDU are generally of excellent quality and portray an era that many of the older enthusiasts possibly took for granted.

I wonder who the original photographer was? Perhaps Rodney Hudson (1943-2015)?

The pictures recently shared on here show mostly show trams “at work” rather than standard three quarter “record shots”. The incredibly well composed picture of W2 650 on route 1 is an excellent example.

In those days, and we are talking of more than 50 years ago, there were few enthusiasts taking colour pictures (slides or prints) of everyday Melbourne tram workings. It must be remembered photography was very expensive in “real” terms. There were also few opportunities for enthusiasts to “share” their work. No internet in the mid to late 1960s! And some jealously guarded their photographs; I recall one well known enthusiast (now deceased) speaking of the photographs he had – but always saying they were “not available” for viewing! Some of the keen young men of the era jokingly commented about the various collections that were kept “under people’s beds”. At the same time, there were one or two unscrupulous so called enthusiasts who “borrowed” tram (and other transport) photos and never returned them. There was a genuine fear of such people fear among some enthusiasts and this could be another reason why many photographs never saw the light of day.

In the early 1970s, well known enthusiast and MMTB employee, David Menzies, organised for various slide collections to be copied. Individual slides were sold by the TMSV (as a fund raising measure) at the well known “shoe shop” operated by the Scholten family. David Menzies was a “colourful tramway identity” by anyone’s measure. He lived in Melbourne from 1969 to 1976 when he returned to the UK where I understand he lives in quiet retirement. He would be 79.

Paul in Melbourne