Item SH 922682 Train Destination Blind - Victorian Railways, Melbourne Suburban, circa 1980s

Summary

Alternative Name(s): Train Destination Roll

Scroll type destination signs like this were first introduced on Melbourne's trains from 1919 when electrification of the first suburban lines was completed. The signs were mounted behind a glass window on the front of the raised cupola roof section of the driver's or motorman's compartment on all electric motor cars and driving trailer cars, and were illuminated at night. This particular example is believed to have been fitted to one of the blue and yellow 'Harris' electric trains first introduced in 1956. It includes 53 destinations or terminal stations, including several that were not added to the electrified network until the late 1970s or early 1980s. It appears to date from just prior to or soon after the openning of the Melbourne underground rail loop in 1981 and before the conversion of the St Kilda and Port Melbourne lines to light rail in 1987.

Physical Description

Train destination blind, black background and white text in English for Melbourne/Victorian stations. Train destination blind is attached to a wooden scroll with circular metal ends. The destination blinds were used on Melbourne suburban electric trains from 1919, with 3 blinds to every 7 carriages. The destination signs were mounted on the front of the driver's compartment on all motor cars and driving trailer cars.