The name “Tait” designates electric multiple units which were used on the Melbourne suburban network. Their name came from Sir Thomas James Tait, former chairman of commissioners of the Victorian Railways. Originally built as steam-hauled carriages starting in 1909, they were rebuilt to electric cars from 1917. Even in the original design, enough space was reserved for later installation of the electric equipment. More sets were built directly as EMUs from the beginning and in 1953, a total of 623 cars had been built.

The Motor cars had a 105 kW traction motor on all four axles. Originally, sets consisted of three motor cars and three trailers. Later sets were created of a four-car and a three-car unit with a total of three motor cars. In the fifties when newer EMUs had been introduced, the Taits were now known as “Red Rattlers”. Starting in 1971, the interiors were simplified to facilitate maintenance. But the first ones were already withdrawn in 1974 and the last ones in 1985.