New South Wales Standard suburban carriage stock
F1 at Flemington Maintenance Depot
Interior
In service1925–1992
Manufacturer
Built at
Constructed1925–1937
Number built
  • 352 motor cars
  • 248 trailer cars
Formation2-8 carriages
Fleet numbers
  • C3101-3452
  • C3901-C3903
  • T4301-T4548
Operators
Depots
Lines servedAll Sydney suburban except Eastern Suburbs
Specifications
Car length18.75 m (61 ft 6+1⁄4 in)
Width3,185 mm (10 ft 5+3⁄8 in)
Height3,920 mm (12 ft 10+3⁄8 in)
Doors4
Maximum speed80 km/h (50 mph) (TfNSW limit)
3000 series cars: 80 km/h (50 mph) (designed speed)
7000 series cars: 113 km/h (70 mph) (designed speed)
20 km/h (12 mph) (TfNSW limit through platforms)
Traction system3000 series cars: 2 x Metropolitan-Vickers MV172 motors per carriage
7000 series cars: 4 x AEI149 motors per carriage
Semi automatic electro-pneumatic resistance control, Series wound brushed DC traction motors
Transmission3000 series cars: 58:18 Gear ratio. Straight cut gears. Wheel diameter 42 inch (1067mm)
7000 series cars: 74:17 Gear ratio. helical gears. Wheel diameter 36 inch (914mm)
Power supply36vDC
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC catenary
Current collector(s)Single-pan diamond pantograph
Braking system(s)Westinghouse air
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The New South Wales Standard suburban carriage stock are a class of electric multiple units that were operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between 1926 and 1992. They served on the Sydney suburban network. In the years before their withdrawal, they were nicknamed Red Rattlers. This term was imported from Victoria and was never a contemporaneous colloquialism.

History

Carriage C3426, now on Red Rattler set F1, leading the first electric train over the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932

To provide rolling stock for the electrification of Sydney's suburban rail network, steel carriages were ordered.[1][2]

The initial 50 power cars were built in England by Leeds Forge Company and shipped to Australia in knocked-down condition. They were assembled by Eveleigh Carriage Workshops (10) and Clyde Engineering (40) between April and October 1925. Initially numbered 2213-2262, they entered service being inserted into sets with Bradfield carriages for haulage by steam locomotives until fitted with Metropolitan-Vickers electrical equipment and motors in 1926. At this stage they were renumbered C3101 to C3150.[1][2][3]

Between 1926 and 1929, a further 290 power cars, 248 trailer cars and three parcel vans were built in Australia by Clyde Engineering and Walsh Island Dockyard.[4] In 1937, Clyde Engineering built a further 12 power cars, to provide coverage while the 1920s built power cars were overhauled.[5] The reason for the imbalance between motor and trailer cars was the conversion of some American Suburban carriage stock to operate with the new power cars.[1][2]

NumbersBuilderYears BuiltTotalNotes
C3101-C3150Leeds Forge Company192550Initially entered service as locomotive hauled
carriages 2213-2262
C3151-C3170Clyde Engineering1926–192720
C3171-C3220Walsh Island Dockyard1926-2750
C3221-C3250Clyde Engineering192630
C3251-C3300Walsh Island Dockyard192850
C3301-C3440Clyde Engineering1928–1929140
C3441-C3452Clyde Engineering193712
C3901-C3903Clyde Engineering19283Parcel vans
T4301-T4548Walsh Island Dockyard1927–1929248T4543-T4548 rebuilt as
driving trailers D4051-D4056 in 1937

In 1937, six trailers (T4543-T4548) were converted to driving trailers.[2] Between 1968 and 1975, some power cars were converted to 4 motors using traction equipments similar the W sets and U sets and fitted on air suspended bogies. These were renumbered upwards by 4000, e.g. C3306 became C7306.[6]

Withdrawals commenced in the 1970s, 92 remained in service with CityRail in July 1991.[6] The last were withdrawn in 1992. Several have been preserved.[3][7][8][9][10][11]

Colour schemes and overhauls

Power cars and carriages

As built, the standard cars were painted in Tuscan red and russet with yellow pin striping.[12] In the 1940s, that was changed to Tuscan red with buff lining.[12] In 1957, the livery was changed to plain Tuscan red, which many cars retained until their withdrawal.[12] From 1973, the livery became Public Transport Commission blue and white, before that was superseded by Indian red in 1976. The original cream and brown interiors were repainted in two-tone green, but that was not done to all cars. Overhauls of the stock continued up until 1988, with some receiving sliding aluminium Beclawat windows to alleviate rust problems.[3][5][6] A few cars also received Airmate pantographs, replacing the original Dorman Long pantographs.[12]

Preservation

Sydney’s Red Set F1, which is made up of four carriages (C7396, C3218, T4527, C3426), is preserved and in operational condition. This is as a result of collaboration between Sydney Trains, Transport Heritage NSW, who plan public trips and tours on the train, and Historic Electric Traction. The restored train resumed carrying passengers on June 11, 2016, 14 years since its last such trip.[13][14] One of the carriages of set F1, power car C3426, led the first electric train to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge. All four cars were built in 1927.[15]

Transport Heritage NSW / Sydney Trains has multiple Standard cars in the care of Historic Electric Traction:[16]

  • C3102 - Leeds Forge (2 motor) Power Car - Stored at Redfern Carriageworks
  • C3218 - Walsh Island (2 motor) Power Car - Operational at Flemington Car Sheds
  • C3426 - Clyde Engineering (2 motor) Power Car - Operational at Flemington Car Sheds
  • C3653 - Walsh Island (2 motor) Parcel Van (ex C3903, C3553, C3773) - Stored at Redfern Carriageworks
  • C7396 - Clyde Engineering (4 motor) Power Car (ex C3396) - Operational at Flemington Car Sheds
  • D4052 - Walsh Island Driving Trailer Car (ex T4547, D4673) - Stored at Redfern Carriageworks
  • T4527 - Walsh Island Trailer Car - Operational at Flemington Car Sheds

Walsh Island Trailer Car T4310, owned by Transport Heritage NSW / Sydney Trains, is on static display at NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere. The Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum own one standard power car, Clyde Engineering (2 motor) power car C3167, stored at Dorrigo.[17]

Due to their width and age, Transport for NSW limits the speed of these carriages to 80 km/h (50 mph) during normal running and 20 km/h (12 mph) when passing platforms. They are further limited to running in wide loading gauge track areas only, which includes the whole suburban network, but does not include the Main North or West lines leaving Sydney.

Private ownership

Many cars were sold via contract to Milfren Pty Ltd from 1990 to 1994 to private buyers.[18] Usually this would only include the body of the carriage, lacking pantographs and bogies, however there are some exceptions to these.

[19][20][21][22][23]
Car Number Builder Date sold Original Location Current Location Owner Notes
C3105 Leeds Forge 17/05/1990 Mendooran, NSW Unknown, possibly still Mendooran Unknown
C3118 Leeds Forge 03/04/1992 Marulan, NSW Unknown, possibly still Marulan Unknown
C3120 Leeds Forge 22/11/1990 Lismore, NSW Goulburn, NSW Private Private sale outside of Milfren
C3121 Leeds Forge 30/11/1992 Molong Holding Yard, NSW Molong Holding Yard, NSW Private
C3122 Leeds Forge 21/08/1992 Taren Point, NSW, then Rylstone, NSW. Mount Frome, NSW "Jeffery", AirBNB host Usually ran with a parcel van to fill up a 2 car consist in case of an equipment failure.

Painted as "The Giraffe" for Cityrail Zoo Train H22 in March 1991 as part of a brand deal with Taronga Zoo. Restored back into this livery after a period in grey.[24]

C3134 Leeds Forge 13/08/1992 Taren Point, NSW Unknown Unknown
C3148 Leeds Forge 06/05/1992 Freemantle, NSW Unknown Unknown
C3151 Clyde Engineering Unknown Cobargo (Princess Highway), NSW Cobargo (Princess Highway), NSW Wattletown Junction Train Stop Cafe[25][26]
C3176 Walsh Island Dockyard 17/06/1992 Wellington, NSW Unknown Unknown
C3183 Walsh Island Dockyard 09/06/1992 Bonnyrigg, NSW Kurrajong, NSW Madison's Mountain Retreat[27][28] Restored into Cityrail paintscheme as of 2019. Damaged by bushfires as of 2021.
C3151 Walsh Island Dockyard 17/01/1992 Kurrajong, NSW[29] Kurrajong, NSW Madison's Mountain Retreat[27][28] Restored into Cityrail paintscheme as of 2013. Damaged by bushfires as of 2021.[30]
C3191 Walsh Island Dockyard 04/09/1992 Dubbo, NSW Unknown Unknown
C3196 Walsh Island Dockyard 12/03/1992 Nowra, NSW Unknown Formerly Barbeques Galore, Nowra
C3198 Walsh Island Dockyard 01/06/1992 Wellington, NSW Mitchell Highway A plant nursery
C3200 Walsh Island Dockyard 22/02/1992 Catherine Field, NSW Unknown Unknown
C3212 Walsh Island Dockyard 10/02/1993 Minto, NSW Unknown Unknown
C3216 Walsh Island Dockyard 13/03/1992 Nowra, NSW Unknown Formerly Barbeques Galore, Nowra
C3255 Walsh Island Dockyard 14/07/1990 Dungay, NSW Dungay, NSW Red Rattlers Dungay[31]
C3256 Walsh Island Dockyard 28/02/1992 Coolatai, NSW Yetman, NSW "Gillian", private owner[32]
C3259 Walsh Island Dockyard 12/07/1990 Lightning Ridge, NSW Unknown, possibly still at Lightning Ridge (Possibly) Red Rattler Camp[33]
C3261 Walsh Island Dockyard 14/07/1990 Dungay, NSW Dungay, NSW Red Rattlers Dungay Used as a cafe, still retains original seating
C3266 Walsh Island Dockyard 12/06/1992 Bredbo, NSW Bredbo, NSW Paddington Hills Rural Retreat
C3273 Walsh Island Dockyard 21/10/1992 Dungog, NSW Dungog, NSW Carriageway[34] One of 4 carriages, currently used as the restaurant.

Formerly wore a special livery for the opening of the Opera House in October 1973.

C3276 Walsh Island Dockyard 11/03/1994 Oberon, NSW Oberon, NSW Private Still retains pantograph, withdrawn in 1978 for use at the Apprentice Training College in Chullora.
C3279 Walsh Island Dockyard 30/09/1985 Cataract Dam, NSW Scrapped Scout Association of Australia Caratact Dam Scrapped in the 1990s.
C3652 Walsh Island Dockyard Unknown Molong Holding Yard, NSW Molong Holding Yard, NSW Private Originallly car C3283 until 29/07/1991 when converted into wash plant shunter Bugsy.

Private sale outside of Milfren

C3284 Walsh Island Dockyard 17/08/1993 Yowah, Qld Unknown, possibly still at Yowah Unknown
C3286 Walsh Island Dockyard 11/02/1993 Peats Ridge, NSW Wellington, NSW Private
C3287 Walsh Island Dockyard 30/01/1992 Rocklea, NSW Newbridge (Caloola St), NSW Private
C3288 Walsh Island Dockyard 11/03/1994 Castlereagh, NSW Cranebrook, NSW Private
C3289 Walsh Island Dockyard 19/04/1994 Orange, NSW Unknown Unknown
C3290 Walsh Island Dockyard 05/03/1993 Illabo, NSW Taree, NSW Geoff Willis Currently rests ontop of a set of Sputnik bogies.
C3334 Clyde Engineering ? Dungog, NSW Dungog, NSW Carriageway
C3384 Clyde Engineering ? Lake Bathurst (Braidwood Road), NSW Unknown Unknown
C3446 Clyde Engineering ? Windeyer, NSW Windeyer, NSW Ba Macks Homestead
C3451 Clyde Engineering ? Dubbo (Newell Highway), NSW Unknown Unknown
C3496 Clyde Engineering ? Bredbo, NSW Bredbo, NSW Paddington Hills Rural Retreat
C3517 Clyde Engineering ? Cadjangarry (Princess Highway), NSW Unknown Unknown
T4353 Walsh Island Dockyard ? Richmond, NSW Richmond, NSW Richmond Valley Motors[35]
T4388 Walsh Island Dockyard ? Wallaroo, NSW Wallaroo, NSW The Last Stop Ambledown Brook[36]
T4458 Walsh Island Dockyard ? Unknown 112 Wyaldra Lane, Mudgee, NSW For sale
Abandoned car at Chullora, NSW.
Abandoned car at Chullora.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Churchman, Geoffrey (1995). Railway Electrification in Australia & New Zealand. Smithfield: IPL Books. pp. 85, 92.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Sydney's Electric Trains from 1926 to 1960" ARHS Bulletin issue 761 March 2001 pages 90-93
  3. 1 2 3 C3104 - 1925 Leeds Forge Standard Motor Car Sydney Electric Traction Society
  4. ↑ History: The old Red Rattlers live on Newcastle Herald 12 September 2014
  5. 1 2 C3444 - 1937 Clyde Modified Motor Car Sydney Electric Traction Society
  6. 1 2 3 "Rolling Stock" Railway Digest December 1991 page 454
  7. ↑ C3102 - Leeds 1927 Suburban Motor Car NSW Environment & Heritage
  8. ↑ C3218 - Walsh Island 1927 Suburban Motor Car NSW Environment & Heritage
  9. ↑ C3653 - Walsh Island 1927 Suburban Parcels Van NSW Environment & Heritage
  10. ↑ D4052 - Walsh Island 1927 Suburban Trailer Car NSW Environment & Heritage
  11. ↑ T4527 - Walsh Island 1927 Suburban Trailer Car NSW Environment & Heritage
  12. 1 2 3 4 Sydney's Suburban Standards - The Leeds Forge Cars C3101 - 3150. Roy Howarth, Glenn Ryan. 2010. pp. Pages 16–21, 70, 76, 77.
  13. ↑ "The Red Set F1 Project – Sydney's Vintage Electric Train". www.schoolpa.com.au. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Sydney Heritage Red Rattler to run after 14 years". Railpage. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  15. ↑ "NSW Rail Museum". NSW Rail Museum. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "Heritage Fleet". www.het.org.au. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  17. ↑ "Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum Ltd Web Site". www.dsrm.org.au. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "NOTICE of winding up order.—MILFREN PTY LIMITED (In liquidation), A.C.N. 003 688 766.—On 21st October,". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 28 October 1994. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  19. ↑ Howarth, Roy; Ryan, Glen (2010). THE LEEDS FORGE CARS C3101 to 3150. 95 Allawah Road Dungowan NSW 2340: Bow River Publishing. pp. 150–151. ISBN 978-0-646-53011-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  20. ↑ Howarth, Roy; Ryan, Glenn (2017). SINGLE DECKERS FROM NEWCASTLE - THE CARS BUILT AT WALSH ISLAND DOCKYARD - VOLUME 2: TEH POWER CARS C3251 - 3300. 95 Allawah Road Dungowan NSW 2340: Bow River Publishing. pp. 181–182. ISBN 978-0-646-95320-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  21. ↑ "Sydney Trains Vlogs: Retired Australian Carriages". Sydney Trains Vlogs. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  22. ↑ "Where to find Sydney Red Rattlers?". Railpage. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  23. ↑ Howarth, Roy; Ryan, Glenn (2014). SINGLE DECKERS FORM NEWCASTLE - THE CARS BUILT AT WALSH ISLAND DOCKYARD - Volume 1 - The Power Cars C3171 to C3220. Bow River Publishing. ISBN 978-0-646-91348-3.
  24. ↑ "The Giraffe - Trains for Rent in Mount Frome, New South Wales, Australia". Airbnb. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  25. ↑ phillips, dave (6 December 2006), train stop café, cobargo, retrieved 13 January 2023
  26. ↑ "Wattletown Junction Train Stop Cafe - 57A Princes Highway, Cobargo | Reviews, Phones & Addresses". cobargo-nsw.place-advisor.com. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  27. 1 2 "On site and local activities - Madisons Mountain Retreat". www.madisonsretreat.com.au. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  28. 1 2 "Madison's Mountain Retreat, Kurrajong Heights review: Camelids and carriages await". Traveller. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  29. ↑ island home (1 January 1999), red rattler, retrieved 13 January 2023
  30. ↑ "Overnight Sleepers: 7 Places To Stay In A Train Carriage In NSW". www.ellaslist.com.au. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  31. ↑ "HOME". RRWeddings. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  32. ↑ "Ben Cousins on Instagram: "So I suppose I can let the cat out of the bag now. At the beginning of the year, I met Gillian, who purchased C3256 back when it was retired from State Rail. It was shifted up to their farm, an hour out of Inverell. It's been transformed into an art studio. Discussions with a number of people left me with no direct answers so I decided the best course of action was to come up and have a look for myself. Behold, what I believe to be the only air conditioned Red Rattler carriage. Oh, and I'm sleeping here tonight. 😂😂"". Instagram. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  33. ↑ "Red Rattler Camp, Red Rattler Camp, NSW: 4 Hipcamper Reviews And 12 Photos". Hipcamp. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  34. ↑ "Home | Carriageway". Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  35. ↑ A quick overview of a red set trailer T4353 red rattler repurposed office Richmond Valley Motors, retrieved 14 January 2023
  36. ↑ "Last Stop Ambledown Brook B&B - Vintage Trains near Canberra". mysite. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
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