New South Wales Standard suburban carriage stock

New South Wales Standard suburban carriage stock
In service 1925-1992
Manufacturer Leeds Forge Company
Clyde Engineering
Walsh Island Dockyard
Built at Leeds
Granville
Walsh Island
Constructed 1925-1937
Number built 352 motor cars
248 trailer cars
Formation 2-8 carriages
Fleet numbers C3101-3452
C3901-C3903
T4301-T4548
Operator(s) New South Wales Government Railways
Public Transport Commission
State Rail Authority
CityRail
Depot(s) Flemington
Hornsby
Mortdale
Punchbowl
Line(s) served All Sydney suburban except Eastern Suburbs
Specifications
Car length 18.75 metres
Width 3.15 metres
Height 3.92 metres
Doors 4
Traction system 2 x Metropolitan-Vickers 172s per carriage
Electric system(s) 1,500 V DC catenary
Current collection method Single-pan diamond pantograph
Braking system(s) Westinghouse
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)

The New South Wales Standard suburban carriage stock were a type of electric multiple unit operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between 1926 and 1992. In their later years, they were nicknamed Red Rattlers.

History

To provide rolling stock for the electrification of the Sydney suburban 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 Engineering1926-2720
C3171-C3220Walsh Island Dockyard1926-2750
C3221-C3250Clyde Engineering192630
C3251-C3300Walsh Island Dockyard192850
C3301-C3440Clyde Engineering1928-29140
C3441-C3452Clyde Engineering193712
C3901-C3903Clyde Engineering19283Parcel vans
T4301-T4548Walsh Island Dockyard1927-29248T4543-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 fitted with two motor air suspended bogies. These were renumbered upwards by 4000, eg C3306 became C7306.[6]

Originally painted tuscan, from 1973 they were repainted in the Public Transport Commission blue and white livery before this was superseded by indian red in 1976. The original cream and brown interiors were repainted in two-tone green. Overhauls of the stock continued up until 1988, with some receiving sliding aluminum Beclawat windows to alleviate rust problems.[3][6][5]

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]

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
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