New South Wales Standard suburban carriage stock

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]

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painted tuscan, from 1973 they were repainted in the Public Transport Commission blue and white livery before this was superseded by indian red in 1976.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Withdrawals commenced in the 1970s, 92 remained in service with CityRail in July 1991.^[6] The last were withdrawn in 1992.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