Below is a list of passenger stock items that are housed at the National Railway Museum.
Bogie Composite Brake Van 7553
Suburban End and Centre Loading Car No. 446
Bogie Composite Brake Van 7553
South Australian Railways
Narrow Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways/Australian National Railways
Condition: Excellent
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Provenance: South Australian Railways/Australian National Railways
Built by: S.A.R. Islington Workshops
Number in class: 4, plus 1 for BHP Whyalla
Entered service September: 1938
Withdrawn: 9th December 1987
Entered the museum: 10th May 1988
Length (over coupling points): 36’ 6’’ (11.12 metres)
Tare Weight: 11 tons 1 cwt 2 q (11,226 kilograms)
The necessity of providing passenger accommodation on goods trains over lines which were not normally worked by passenger trains was appreciated quite early by the South Australian Railways and, in the 1880s, the first of many goods brake vans with passenger compartments were built. This practice ceased only in 1960s when the motor car provided a more convenient mode of transport in sparsely populated areas.
The 7550-class brake vans were the final development of this type of vehicle on the narrow-gauge Peterborough Division, four being built at the Islington Workshops in 1938. Besides the guard, comfortable accommodation was provided for nine passengers and the cars were regularly attached to goods trains to Broken Hill, Terowie, Quorn, Wilmington and Port Pirie.
No. 7553 was last used on the Wilmington line. Acquired by Australian National in March 1978 it saw little subsequent service and was laid aside. It was obtained by the Museum on 9th December 1987 and placed at the museum on 10th May 1988.
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways
Condition: Good
Entered service: 29.5.1919
Entered the museum: 1.4.1995
Ownership: History Trust of South Australia
Provenance: South Australian Railways
4074 was built in 1919 by the South Australian Railways as a composite brake van with accommodation for 20 second class passengers. It was one of 62 similar brake vans that were used at the rear of goods trains.
Passenger compartments are located either end of the vehicle, with two bench seats in each compartment. Entry into each compartment is by an outward opening side-loading door, with no access to the goods area located between the passenger compartments. Luggage racks are provided above each seat.
The goods area is divided evenly by a central guard’s compartment fitted with an observation lookout. The brake van was never fitted with a toilet or washroom.
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways/Australian National Railways
Condition: Good
Entered service: 1971
Number in class: 94
Entered the museum: 1995
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Provenance: South Australian Railways (AN)
Withdrawn: 19th November 1994
The ‘AVAP’ brake vans were steel goods brake vans built by the South Australian Railways as 8300 type brake vans, numbered from 8300 to 8394. The first brake van (8300) entered service in February 1947 and the last (8394) entered service December 1971.
The first order of 14 brake vans was built in 1947, being all steel with wooden doors. Two goods compartments are located either side of the central guard’s compartment, fitted with seat, desk, toilet and observation viewing ports. To one side of the guard’s compartment is a small passenger compartment.
In 1961 the South Australian Railways commenced building the remainder of the class numbered 8314 to 8394. The design was modified slightly, producing a narrower vehicle that could run in Victoria. The brake vans lack end communication doors, preventing their use on passenger trains. Brake vans 8364 to 8374 and 8393 to 8394 were built for standard gauge, with the rest being issued on broad gauge.
Brake Van AVAP396 was built as number ‘8394’ but was recoded ‘AVAY396’ in 1983 to meet the new Australian wide classification of freight vehicles. It was later recoded ‘AVAP’ despite no modifications being made.
From the mid-1980s it was allocated to the CME at Port Pirie until being written off on 19 November 1994.
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways; Australian National Railways
Condition: Good (not operational)
Entered service: 1947
Entered the museum: 28/6/1988
Number in class: 1
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Provenance: South Australian Railways
Withdrawn: 1984
Built by the South Australian Railways at the Islington Works in 1947, the broad gauge Cafeteria Car was the first of a new generation of passenger vehicles introduced to the State. It spent most of its life on the ‘East West Express’ between Adelaide and Port Pirie enabling the elimination of the traditional refreshment stops. After a few years on hire to the Victorian Railways, it was withdrawn in 1984 and stored until purchased by the museum in very poor condition. A major refurbishment, costing many thousands of dollars, restored it to its authentic 1940s decor.
South Australian Railways
Narrow Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways
Condition: Excellent
Entered service: December 1877
Entered the museum: 25.9.1969
Length (over coupling points): 28’ 9’’ (8.763m)
Number in class: 8
Ownership: History Trust of South Australia
Provenance: South Australian Railways
Seating capacity: 32
Withdrawn: 1966
Of particular historic interest is the tiny four-wheeled carriage Number 3, which was built in December 1877, as the first of a series of four-wheel carriages for the then new narrow-gauge lines in the north of the State. Built at the Adelaide Locomotive Shops, Number 3 is only 28’ 9’’ (8.763m) long with axle centres a mere 11’ 6’’ (3.51m) apart. It only weighed 5 tons 15 cwt (5762kg) but was rated to carry 32 second class passengers on hard longitudinal seats. Other cars in the series that followed were numbered 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13.
Number 3 was issued new to the Port Pirie section of the narrow gauge line, and spent all its working life on the northern sections. After conversion to a departmental van, it was to be stationed for a long period at Quorn, and also used on the Great Northern line to Oodnadatta.
The bogie coaches came fairly soon afterwards, and short vehicles like this one were relegated to a secondary place on the main line. Thus it is not surprising to learn that by 1892 it was no longer purely a passenger car, but had also been provided with accommodation for Enginemen. By 1895 the records show that Number 3 had been equipped with sleeping accommodation but it is not known whether this was an additional modification, or whether it was part of the original change that allowed the carriage to take off-duty Enginemen.
In September 1911 the carriage was finally taken off the passenger list, leaving only four still in passenger service. However, the type was to live on for a while, for one of these remaining four was still to be in service well into the 1920s, as were a number of short brake vans for passenger trains. This was not to be the end of Number 3´s active life, though, as it was then converted for use as an employees’ sleeping van, and was reissued as Number 4884 in the goods rolling stock series. In this role it was to continue to see service until 1966, when at the grand old age of 89, it was finally withdrawn from all service.
This exhibit is the oldest in the Museum, and qualifies as the oldest carriage preserved in South Australia. The car has been beautifully restored by Museum Volunteers to its original layout.
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways
Condition: Excellent
Entered service: 29.8.1913
Entered the museum: 19.10.1978
Length (over coupling points): 55’ 5’’ (16.89 metres)
Number in class: 4
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Provenance: South Australian Railways
Seating capacity: 43 2nd class passengers
Withdrawn: 29th May 1978
Contract CME. N8/1911 of the South Australian Railways covered the construction of 15 suburban passenger cars for use on the South Terrace line to Glenelg.
Numbered 364 to 378 inclusive, the cars comprised five 1st class saloon cars, five 2nd class saloon cars, one 1st class baggage car and four 2nd class baggage cars, of which 376 was one. The underframes and bogies were constructed at Islington Workshops, and the bodies by A. Pengelley & Company, the 15 cars being placed in service between November 1912 and September 1913.
These 15 cars were a repeat order of 10 similar cars (No. 260 to 269 inclusive, placed in service in 1908 and 1909 on the Glenelg line), which it was stated were to be uniform in appearance with passenger cars taken over from the Glenelg Railway Company. The company cars were shorter in length but had the familiar clerestory roof, end loading steps to suit the ground level platforms and centre buffer couplers. The South Australian Railways cars had these features and incorporated hinged flaps over the end steps to suit high level platforms. No. 376 entered service on 29 August 1913.
The structure gauge of the Glenelg line permitted passenger cars of greater width than the remainder of the System and No.376 and the other cars had a body width of 10’ 6’’ (3.2 metres), with a maximum width over extremities of 10’ 10’’ (3.3 metres).
The Glenelg line cars were the basis for the numerous end and centre-loading suburban cars of which 130 (including baggage cars) were constructed. Of generally similar appearance to the Glenelg cars, the end and centre-loading cars were longer because of the centre vestibule, and their narrower body width, 10’ 0’’ (3.04 metres) gave them greater route availability. However, none of them were constructed originally with ground loading steps, and the standard screw couplings and buffers were fitted.
As issued, No.376 had seating for 56 second class passengers and in common with the other Glenelg cars was altered in 1927 when a lavatory was fitted for country working and standard screw couplings and buffers provided. Seating capacity was reduced to 52. Further alterations took place to No.376 in December 1935, when in a programme to improve the Glenelg cars for country running, high backed seats with baggage racks, automatic couplers and steel step down end steps were provided. The green and cream colour scheme for these cars followed the 1936 Centenary Train. The alterations reduced the seating capacity of No.376 to 43 2nd class passengers, while during 1952 the seating was advised as 19 first class passengers and 24 second class passengers, reverting to all second class again in May 1967.
While saloon Glenelg cars ran to all points where locomotive-hauled passenger trains worked on broad gauge (both suburban and country), the baggage cars such as No.376 generally worked suburban and nearer country tracks (e.g. Victor Harbor and Angaston). However, for a number of years in their later life, Glenelg baggage cars were used in a regular Adelaide-Loxton service, while No.376 was one of the last Glenelg cars in service on Murray Bridge-Tailem Bend local trains until damaged by fire during September 1977, being condemned on 29th May 1978.
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways/Australian National Railways/State Transport Authority
Condition: Good
Built by: S.A.R. Islington Workshops
Entered service: 1st October 1934
Withdrawn: 11th June 1997
Entered the museum: 11th June 1997
Number in class: 1
Ownership: History Trust of South Australia
Provenance: South Australian Railways
In May 1933, the South Australian Government authorized the expenditure of $15,000 for the construction of a new inspection car for the Railways Commissioner.
The Murray car was the last timber bodied car built at Islington Works and when introduced on 1.10.1934 was claimed to be the most up-to-date car of its kind in the Commonwealth. The frame work is Tasmanian Blackwood and the internal panels are sliced Queensland Walnut. The car rides on two six-wheeled bogies imported from the U.S.A and weighs 52 tons. Sleeping accommodation is provided for 10 persons.
When introduced, the actual cost had risen to $19,954. This additional cost was incurred by providing a fairly high grade of equipment, fitting up and finish to make ‘Murray’ suitable for use by HRH the Duke of Gloucester on his visit to Australia in 1934. Murray was also included in the Royal train for HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, when he travelled from Murray Bridge to Adelaide in March 1974. A passenger brake van (No. 391) was also fitted with a generator to provide auxiliary power for Murray In the last days of steam, engine 621 was the Commissioner’s Engine and used to haul Murray.
The car is fitted with a speed indicator. In 1972, Murray was altered to operate on standard-gauge for inspection trips between Peterborough, Port Pirie and Broken Hill. When the Murray car is attached to any train, the observation end must be trailing whenever practicable. When the observation end is not trailing, the curtains must be drawn round such end and secured.
It was retained by the South Australian State Transport Authority when the South Australian Railways were sold to the Commonwealth Government, and store in the Adelaide Rail Yards north car sheds. In 1987 it was transferred to Australian National, entering Islington on 10.9.1987 to be upgraded. This did not happen and it was transferred to Port Augusta in 1991 for storage. Following an application by the History Trust of South Australia, in 1997, it was transferred to Islington for conversion to broad-gauge in preparation for returning to South Australian Government control.
On 11.06.97 it was delivered to the Museum.
Commonwealth Railways
Standard Gauge
Class operators: Commonwealth Railways
Condition: Good (after restoration)
Provenance: Commonwealth Railways
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Built by: C.R. Port Augusta Workshops
Number in class: 1
Entered service: 21st July 1930
Withdrawn: 31st March 1981
Entered the museum: 20th December 1995
Length (over coupling points): 76’ 7’’ (21.81 metres)
Seating capacity: 48
Dining on the Commonwealth Railways Trans-Australian was a luxury event. It featured the best menu and full silver service as the train carried its passengers between Port Pirie and Kalgoorlie. To meet this high standard, the Workshops at Port Augusta constructed dining car DA52, which entered service on 21st July 1930.
By all Australian standards of the time, it was an impressive vehicle. It measured 76 foot 7 inch (23.42 m) in length, 10 foot 6 inch (3.19 m) in width and was 14 foot 6 inch (4.41 m) high. The Commonwealth Railways were at that time constructing the largest wooden passenger carriages in Australia. Its exterior was painted in a livery of chocolate and cream with a mustard roof.
The interior featured ornate timber panelling made from Queensland Black Bean and expensive fittings. Monogrammed china, polished silver and flower arrangements adorned each of the 12 twelve tables that seated a total of 48 passengers.
To make dining more comfortable in the hot desert summers, the carriage was fitted with full Carrier refrigerated air-conditioning in 1939.
In 1954 it was fully overhauled, fitted for head end power, and painted in maroon. At that time modern lighting and equipment replaced the original fittings. With the advent of more modern rolling stock in the 1960s and 1970s, the car was relegated to less important use, eventually being allocated for departmental use on the standard gauge accident train in 1981, until being placed in storage in 1987.
In 1995 it was donated by Australian National to the Railway Museum, arriving on broad gauge bogies on 20th December 1995.
During 2001 it was fully restored and painted in Commonwealth Railways livery.
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways
Condition: Good
Entered service: 21/12/1910
Entered the museum: 7/11/1966
Length (over coupling points): 47’ 2’’ (14.38 metres)
Ownership: History Trust of South Australia
Provenance: South Australian Railways
Seating capacity: 50
Withdrawn: 1966
For many years the typical broad-gauge carriages of the South Australian Railways were modelled on the compartment-type British carriage, with side doors to every compartment. These cars, which were very similar to cars that also ran in New South Wales and other states, were originally designed for the suburban services. However, in 1898 a variation was provided when the first lavatory-equipped car on the South Australian Railways was built.
These lavatory-equipped cars were popularly known as dogbox carriages, and consisted of a series of compartments with a pair of toilets between each pair of compartments. The earliest examples had prominent roof water tanks, but later carriages had the tanks built into the coaches themselves. These cars always had six compartments, but the width of the compartment varied according to the class. Consequently, the first class coaches were longer than the composites or the second class coaches.
About 100 dogboxes were built between 1898 and 1922, and even until the end of the 1950s they were to be seen on country trains. Apart from the fact that most of the cars underwent class changes during their lives, there were only three major alterations to the type. In the 1940s most carriages had their screw couplings replaced by the then standard auto-coupling, and about the same time a number lost their gas lights in favour of electricity (although some retained gas lights for the whole of their lives.)
The second major change occurred during the Second World War when a number of the older cars had their lavatories removed and the seats rearranged to make them suitable for suburban service. At the same time certain cars had baggage compartments provided in the centre. The third and most drastic change occurred between 1950 and 1953 when 23 cars were rebuilt for country service as centre-aisle cars with ‘improved’ seating and with one end vestibule. Known as the 900 class, these cars were unpopular because of their narrow aisles and perpendicular seats.
294 was issued to traffic as a second class carriage, but was altered to a composite in December 1920, and then back to second class in 1929. It was fitted with gas lighting in 1936 and auto-couplers in 1940. In 1956 the car was taken out of passenger service and sent to Tailem Bend for further service as a crew car on the Accident Train.
As a second class car, 294 seated 54 passengers, but during its brief spell as a composite the number was reduced to 50 (14 first class and 36 second class.)
Commonwealth Railways
Standard Gauge
Class operators: Commonwealth Railways
Condition: Good (after basic restoration)
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Provenance: Commonwealth Railways
Built by: CR Port Augusta Workshops
Entered service: 28th April 1920
Entered the museum: 29th November 1995
AR33 was built in 1920 by the Commonwealth Railways for use on its standard gauge 4’ 8½" (1435mm) Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie service. It was the first of a new larger style of wooden carriage that featured a turtle back roof, roomy interior and a chocolate and cream livery.
It remained basically unaltered until 1953 when it was given a major rebuild, fitted with air conditioning and painted maroon.
In 1966 it was fitted with narrow gauge (1067mm) bogies and transferred to Marree. After being on the last narrow gauge Ghan in 1980, it was converted back to standard gauge and allocated to the breakdown train at Alice Springs.
By 1990 it had become surplus to requirements and was placed in storage at Port Pirie, where unfortunately it was heavily vandalised. In 1995 it was offered to the Museum, being delivered by road on 29th November 1995.
During 2001 it was fully restored and painted in Commonwealth Railways livery.
Commonwealth Railways
Standard Gauge
Class operators: Commonwealth Railways
Condition: Good
Provenance: Commonwealth Railways
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Built by: Wegmann, Kassell, Germany
Number in class: 3
Entered service: 15th November 1952
Withdrawn: November 1980
Entered the museum: 23rd January 1996
Length (over coupling points): 75’ 2’’ (22.9 metres)
The introduction of two luxury train sets on the Commonwealth Railways in 1952 resulted in a marked increase in passenger travel on the Trans-Australian Railway (4 foot 8½ inch gauge - 1435mm). Each fully air-conditioned set was constructed by Messrs. Wegmann and Company, of Kassel in West Germany, and consisted of a round-end first-class sleeper-observation car, two first class sleeping cars, lounge car, dining car, second-class sleeper-lounge car, two second class sleeping cars and a combination brake and power van.
The gathering place for first class passengers was the lounge car. AFA93 is divided into three sections - smoking room, music room and ladies reading room. The panelling throughout was cut from the matched roots of elm trees, and scenes of various castles in the area in which the carriage was constructed are inlaid in various woods on the walls. The seats were upholstered in moquette, except for the smoking saloon which featured red leather. Externally the carriages had maroon sides banded with silver below the window line, a white roof and a black skirt below floor level. The letters C.R. on either side of an Australian coat of arms were attached to every carriage.
In 1964 AFA93 was transferred to narrow gauge (3 foot 6 inch gauge - 1067mm) for use on the Ghan until services ceased in 1980. Australian National then stored the carriage until it was donated to the Railway Museum in late 1995, arriving on site at the museum on 23rd February 1996.
During 2001 it was fully restored and painted in Commonwealth Railways livery.
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways; State Transport Authority
Condition: Excellent
Ownership: History Trust of South Australia
Provenance: South Australian Railways
Number in class: 1
Entered service: 19th May 1928
Withdrawn: 6th September 1988.
Entered the museum: 6th September 1988
Length (over coupling points): 82’ 4’’ (25.1 metres)
Tare Weight: 76 tons (76,000 kilograms)
George Pullman must be one the best known names in railway history, for it was he who developed the sleeping car and dining car to a point where they became the epitome of luxury travel. His Pullman Palace Car Company, founded in Chicago in 1867, provided luxury cars for American railroads and the rest of the world.
His first sleeping car, the Pioneer, was built for the Chicago & Alton Railroad in 1864 and its immediate success led to the setting up of the company.
His first dining car, the President, was built in 1867 for the Great Western Railway of Canada. Known as the Hotel Car, it was a sleeping car equipped with a kitchen and pantry, and portable tables which were set up for meals. The first complete dining car, the Delmonico was built for the Chicago & Alton Railroad in 1868.
Dining Car ‘Adelaide’ was ordered from the Pullman Company, along with the sleeping cars ‘Mt Lofty’ and ‘Macedon’ in 1926, for use on the Melbourne Express, and is a typical example of North American carriage building practices of the time. At 75 tons (75,000kg) it was found to be too heavy. Its inclusion in the train consist (then limited to 11 E-cars over the Mt Lofty Ranges) excluded the use of two standard cars and therefore proved uneconomical. It nevertheless saw service from time to time, and became a favourite on enthusiasts’ trains in the 1960s and 1970s.
When Australian National took over South Australia’s country services in 1978, ‘Adelaide’ remained under the ownership of the State Transport Authority who leased it to the museum. It was placed in the museum on the 6th September 1988.
South Australian Railways
Narrow Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: South Australian Railways
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Class Builders: Adelaide Locomotive Workshops, S.A.R. Islington Workshops
Built by: S.A.R Islington Workshops
Number in class: 7
Number series: 7, 9, 126 - 128, 132, 144
Entered service: 22nd December 1894
Withdrawn: 19th March 1971
Entered the museum: 8th November 1982
Length (over coupling points): 38’ 10’’ (11.84m)
Bogie centres: 24’ 1’’ (7.34 metres)
Height: 10’ 5’’ (3.18 metres)
Width: 7’ 6’’ (2.29 metres)
Tare Weigh: 12 tons 8 cwt (12,406 kilograms)
Seating capacity: 44
No. 144 is one of the many narrow-gauge passenger cars of the South Australian Railways with 31’ 6’’ (9.6m) long bodies nicknamed Short Toms. Although the narrow-gauge passenger cars ran in country areas for journeys occupying many hours duration, amenities provided were few. The original standard layout of these cars was access from each end of the cars with a solid partition dividing the car into two unequal areas. The larger compartments had another internal partition with a door to provide a smaller compartment in the centre of the car for ladies. For composite cars, the smaller area was the first class area.
Amenities in the form of water and lavatories were provided in narrow gauge cars from 1885 (and ultimately almost all of the Short Toms were fitted), but construction continued for some time of cars without these features.
No. 144 was originally scheduled to be built as a second class car to the standard layout without lavatories and with the solid internal partition and central ladies compartment. A direction in February 1894 stated it was to be second class ‘opened throughout from end to end’, - i.e. it was built as it was known with no internal partitions and longitudinal seats.
Constructed at Islington Workshops and issued on 18th December 1894 to the Western System of the narrow-gauge lines, No. 144 was built to replace No.10 passenger car when the latter was converted to an ambulance van and forwarded to Palmerston (Darwin) in 1890 in a programme providing ambulance vans on broad and narrow gauges.
Spending all of its life on the northern narrow-gauge lines, No.144 had few alterations but was fitted with electric lights in July 1909 and air brakes at Quorn in August 1911. In the 1950s No.144 was used as a trailer for school children behind the Model 75 rail car between Booleroo Centre and Wilmington and as the car was detached and attached at Booleroo Centre every school day, a handbrake was fitted to it during 1958 while an internal partition was also provided.
Condemned on the 19th March 1971 after the standardisation of the Port Pirie to Broken Hill line, No.144 was purchased by the South Australian Division of the Australian Railways Historical Society and made available for use on the Pichi Richi Railway. It was transferred to the Mile End Museum in 1982.
The car was extensively refurbished by the museum in early 1988, before spending several months on loan to Pichi Richi Railway at Quorn.
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: V & SAR
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Built by: S.A.R Islington Workshops
Entered service: 29th October 1923
Condemned: 16th October 1974
Entered the museum: 16th April 1975
Length (over coupling points): 73’ 8’’ (22.45m)
Bogie centres: 53’ 10’’ (16.4 metres)
Height: 13’ 8’’ (4.17 metres)
Width: 9’ 6’’ (2.9 metres)
Seating capacity: 72
In the early 1900s a rolling stock programme was agreed upon between the Victorian and South Australian Railways to provide more modern and considerably larger passenger cars for use on the express trains between Adelaide and Melbourne, to replace the original jointly owned cars placed in service between 1886 and 1890.
Between 1906 and 1923 a total of 44 vehicles of matching design were constructed at both Newport and Islington Workshops. The complement comprised 14 first class sleeping cars, 10 first class sitting cars, 10 second class sitting cars, 6 brake vans, 2 mail sorting vans and 2 mail baggage vans. After the initial construction between 1906 and 1908 of 4 sleeping cars, 6 each first and second class sitting cars, 4 brake vans and the mail sorting and baggage vans, the 1907/1908 South Australian Railways Report stated, ‘The new express train, as a whole, so far as accommodation is concerned, forms one of the best in the Commonwealth, and is probably equal to any other train in the world’.
Sleeping cars and first class sitting cars were constructed at Newport Workshops, Victoria, as well as the mail sorting and baggage vans, while the second class sitting cars and brake vans were constructed at Islington Workshops, South Australia (except that the first two jointly owned brake vans were constructed at Newport and exchanged with two constructed at Islington, these latter two became Victorian vehicles).
Whilst the sleeping cars were not numbered or classified, but named after rivers in Victoria and South Australia, the first and second class sitting cars and the brake vans were classified and numbered with similar vehicles which the Victorian Railways built for internal use in Victoria. The mail van classifications also followed the Victorian Railways’ principles. During 1910, the Victorian classification system was simplified and these latter classifications were carried by joint stock vehicles until they were condemned. The original and later classifications were:
First class sitting cars – ‘AVE’ then ‘AE’
Second class sitting cars – ‘BVE’ then ‘BE’
Brake vans – ‘DVE’ then ‘CE’
Mail baggage vans – ‘EEB’ then ‘D’
Mail sorting vans – ‘EES’ then ‘DS’ (later ‘D’ when mail sorting en route ceased)
Alterations to the passenger carrying cars were few during their life, although the cars built between 1906 and 1908 originally had gas lighting while all cars and vans had underframe alterations for the fitting of automatic couplers in the mid-1930s. Also, for the 1936 Centenary of South Australia, the joint stock vehicles were painted green and yellow with black horizontal lining, this colour scheme being maintained until construction of the air-conditioned cars in 1949. The title ‘The Overland’ in chrome plate letters was affixed to the letter board on each side of the passenger carrying cars when the green colour scheme was introduced.
BE42 is one of the later second class cars and was issued to traffic from Islington Workshops on 29th October 1923. It is one of two jointly owned passenger carrying cars which had steel protection panels affixed over the original tongue and groove timber exterior sheathing (the ‘Onkaparinga’ was the other car and the ‘CE´s’ and ‘D’ vans had partial sheathing).
South Australian Railways
Narrow Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: South Australian Railways
Ownership: History Trust of South Australia
Built by: S.A.R. Islington Workshops
Number in class: 4
Number series: 109 - 112
Entered service: 28th May 1900
Condemned: 25th March 1966
Entered the museum: 25th March 1971
Length (over coupling points): 46’ 7’’ (14.2m)
Seating capacity: 14 sleeping or 18 day passengers
Tare Weight: 21 tons (21,000 kilograms)
The carriages of the South Australian Railways were renowned for their longevity, if for nothing else. Thus, it is not surprising that some of them were 70 years old when the main line to Broken Hill was finally converted in 1970 from narrow to standard gauge, causing the wholesale condemnation of large numbers of narrow gauge carriages.
Most of these carriages followed the same body pattern - short, mansard type roofs over balcony style bodies. After the first few years when four wheelers were built, almost all had standard four wheel bogies. However, in 1888 it was proposed to build a series of six vehicles with six-wheeled bogies. The first three, 109, 110 and 111 were built as sleeping cars and issued to traffic in 1889 and 1890, but it was to be ten years before the other three saw the light of day. The next to be built was 112 in 1900, and this was completed as a sleeping car, while the last two cars, 113 and 114, were built as sitting up cars.
112 varied from the earlier sleeping cars in the arrangement of the sleeping berths. In the earlier cars a longitudinal seat formed the lower berth, but in 112 two seats facing one another pulled down to form a lower berth in Pullman style. Eighteen first class passengers were carried in sleeping berths.
On 29th July 1907, Number 112, emerged from Islington in the guise of an observation car fitted with Stone´s electric light. She now carried either 14 sleeping or 18 day passengers, the end compartment having had its fixed seats removed and a table and four movable chairs fitted in their place. Also, the toilet, which had been in this compartment, was relocated in the adjoining compartment.
In 1913 a speed indicator clock and fan were fitted in this small saloon, and it is believed that the car was thereafter used as a Departmental car for the most part. On 6th June 1917, Number 112 was officially named Baroota.
For the remainder of its life Baroota was to retain its layout as an observation car, but having been replaced on the main line by the three new sleeping cars, Alberga, Nilpena and Coonatto, it was to see service in later years only as a standby sleeper or on special trains.
These twelve-wheel vehicles were to be the only such carriages to be built for use on the narrow gauge lines of South Australia, and spent all their lives on the Peterborough to Broken Hill main line.
Victorian and South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: Victorian and South Australian Railways/VLine/Victorian Railways
Condition: Excellent
Entered service: 9.12.1949
Entered the museum: 28.11.2008
Number in class: 10
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Seating capacity: 20
Provenance: V & SAR, VR, VLine
Built by: South Australian Railways, Islington, SA
Withdrawn: 1998
One of ten roomette Joint Stock sleeping cars used on The Overland service between Adelaide and Melbourne. This type of rolling stock was built progressively from 1949 to replace the wooden carriages. Each of the carriages was fully designed and constructed by the South Australian Railways. Exteriors were finished in maroon, with a fluted stainless steel panel on each side of the cars running above and below the window level. The roof and bogies were painted black.
This particular vehicle is one of a batch of four sleeping cars sold to the Victorian Railways in 1972, for use on ‘The Vinelander’ service between Melbourne and Mildura, after new more modern sleeping cars were constructed and given the same names. When ‘The Vinelander’ service ceased operation on the 12th September 1993, all four sleeping carriages where placed in long term storage.
Early in 2008, the museum became aware that the carriage might be surplus to future railway requirements. Contact was made with VicTrack who gave the museum a favourable response about making it available for the museum’s collection. VicTrack recommended to the Victorian Minister of Transport that the carriages be made available to the NRM for display. The State of Victoria donated the car, with the museum paying for its transportation from Melbourne to Adelaide. It arrived at the museum by road on 28th November 2008.
Much of the significance of each of the cars lies in its preservation in near original condition as a rare example of operating, design and construction practices no longer practiced in house by current rail passenger operators. There have been no major alterations to the appearance of the cars other than routine maintenance that has involved mechanical repairs, soft furnishing upgrades and repainting.
Victorian and South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways/Victorian and South Australian Railways
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: South Australian Railways/Victorian & South Australian Railways
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Built by: Victorian Railways Newport Workshop, Victoria
Number in class: 14
Entered service: 16th June 1911
Condemned: 19th October 1972
Entered the museum: 6th June 1988
Length (over coupling points): 75’ (22.86 metres)
Fourteen sleeping cars were built between 1906 and 1923 at the Victorian Railways Newport Workshops for use on the nightly express between Adelaide and Melbourne.
The first four cars were named Lodden, Glenelg, Finniss and Torrens, after rivers in the states of Victoria and South Australia. In 1911 Onkaparinga and Barwon were built, followed by Baderloo, Dargo, Pekina and Tambo in 1919. The last four cars, named Angas, Coliban, Acheron and Inman entered service in 1923.
Internal layout comprised nine compartments, each with two fold up lateral sleeping berths, a folding wash basin and cloth hanging cupboards. A small smoking saloon at one end of the car was known as the Gentlemen’s lounge, and had four loose, leather covered, cane arm chairs and a fixed seat for three. Two compartments at the opposite end of the coach were reserved for ladies.
Finished in style, the carved panelling, pressed metal ceiling, frosted glass and lamp pendants were all ornately decorated. A stylised waratah pattern was repeated throughout the design. Externally a row of bevelled mirrors, with an engraved star burst pattern, was placed above each window. The paint work was a red brown with elaborate outlining.
By 1936, the train had been named The Overland, so it was decided to paint the carriages dark green with a chrome ‘The Overland’ fitted above the centre windows. From 1943 repainting in standard Victorian Railways red began. Construction of modern steel rolling stock began in 1949 and resulted in the eventual withdrawal of the wooden carriages from The Overland. Onkaparinga was condemned in 1969 and sold with bogies, but missing most internal metal fittings to Marbury School, Aldgate. In 1988 it was donated to the Railway Museum.
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways; Australian National Railways
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: South Australian Railways
Ownership: History Trust of South Australia
Built by: S.A.R Islington Workshops
Class: 600
Number in class: 8
Number series: 600 - 607
Entered service: 12th October 1937
Withdrawn: 13th October 1981
Entered the museum: 11th January 2001
Length (over coupling points): 71’ 9’’ (21.87m)
Seating capacity: 64
During the 1930s, the South Australian Railways began an extensive program of upgrading passenger accommodation. Part of this program involved the construction of ‘all steel’ first and second class passenger carriages. The first of these new carriages entered service in 1936, painted in the new South Australian Railways colours of green and gold and classified as 500 and 600 class ‘main line corridor passenger cars’. Built completely at the Islington Workshops, each car measured 21.87m (71’ 9’’.) long and 2.89m (9’ 6’’) wide, with a height of 4.025m (13’ 2’’) above the rail.
The 4 first class cars were numbered 500-503 and had seating accommodation for 42 passengers in 7 compartments. The 8 second class cars were numbered 600-608 and accommodated 64 passengers in 8 compartments. Toilets and vestibules were located at each end, with all compartments leading off a full length side corridor. The interior of each car was fitted out with polished timber panelling and chrome fittings. First class compartments were also fitted with mirrors and arm rests between each seat. Each compartment had a single external window and twin wooden sliding doors fitted with large etched glass panels. All windows were originally designed to drop down into the body of the car, but later, due to maintenance problems, these were replaced by half drop windows.
Car 606 was withdrawn from service in 1981 and sold to SteamRanger. It eventually became surplus to requirements and was sold to the museum in late 2000, arriving on site on 11.1.2001. The car has been returned to its original South Australian Railway livery.
Suburban End and Centre Loading Car No. 446
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways
Condition: Good
Entered service: 1919
Entered the museum: 1995
Number in class: 103
Ownership: History Trust of South Australia
Provenance: South Australian Railways
Withdrawn: 1976
Between 1908 and 1924 the South Australian Railways ordered 103 centre and end-loading carriages, and 27 end-loading baggage cars, for use on its suburban steam hauled services. The body design was loosely based on carriages that had been imported from America by the Holdfast Bay Railway Co., in 1880.
Car 446 was built by J. S. Bagshaw and Sons and entered service on 16th June 1919. It was altered little during its life, except for auto-couplers and through gangways being fitted in 1936.
It was allocated to SteamRanger in 1978. After a number of years out of service, the History Trust of South Australia transferred it to the museum in 1995.
South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Class operators: South Australian Railways
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: South Australian Railways
Ownership: History Trust of South Australia
Number in class: 1
Built by: S.A.R. Islington Workshops
Entered service: 2nd April 1940
Withdrawn: 28th July 1988
Entered the museum: 28th July 1988
Constructed at Islington Workshops, the Vice Regal car was built to accommodate the Governor and members of the Royal Family when travelling on the South Australian Railways broad gauge network.
The car features separate bedrooms for the Governor and his wife separated by a common bathroom, a compartment for the Aide-de-camp, a dining saloon and kitchen area, and rounded end that acts as a lounge and observation area. It also noted for being the first air-conditioned car in service for the South Australian Railways.