600 & 700 Class Railcars

The 600 & 700 Class Railcars are a Diesel Multiple Unit train built by New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) primarily on regional lines throughout NSW. The trains have since been phased out in favour of the newer Endeavour railcar model.

History
At the conclusion of the Second World War, the government found extensive problems with their rail network. There was demand for more and faster services on country branch lines, which would be costly to upgrade for use with mainline stream trains. So the government opted to build diesel railcars, starting with the 600/700 railcars, which were built between 1949 to 1950 at their Rolling Stock Workshops, Chullora, NSW. These trains were built in a former aircraft workshop that was no longer required after the end of the war.

Description
The power cars were fitted with two 165 horsepower General Motors Detroit Diesel in-line six-cylinder, two-stroke diesel engines coupled to Allison hydraulic transmissions. The 600's were capable of multiple unit control within the class only and trains of 8 cars (four 2-car sets) could be operated. They were made of aluminium, which helped to reduce the train's overall weight.

The 600 Class were the first in a long line of 92 vehicles built between 1949 and 1968 to the same basic design. The 600's were followed into service by the air conditioned main line DEB railcars from 1951 and the 620/720 railcars from 1961.

These trains are 2-car units consisting of a driving power car (600 class) and a driving trailer car (700 class). Both cars had doors at either end. The train was formed into two compartments between these doors by a space for the engines (600) or toilets (700) in the middle.

The 600 class carriages were built with a carriage number prefix of FPH and had a large luggage space in one compartment and seating in the other. Some carriages were converted for suburban working by replacing part of the luggage compartment with more seats. Some carriages were also recoded SFP (Sydney) and WFP (Wollongong).

The 700 class carriages were built with a prefix of CT and had first class seating in one compartment and second class in the other. Some carriages were converted for suburban working by converting some or all of the first class seating to second class. Some carriages were also recoded SCT.`

In Service
The ten units were initially deployed on lines throughout country NSW including Queanbeyan to Bombala, Dubbo to Bourke, Cobar, Coonamble and Gwabegar, Armidale to Glen Innes and services based on Cootamundra working to Lake Cargelligo and Tumut, Werris Creek to Gwabegar, Moree and Walgett and Wallerawang to Mudgee. With the introduction of the DEB railcars, a number were displaced from their regular working and some of these units sent to the Hunter or South Coast line, while others remained on other country routes.

The 600 Class were incompatible electrically with the later rail cars of the 620/720 and DEB railcars. In 1972, NSWGR purchased 22 Cummins diesel engines and Twin Disc transmissions with the intention to re-engine the entire class, designating the converted units as 660/760 class. However, repeated failures amongst the early 620 Class units resulted in the diversion of some engines and transmissions for 620 Class re-engining and in the end only five of the ten sets were converted to 660/760 Class units between 1973 and 1975. At this point, 3 of the non-converted sets were still working on country lines, with the other 2 on the Hunter/South Coast.

In 1984, the remaining three country sets were sent to work the Richmond Line. Many problems were experienced with starting due to the need to shut the engines down to reverse and they were fitted with air starters in place of the more normal electric type. These 3 sets were withdrawn following the electrification of the Richmond Line in 1991. The remaining 2 sets on intercity lines were withdrawn following the introduction of the Endeavour railcars in 1994.

Withdrawal
Of the remaining five sets (ten cars), five cars were scrapped (two following their partial destruction for an episode of the ABC television series Police Rescue in February, 1992) and four were sold to the Rail Motor Society at Paterson, New South Wales. CT 602 was burned out by vandals at Mortdale before transfer the Rail Motor Society. The partially stripped body shells of 604 and 704 were given to the Society in compensation and after further stripping of parts they were later sold to the local Court House Hotel at Paterson for accommodation. The remains of CT 702 was scrapped and the other three cars (WFP 602, FPH 606 and CT 707) all survive in near original condition in the collection of the Rail Motor Society.

The units converted to 660/760 railcars have also been withdrawn, apart from one train, which has been carefully restored and converted to the Byron Bay Solar Train.