CPH Railmotor

The CPH (or 42 foot) railmotors were introduced by the New South Wales Government Railways in 1923 to provide feeder service on country branch lines.

Introduction[]

Often referred to as "Tin Hares", having evolved at the same time as the mechanical lures used in greyhound racing in Australia, the first vehicle was placed in service on 17 December 1923 and based at Culcairn, in southern New South Wales

Construction[]

They were lightweight vehicles and considerable care was taken in the original selection of materials used in their construction. One of the most innovative features was the underframe. No bolts or rivets were used in its construction and it was fabricated entirely by welding. It is believed to be the first application of such technique on a railway vehicle in Australia. The body was of timber construction, using mainly Queensland yellow wood, pines and cedars. The cars were finished externally with tongue and grooved timber below the window line.

Seating[]

As built, the normal seating capacity was 45, 21 in 1st class and 24 in 2nd (or economy) class. A further seven could be accommodated on the flap seats provided in the guard's compartment. An additional feature of these cars were the prized seats either side of the driver (the drivers cab being centrally located in the middle of the carriage, there was one passenger seat located either side of the cab, looking directly ahead).

Motors[]

As built, they were fitted with petrol engines of either Leyland or Thornycroft manufacture and a three-speed mechanical transmission controlled by a massive lever in the cab. Experiments were made with AEC and Winton motors in some vehicles. During World War 2, to conserve fuel, gas producer units were fitted to six vehicles. Five of these were damaged when fire spread to the vehicle. Beginning in 1945, a programme began to replace the petrol motors with GM diesels. It was at this time that multiple unit controls were fitted.

Operations[]

A total of 37 vehicles were built and they operated many branch line services throughout the state, from Kyogle in the north to the Riverina in the south, as well as extensively through the central western regions, until their widespread withdrawal in November 1983 and replacement by road transport. A fleet of 12 CPHs continued to be used extensively in the Wollongong area, working north to Waterfall, west to Moss Vale and south to Port Kembla and Kiama. In Newcastle CPHs provided passenger services on the Belmont until these ceased in April 1971.

They also operated pre-electrification service on many Sydney suburban services. These include Bankstown to Lidcombe, Clyde to Carlingford, Liverpool to Campbelltown, Westmead to Rogans Hill, Kingsgrove to East Hills, Hornsby to Cowan, Blacktown to Richmond and Sutherland to Waterfall. In November 1984 the last Sydney area motors were withdrawn from Richmond services along with most of those in Wollongong. The final two CPHs, 36 & 37, were withdrawn after the Moss Vale to Wollongong service ceased in September 1985.

Preservation[]

Following their withdrawal many were saved for preservation.

Number	Owner	Status
CPH 1	Railway Motor Society	Operational
CPH 2	Australian Railway Historical Society, ACT Division	Static, Junee Roundhouse
CPH 3	Railway Motor Society	Operational
CPH 6	Cooma Monaro Railway	Operational
CPH 7	Railway Motor Society	Operational
CPH 8	Cooma Monaro Railway	Under restoration
CPH 12	Lachlan Valley Railway	Operational
CPH 18	Rail Transport Museum	Operational
CPH 11	Glenreagh Mountain Railway	Under restoration
CPH 13	Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway	Under restoration
CPH 12	Lachlan Valley Railway	Operational
CPH 13	Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway	Under restoration, Goulburn
CPH 14	Rail Motor Society	Stored
CPH 16	Hunter Valley Railway Trust	Stored
CPH 19	Rail Motor Society	Stored
CPH 22	Cooma Monaro Railway	Operational
CPH 24	Lachlan Valley Railway	Operational
CPH 25	Lachlan Valley Railway	Operational
CPH 27	Australian Railway Historical Society, ACT Division	Operational
CPH 31	Hunter Valley Railway Trust	Stored
CPH 32	Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum	Stored
CPH 34	Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum	Stored
CPH 35	Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum	Stored
CPH 36	Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum	Stored
CPH 37	Australian Railway Historical Society, ACT Division	Operational
CTC 52	Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum	Stored
CTC 53	Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum	Stored
CTC 54	Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum	Stored
CTC 55	Cooma Monaro Railway	Operational

New South Wales Rail Rollingstock

Suburban EMUs

Red Rattlers S set, K set, C set, T set (Tangara), M set (Millennium), A (Waratah) and B sets (Waratah Series 2)
Sydney Metro: Alstom Metropolis set

Intercity EMUs
U set, V set, H set (OSCAR), D set (Mariyung)

Country Trains
Retired: CPH railmotor (Tin Hare), Creamy Kate and Trailer, Silver City Comet, 400/500 class, 600/700 class, 620/720 class, 660/760 class, 900/800 class (DEB), 1100 class (Budd), 1200 class (Tulloch)
In Service: XPT, Xplorer, Endeavour, Hunter
Future: CAF Civity

NSWGR Diesel Locomotives
40 class, 41 class, 42 class, 421 class, 422 class, 43 class, 44 class, 442 class, 45 class, 47 class, 48 class, 49 class, 70 class, 71 class, 72 class, 73 class, 79 class, 80 class, 81 class, 82 class, 90 class, PL class, X100 class tractor, X200 class tractor

NSWGR Electric Locomotives
71 class, 46 class, 85 class, 86 class

NSWGR Steam
10 class, 11 class, 12 class, 13 class, 14 class, 15 class, 16 class, 17 class, 18 class, 19 class, 20 class, 21 class, 23 class, 24 class, 25 class, 26 class, 27 class, 28 class, 29 class, 30 class (3112), 30T class, 32 class (3237)(3265), 34 class, 35 class (3526), 36 class (3642), 38 class (3801)(3820)(3830), D50 class, D53 class, D55 class, D57 class, D58 class, D59 class(5917), AD60 class
SMR 10 class, ROD 2-8-0

Trailers
End platform, S type, N type, HUB, RUB, Stainless steel carriage stock

Light Rail
Adtranz Variotram, CAF Urbos 3, Alstom Citadis 305

Rail transport in New South Wales - Rail rollingstock in New South Wales - Sydney Trains Fleet - NSW TrainLink