The Red Rattlers are a fleet of single decker electric multiple units that were operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between 1926 and 1992. They served on the Sydney suburban network. In the years before their withdrawal, they were nicknamed Red Rattlers because the window flaps rattled as the train moved. This term was imported from Victoria's Tait sets and was never a contemporaneous colloquialism.
Standard Stock[]
History[]
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.
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. In 1937, Clyde Engineering built a further 12 power cars, to provide coverage while the 1920s built power cars were overhauled. 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.
Cars built[]
| Numbers | Builder | Years Built | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C3101-C3150 | Leeds Forge Company | 1925 | 50 | Initially entered service as locomotive hauled
carriages 2213-2262 |
| C3151-C3170 | Clyde Engineering | 1926–1927 | 20 | |
| C3171-C3220 | Walsh Island Dockyard | 1926-27 | 50 | |
| C3221-C3250 | Clyde Engineering | 1926 | 30 | |
| C3251-C3300 | Walsh Island Dockyard | 1928 | 50 | |
| C3301-C3440 | Clyde Engineering | 1928-1929 | 140 | |
| C3441-C3452 | Clyde Engineering | 1937 | 12 | |
| C3901-C3903 | Clyde Engineering | 1928 | 3 | Parcel vans |
| T4301-T4548 | Walsh Island Dockyard | 1927–1929 | 248 | T4543-T4548 rebuilt as
driving trailers D4051-D4056 in 1937 |
In 1937, six trailers (T4543-T4548) were converted to driving trailers. Between 1968 and 1975, some power cars were converted to 4 motors using traction equipments similar the W sets and U sets and fitted on air suspended bogies. These were renumbered upwards by 4000, e.g. C3306 became C7306.
Withdrawals commenced in the 1970s, 92 remained in service with CityRail in July 1991. The last were withdrawn in 1992. Several have been preserved
Tulloch Stock[]
History[]
In 1940, 24 first series power cars and 24 trailer cars were built by Tulloch Limited for the New South Wales Government Railways. These differed from the 1920s built carriages in having a pillar between the doors to increase passenger circulation space.
In 1951, a further three first series power cars were delivered, followed between May 1952 and March 1956 by 47 second series power cars, which featured an enlarged guard's compartment. Between July 1950 and October 1957, 105 trailer cars were built. They operated in sets with the 1920s built carriages across the Sydney suburban network.
Cars built[]
| Numbers | Builder | Years | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C3453-C3476 | Tulloch Limited | 1940 | 24 | 1st series |
| C3477-C3479 | Tulloch Limited | 1951 | 3 | 1st series |
| C3480-C3526 | Tulloch Limited | 1952–1956 | 47 | 2nd series |
| T4543-T4566 | Tulloch Limited | 1940 | 24 | |
| T4567-T4671 | Tulloch Limited | 1950–1957 | 105 |
Between 1968 and 1975, some power cars were fitted with two motor air suspended bogies. These were renumbered upwards by 4000, e.g. C3453 became C7453.
Originally painted Tuscan red, from 1973 they were repainted in the Public Transport Commission blue and white livery before the livery was changed to Indian red in 1976. The interiors were painted in two-tone green.
Overhauls of the stock continued up until 1988, with some receiving sliding aluminum Beclawat windows to alleviate rust problems. Withdrawals commenced in the 1980s, 94 remained in service with CityRail in July 1991. The last were withdrawn in 1992. Several have been preserved
Sputnik[]
History[]
Between 1956 and 1960, 40 power cars and 40 trailer cars were built by Commonwealth Engineering for the New South Wales Government Railways. Broadly similar to the Tulloch built carriages, built earlier in the 1950s, they differed in having motors on all four (as opposed to two) bogies and power operated doors. They operated as eight carriage sets and were targeted as S sets, gaining the nickname Sputniks after the Russian satellite that was launched at the same time as their entry into service.
Originally built to provide rolling stock for the newly electrified Parramatta to Penrith section of the Main Western line, they operated across the Sydney suburban network.
Following the delivery of the Tulloch double deck trailers from 1964, these replaced the original trailers in the S sets. The displaced carriages had their power door equipment disconnected, were fitted with manually operated door equipment and pooled with the Suburban and Tulloch stock. These were renumbered upwards by 50, e.g. T4701 became T4751.
Cars Built[]
| Numbers | Builder | Years | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3701-3740 | Commonwealth Engineering | 1956–1960 | 40 |
| T4701-T4740 | Commonwealth Engineering | 1956–1960 | 40 |
Originally painted Tuscan red, from 1973 they were repainted in the Public Transport Commission blue and white livery before the livery was replaced with indian red in 1976. The interiors were originally painted brown and cream with the later repaints being in two-tone green.
Overhauls of the stock continued up until 1988, with some receiving sliding aluminium Beclawat windows to alleviate rust problems. Most of the trailer cars remained in service until the end of single deck operation in January 1992. The last power cars were withdrawn in November 1993. Several have been preserved.
Preservation[]
Standard[]
Sydney’s Red Lady F1, which is made up of four carriages (C7396, C3218, T4527, C3426), is preserved and in operational condition. This is as a result of collaboration between Sydney Trains, Transport Heritage NSW, who plan public trips and tours on the train, and Historic Electric Traction. The restored train resumed carrying passengers on June 11, 2016, 14 years since its last such trip. One of the carriages of set F1, power car C3426, led the first electric train to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge. All four cars were built in 1927.
Transport Heritage NSW / Sydney Trains has multiple Standard cars in the care of Historic Electric Traction:
- C3102 - Leeds Forge (2 motor) Power Car - Stored at Redfern Carriageworks
- C3218 - Walsh Island (2 motor) Power Car - Operational at Flemington Car Sheds
- C3426 - Clyde Engineering (2 motor) Power Car - Operational at Flemington Car Sheds
- C3653 - Walsh Island (2 motor) Parcel Van (ex C3903, C3553, C3773) - Stored at Redfern Carriageworks
- C7396 - Clyde Engineering (4 motor) Power Car (ex C3396) - Operational at Flemington Car Sheds
- D4052 - Walsh Island Driving Trailer Car (ex T4547, D4673) - Stored at Redfern Carriageworks
- T4527 - Walsh Island Trailer Car - Operational at Flemington Car Sheds
Walsh Island Trailer Car T4310, owned by Transport Heritage NSW / Sydney Trains, is on static display at NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere.[citation needed] The Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum own one standard power car, Clyde Engineering (2 motor) power car C3167, stored at Dorrigo. Due to their width and old traction equipment, Transport for NSW limits the speed of these carriages to 80 km/h during normal running and 20 km/h when passing platforms. They are further limited to running in wide loading gauge track areas only, which includes the whole suburban network, but does not include the Main North or West lines leaving Sydney.
Tulloch[]
- C7485 - Tulloch (4 motor) Power Car (ex C3485) - Stored at Redfern Carriageworks
- T4554 - Tulloch Trailer Car - Under Restoration at Redfern Carriageworks
Sputnik[]
- C3702 - Commonwealth Engineering (4 motor) Power Car - Under Restoration at Redfern Carriageworks
- C3708 - Commonwealth Engineering (4 motor) Power Car - Under Restoration at Redfern Carriageworks
- T4790 - Commonwealth Engineering Trailer Car (ex T4740) - Stored at Redfern Carriageworks
On 8 May 2019, C3704 (Commonwealth Engineering (4 motor) Power Car) was removed from the Australian Technology Park and relocated to Taree to a private buyer. It was previously owned by 3801 Limited (now East Coast Heritage Rail) and was used as a site office.