The L, R and S sets (Nicknamed “Sweat sets/Tin Cans” due to lack of air conditioning) were a class of electric multiple units (EMU) that operated along the Sydney Trains network from 1972 to 2019. These sets were the first purpose-built, double decker trains in NSW, following the success of the Tulloch double deck trailers in the 1960's. The trains were of stainless steel construction and contained many features that would become standard in future rollingstock, such as reversible seating. However, the absence of a climate control system made it less popular with passengers, particularly during the 2010's, Despite this, their success has largely inspired Sydney's fleet of suburban double deckers.
Description and History[]
The L/R/S sets were built by two separate companies, Of the 509 cars, 359 were built by Comeng and 150 by A Goninan & Co, to fulfil various orders made by the NSW government. Sets would sometimes consist of cars from several different series. A distinguishing aspect between the two manufacturers were the carriage fronts. Comeng carriages had a peaked front, while the Goninan carriages were completely flat in the same area.
Following the successful trial of four double deck power cars built by Tulloch in 1968, 53 Series 1 power cars were ordered from Comeng (with the first car being C3805), which were based on the V Sets. They were delivered in 1972–73. and were paired with 1965–67 Tulloch built trailer carriages that had previously operated in company with single deck power cars. The first 39 were painted tuscan to match the trailer cars while the last 14 were painted in the newly introduced Public Transport Commission blue and white livery.
From 1976 the blue and white livery was replaced by an Indian red livery. In 1979, painted Series 1 cars began to have their paint removed to match the Series 2 cars. Only seven were completed, and it wasn't until August 1988 that the program recommenced with the last carriage treated in 1990
All carriages were delivered by 1980 without destination boards. As with most trains from this era, traction interlocking and flip-dot destination boards were later added during refurbishment. The train also featured crew air conditioning, but only fresh air vents and opening windows for the passenger compartment. As the train lacked climate control equipment, both the pantograph and camshaft motors were located on the motor car, with no equipment on the roof of the trailer cars. Along with the C Set, the S set carriages tended to crash together when accelerating from a stop.
At introduction, R/S sets ran on all Sydney suburban lines, In April 1982, ten driving trailers were introduced on local services between Scarborough and Port Kembla. These two car PK sets ran until the line was electrified in December 1985. They were hauled by 48 class diesels but because of incompatibility between the electrical systems, the guard operated doors were disconnected.
From June 1984, 4 three car sets of Goninan stock operated suburban services and from Newcastle to Fassifern and Morisset, These were targeted as "NC" sets and was allocated to Mortdale. Some carriages were later remarshalled into 2 or 3 car L sets to serve the Carlingford line and local services on the South Coast line.
In May 1987, the ten newest driving trailers based as Hornsby were renumbered D4001-D4010, All other driving trailers were converted to ordinary trailers. To allow the Tangaras to be targeted as T sets, the remaining two car sets became L sets in April 1988. When refurbished in the 1990s the crew compartments were removed.
In August 1991 the Richmond line between Riverstone to Richmond was electrified, To operate services on the new line, all 10 driving trailers and a number of Series 1 power cars were retrofitted with headlights.
From October 1996, two car L sets replaced single deck U sets on suburban services between Thirroul, Port Kembla and Kiama. These units were later extended to three cars before being replaced by Tangaras in October 2011.
City Decker upgrades[]
During the 1990's S, R and L sets were refurbished.
- The power cars received destination indicators and had the bottom half of their fronts painted yellow
- Their interiors received white walls, ceilings, grey floors and blue seats
- The original Beclawat were replaced with hopper windows: This was to prevent passengers from striking lineside objects
- Doors were painted yellow
Replacement[]
In 2004 the original Tulloch trailers were deemed life expired and the last was withdrawn by March 2004. This resulted in a disproportionate number of power cars. So 23 Comeng power cars were converted into trailers. Most of the conversions were Series 1 cars, however a few conversions involved Series 2 cars. This involved the removal of the yellow painted front (on some cars), pantograph and opening up of the driving compartment for passengers. Some cars had their external lights removed and plated over, and their cabs removed, other retained these fittings. All retained their motors and compressors for ballast purposes. The destination indicators were also retained as it would have cost too much to have them removed; they were painted over instead. These cars are easy to recognise as they have an open space where the pantograph once was.
All 6 car R sets were disbanded August 2012, with all carriages formed into four car S sets (which were typically operated in pairs).
In March 2013, the last Mortdale based sets were transferred to Flemington in March 2013 bringing an end to their operation on Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra services (Sector 1). However one set remained operational through parts of March and April on the line. In May 2014, all Hornsby sets were transferred to Flemington. At the same time, the Tangaras were withdrawn from Sector 2 lines in order to specifically take over from the withdrawn S sets on Sector 1, as the substations on the line are unable to support sustained high currents drawn by many newer trains (e.g. A sets) and as it is more efficient to have a dedicated fleet for one line.
The first A Set entered limited service on 1st July 2011, which sparked the beginning of the end for the remaining 498 cars, They were expected to be withdrawn with the last one withdrawn by 2015, In January 2014, the final Series 1 power car was decommissioned and the final A set was delivered in June 2014. In March 2013, it was announced that forty eight S sets would stay after the full introduction of the A sets to provide services on the then-new South West Rail link, A new timetable was introduced in November 2017, and 40 four car sets were temporarily required to operate the weekday service, while the B sets were delivered. This meant that S sets would once again be scheduled to operate services on all lines in Sector 2.
On 23 June 2019, S56 was briefly renumbered as S54 with a shuffled consist, and participated in the 40th anniversary celebrations for the Eastern Suburbs Railway, running from Central to Hurstville before returning to Bondi Junction. Two of the carriages in the shuffled consist were C3001 and T4101, both of which were part of the original S54 that made up the first train (alongside S55) to run on the ESR on opening day. The event S54 wore a replica of the original ESR first train board on the front, and a replica of S54's original red target plate [Mortdale based].
In their last few years of service, S sets operated only on Sector 2. Most were withdrawn as the Waratah A Sets were delivered, with S sets rerostered to Olympic Park shuttles and Sector 2 standby only. However, due to the November 2017 timetable changes incorporating the South West Rail Link (Liverpool to Leppington) they were reintroduced on Sector 2 (T2/3/5/6/8).
Final Days[]
Following the arrival of all 24 of the first batch of the new Series 2 B Sets; they replaced some K set runs, while the K sets moved on to S set runs.all remaining S sets were removed from the timetable on 28 June 2019. S135 ran the final service on that day (run L1FC on the T7 Olympic Park line). A few were remained on standby for a few weeks after, but ultimately were not used.
Some S Sets on the T7 Olympic Park Line were originally scheduled to remain in service until the end of September 2019, but these plans were ultimately scrapped due to former ATP test Tangara sets T13 and T103 being brought back to regular commuter service in July 2019.
Formation[]
The set designation is dependent on the number of carriages in a set and also the types of carriages:
| Set Designation | Configuration | Number of Carriages |
|---|---|---|
| L or NC | C-T-C
C-D |
2/3 |
| R | C-T-C-T-T-C
C-T-C-C-T-C |
6 |
| S | C-T-T-C | 4 (usually run as an 8 car set) |
There were three types of carriages: C = Control power, T = Non-control trailer and D = Driving trailer. T cars had a capacity of 130 passengers, and C/D cars had a capacity of 112 passengers.
Both R and S sets have been seen in the past running with one carriage missing before, while they were being refurbished. In their later years, timetables were revised to only use 4 and 8 car trains, removing the need for L and R sets. All L and R sets had been scrapped or been reconfigured as S sets by the 2000's.
These carriages also once ran together with the Tulloch trailers. These trailers were scrapped in March 2004 after the Millennium M sets were delivered. As a result of this, and due to the conversion of L/R sets to S sets, motor carriages were converted to trailers as there were too many motor carriages to match with trailer cars. Most of the equipment in these motor carriages were removed, including the pantograph. All driver equipment was removed, including the whole cabin and compartment doors. The vestibule seating was extended along to the end of the carriage. Originally, the round exterior compartment door window was kept, however, most now have it plated over, due to problems with vandalism.
Preservation[]
Three sets were preserved for use at Transport Heritage NSW events. The sets preserved consist of the following carriages:
- C3748 - T4003 - T4983 - C3057 (set S1)
- C3765 - T4013 - T4050 - C3986 (set S28)
- C3001 - T4101 - T4961 - C3862 (set S56)
2 more cars [not used at Transport Heritage NSW events] are currently under restoration.
- C3805 (first carriage built)
- T4150 (Carriage that Queen Elizabeth II rode on)
The S sets have operated some tours and events since their retirement. These are as follows:
- Farewell S Sets - 21 July 2019 (S28/S56)
- The Central Coast Super 8 - 27 March 2021 (S28/S56)
- S Set Bankstown Farewell - 13 February 2022 (S28)