New South Wales N type carriage stock explained

The N type carriage stock was a type of steel passenger carriage operated by the Department of Railways New South Wales and its successors from 1939 until the late 1980s.

History

In September 1938, the Department of Railways New South Wales awarded a contract to Waddington, Granville for 35 steel carriages.[1] [2] They were equipped with forced air ventilation and downward opening windows. Neither were successful and were replaced by more conventional fittings.[3]

The cars were delivered as 5 NUB sets of seven cars, normally marshalled as HFN, FN, FN, BN, BN, FN and HFN. Car numbers were initially 2177-2211 and the cars being numbered sequentially within each set. Cars 2200-2211 were subsequently renumbered to 1738-1748 to accommodate XPT car numbering. The BN cars were first class cars and sat 56 passengers in seven semi-partitioned sections. The FN cars were second class cars and could seat 78 passengers. The HFN cars were second class brake vans and could seat 68 passengers.[1]

In May 1944, they were placed on the Newcastle Flyer services until replaced by HUB sets from 1948.[4] They were also used on the Cessnock Express using set NAB 113 with addition 2 FS carriages (as far as Broadmeadow) until 1963.[2]

On 23rd of June 1964, set 115 was used with an additional 2 FN on Historic Newcastle Flyer record attempt with 3801 setting the new time record of 2hr, 1min and 50sec.

By 1969, five cars were modified from FN to RFN to provide additional buffets for the NSWGR fleet. The modified cars were 32NaN2 lighter and had a capacity of 47 passengers.[5] A number were modified to BAM sleepers for use on longer distance trains which allowed retirement of a number of the older TAM type sleepers.

Over the years, they operated on both express passenger and mail train services. Some of carriages were modified and converted for their new purposes. In 1967, some were converted for use on the Brisbane via Wallangarra service which consisted of 3 carriages from set 112 and one from Set 114, This new set was WAB 130 and consisted of BAM, FNR, CN and ABN which was a spare car. WAB 130 was the only set to permanently contain a sleeper carriage.[6] Another modification happened in June 1970 for use on the Southern Highlands Express becoming WOB 131.[3] [7] [8] This was to replace R type Set 102. They were withdrawn in the late 1980s following the cessation of the Northern and Western Mails.

Fleet Status

Original delivery sets

NUB Delivery Set Original Code HFN FN FN BN BN FN HFN
110 Original Number 2177 2178 2179 2180 2181 2182 2183
Current/last code/number RFN SFN
Owner/Custodian privately owned Privately owned
Location Glenreagh Port KemblaGlenreagh
ConditionCottage Shell OnlyScrappedScrappedScrappedOperational Cottage
111Original Number 2184 2185 2186 2187 2188 2189 2190
Current/last code/number FNR FRN RFN SCN BAM
Owner/Custodian THNSWECHRSydney Rail Services Privately owned
LocationEveleigh Port Kembla Thirlmere Rothbury
ConditionRestoration Operational Operational
112Original Number 2191 2192 21932194 2195 2196 2197
Current/last code/number ABN SBN HN
Owner/Custodian Train Mover NSW Govt THNSW
LocationDorrigo Eveleigh Port Kembla Port Kembla Glenreagh Thirlmere
ConditionShell only Operational OperationalOperational
113Original Number 2198 2199 2200 2201 2202 2203 2204
Current/last code/number HN BHM 1738 RFN 1739 SCN 1740 BAM 1741 1742
Owner/Custodian
Location Canberra Canberra Canberra Rothbury Rothbury
ConditionOperational Operational Operational OperationalScrapped
114Original Number 2205 2206 2207 2208 2209 2210 2211
Current/last code/number BAM 1743 BAM 1745 CN 1747 BAM 1748
Owner/Custodian
LocationRothbury Lake Burrendong Dorrigo Thirlmere Goulburn
ConditionShell only OperationalScrapped Operational

Subsequent sets formed

The following sets were formed exclusively of N-type carriages subsequent to the dissolution of the original delivery sets. Other sets were formed with non N-type carriages however these are not shown.

NUB115Code HFN FN FN HFN
Number 2200 2203 2210 2207
Previous Sets 113 113 112 114
WAB130Code CN BAM FNR ABN
Number 2209 2189 2199 2194
Previous Sets 114 111 113 112
WOB131Code HN SCN SBN FRN SFN HN
Number 2197 1740 2195 2186 2182 2198
Previous Sets 112 113 112 111 111 113

Notes and References

  1. Book: Cooke. Coaching Stock of the New South Wales Railways. Eveleigh Press. 2003. 1-876568-01-1.
  2. Book: Dunn, John. Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 1: 1921-1955. 2006. Rosenberg Publishing. Kenthurst. 55–57. 1877058424.
  3. "Carriage Review" Railway Digest December 1986 page 393
  4. Book: The Flyer. 1970. New South Wales Rail Transport Museum. Sydney. 0-909862-16-8.
  5. 1969 General Appendix, Department of Railways, New South Wales, page 445
  6. Book: Passenger Cars of the NSWGR. 1972. Traction Publications. Canberra. 0-85829-005-7.
  7. "20 Years Ago" Railway Digest May 1988 page 190
  8. "20 Years Ago" Railway Digest June 1990 page 230