New South Wales Tulloch suburban carriage stock

New South Wales Tulloch suburban carriage stock
C7489 and C7513 at Meeks Road in 2008
In service	1940–1992
Manufacturer	Tulloch Limited
Built at	Rhodes
Constructed	1940–1957
Number built	4 motor cars 129 trailer cars
Formation	3, 4 and 8 carriages
Fleet numbers	C3453-3526 T4543-T4671
Operators	New South Wales Government Railways Public Transport Commission State Rail Authority CityRail
Depots	Flemington Hornsby Mortdale Punchbowl
Lines served	All Sydney suburban except Eastern Suburbs
Specifications
Car length	19.098 m (62 ft 7.9 in)
Width	3,189 mm (10 ft 5.6 in)
Doors	8
Maximum speed	3000 series cars: 80 km/h (50 mph) (designed speed) 7000 series cars: 113 km/h (70 mph) (designed speed)
Traction system	3000 series cars: 2 x Metropolitan-Vickers MV172 motors per carriage 7000 series cars: 4 x AEI149 motors per carriage Semi automatic electro-pneumatic resistance control, Series wound DC traction motors
Transmission	3000 series cars: 58:18 Gear ratio. Straight cut gears. Wheel diameter 42 inch (1067mm) 7000 series cars: 74:17 Gear ratio. helical gears. Wheel diameter 36 inch (914mm)
Power supply	36vDC
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC catenary
Current collector(s)	Single-pan diamond pantograph
Braking system(s)	Westinghouse, air
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The New South Wales Tulloch suburban carriage stock were a type of electric multiple unit operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between 1940 and 1992. In their later years, they were nicknamed Red Rattlers.

History

Abandoned carriages at Chullora

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.[1][2][3][4]

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.[5] Between July 1950 and October 1957, 105 trailer cars were built.[2][3] They operated in sets with the 1920s built carriages across the Sydney suburban network.

Numbers	Builder	Years Built	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.[2]

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.[4] 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.[2] The last were withdrawn in 1992. Several have been preserved.[4][5][6][7]

Transport Heritage NSW / Sydney Trains has two Tulloch cars in the care of Historic Electric Traction.

• C7485 - Tulloch (4 motor) Power Car (ex C3485) - Stored at Redfern Carriageworks
• T4554 - Tulloch Trailer Car - Under Restoration at Redfern Carriageworks

References

1. Churchman, Geoffrey (1995). Railway Electrification in Australia & New Zealand. Smithfield: IPL Books. p. 92.
2. "Rolling Stock" Railway Digest January 1992 page 31
3. "Sydney's Electric Trains from 1926 to 1960" ARHS Bulletin issue 761 March 2001 pages 90-93
4. T4554 - Tulloch 1940 Suburban Trailer Car NSW Environment & Heritage
5. C7489 - 1950 Post War Tulloch Motor Car Sydney Electric Traction Society
6. C7510 - 1950 Post War Tulloch Motor Car Sydney Electric Traction Society
7. C7512 & C7513 - 1950 Post War Tulloch Motor Car Sydney Electric Traction Society