CPH railmotor: Difference between revisions
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| CPH 11 || Glenreagh Mountain Railway || Under restoration |
| CPH 11 || Glenreagh Mountain Railway || Under restoration |
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| CPH 12 || Lachlan Valley Railway || Operational |
| CPH 12 || Lachlan Valley Railway || Operational Cowra |
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| CPH 13 || Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway || Under restoration, Goulburn |
| CPH 13 || Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway || Under restoration, Goulburn |
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| CPH 27 || Australian Railway Historical Society, ACT Division || Operational |
| CPH 27 || Australian Railway Historical Society, ACT Division || Operational |
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| CPH 31 || Hunter Valley Railway Trust || Stored |
| CPH 31 || Hunter Valley Railway Trust || Stored Cowra |
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| CPH 32 || Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum || Stored |
| CPH 32 || Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum || Stored |
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Revision as of 11:03, 15 September 2013
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.[1]
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.[2][3]
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.[2]
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.[2] 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, either a 75 hp Thornycroft or 95 hp Leyland type and a four-speed mechanical transmission controlled by a lever in the cab. Some units were later fitted with a 150 hp Leyland engine and hydraulic transmission. Experiments were also 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 and Twin Disc hydraulic transmissions. It was at this time that multiple unit controls were fitted.[2]
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.[2] 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.[2] In November 1984 the last Sydney area motors were withdrawn from Richmond services along with most of those in Wollongong.[3] The final two CPHs, 36 & 37, were withdrawn after the Moss Vale to Wollongong service ceased in September 1985.[4]
Preservation
Following list of preserved Rail Motors:
| Preservated Rolling Stock | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Owner | Status | Reference | |
| CPH 1 | SPER, custody of Railway Motor Society | Operational | Rail Motor, CPH 1 | |
| CPH 2 | Australian Railway Historical Society, ACT Division | Static, Junee Roundhouse | ||
| CPH 3 | NSWRTM, custody of Railway Motor Society | Operational | Rail Motor, CPH 3 | |
| CPH 6 | Cooma Monaro Railway | Operational | ||
| CPH 7 | NSWRTM, custody of Railway Motor Society | Operational | Rail Motor, CPH 7 | |
| CPH 8 | Cooma Monaro Railway | Under restoration | ||
| CPH 11 | Glenreagh Mountain Railway | Under restoration | ||
| CPH 12 | Lachlan Valley Railway | Operational Cowra | ||
| CPH 13 | Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway | Under restoration, Goulburn | ||
| CPH 14 | ARHS Newcastle, custody of Rail Motor Society | Stored | Rail Motor, CPH 14 | |
| CPH 16 | Hunter Valley Railway Trust | Stored | ||
| CPH 18 | NSWGR, custody of NSWRTM Thirlmere | Operational | Rail Motor, CPH 18 | |
| CPH 19 | ZZR, custody of Rail Motor Society | Stored | Rail Motor, CPH 19 | |
| 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 Cowra | ||
| 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 51 | Rail Motor Society | Under restoration[5] | ||
| 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 | ||
References
- ^ "Cooma- Monaro Railway". Cooma- Monaro Railway. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
- ^ a b c d e f Cooke, David (1984). Rail Motors and XPT's. Australian Railway Historical Society NSW Division. ISBN 0-909650-23-3.
- ^ a b "Goodbye Tin Hare" Railway Digest February 1985 page 37
- ^ "Proposed Country Train Plans" Railway Digest May 1985 page 133
- ^ "The Rail Motor Society". The Rail Motor Society. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
External links
