Carriage Restoration

TRAK planned to rebuild the railway line that ran from Richmond to Kurrajong. Part of this required the acquisition of railway carriages. Many of the carriages had been out of service for 20 or more years, and during that period they have deteriorated. This means that the pool of suitable equipment gets smaller as each year passes. To allow the project to continue every effort is needed to purchase carriages as they become available.

TRAK started to rebuild the carriages to appropriate standards to allow them to run on the line. This is a long process and the first step with every carriage was to stabilise them when purchased to prevent further deterioration. These steps can be seen in the photographs, where each carriage had a tarpaulin on the roof to stop leaks, and the timber and steel work has been painted or oiled to prevent further deterioration.

End Platform Cars

Officially known as American Suburban cars, these carriages made up the bulk of the Sydney suburban loco hauled fleet. They were also used on interurban services. They were common on the Kurrajong line. TRAK owned 3 of these carriages.

These three cars have been sold to Australian Train Movers and are understood to be available for purchase.

CBA547
Suburban Car. This car has a long First Class compartment and a short Economy Class compartment. Originally from set 12a.

It was built by Ritchie Brothers of Auburn in 1905 as a 2nd Class suburban car (coded FA).
Electric Lighting replaced gas in 1926.
To first class and added to set 12 in August 1929.
Toilets added and converted to Composite (both first and second class accomodation) car May 1969.
Sold into preservation as a set in 1977.
Purchased December 2004.

Current status - Sold to Australian Train Movers, is in excellent and almost complete condition. Click here for the latest news on 547 and here for more photos of it.















As 547 was part of a set it was "close coupled". It didn't use regular couplers but was semi-permanently connected to the other cars in the set. It was not designed to be uncoupled in service. This view shows the short buffer used on close coupled cars. Compare it with the buffer used on 1539.

HFA683
Suburban car with guards compartment with open platform (later cars, known as improved brakes, had a closed guards end). Originally from set 15a.

Built by Hudson Bros in January 1897 as a terminal car with guards compartment for set 15.
Received last overhaul in 1967 and after a few years use was sold for preservation.
Survived fire that destroyed nearby cars but sustained damage to the inner end platform and wall.
Purchased February 2003.

Current status - Sold to Australian Train Movers. Click here for the latest news on 683 and here for more photos of it.


FO1539
Constructed as a suburban carriage in 1911.
1539 was converted to a tourist car during the 1920's.
After withdrawal from passenger service it was renumbered L504x and used as the Electric Locomotive Drivers’ Instruction Car.
Sold for use as a farm shed during 1960's.
Purchased October 2001.
Current status - Sold to Australian Train Movers. Click here for the latest news on 1539 and here for photos of it.













TRAK volunteers painting a temporary coat on 1539 to protect it. It now sits on the correct bogies.















1539 wasn't part of a set. As it was an instruction car it was fitted with standard couplers and buffers. Compare these buffers with the ones on 547.

Tourist Cars

The Tourist cars were originally built as "dogbox" Express compartment cars. They were rebuilt by replacing everything between the roof and the floor.

HFL343
Second class tourist car with guard's compartment, originally from set 85.

Built by John Morrison in October 1890 as number 54, a second class, 7 compartment car.
Renumbered FX343 in 1892.
Guards compartment added in November 1911, now HFX343.
Converted to HFL343 in May 1933, tourist seating for 32 in open compartment.
Condemned March 1984.

Current status - much interior and roof work done. 343 has been sold to Australian Train Movers and is understood to be available for purchase. Click here for the latest news on 343 and here for more photos of it.

BL361
First class tourist car. Spent some time as part of the overhead wiring train.

Built in June 1891 by Hudson Bros as a coupe, 7 compartment car. Coupe cars had windows in the end walls.
Original Number 182 to BC361 in 1892.
Electric lighting replaced the gas system in 1922.
Converted to BL361 in January 1941. Now a first class tourist car with face to face seating for 40, tables provided.
Condemned September 1974.
April 1975 renumbered to L462 and added to the Overhead Wiring train.
Condemned April 1991 and sold.
Purchased June 2001
Current status - was TRAK's most important car! It served as the site facilities with operational washroom and lunch room. It has been sold to a private buyer in the local area for use on their property. Click here for the latest news on 361 and here for more photos of it.

Other cars

L473
This wagon remains a bit of a mystery. It appears to be a wooden framed CW (cattle wagon) that has been converted to be used as a work van. It was used as a storage van for the Signalling department. The air tank was tested at Lithgow in 1977 and it was condemned some time after that.

It is typical of goods rollingstock in use three quarters of a century ago. It is of all timber construction and may date from the late 19th century.

Current status - Has been donated to Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway. Click here for the latest news on L473 and here for more photos of it.