Walker railmotor explained

Walker Railmotors
Stocktype:Diesel railmotor
Service:1948-1981
Manufacturer:Walker Brothers (power units)
Martin & King (bodies)
Thompsons (underframes)
Designer:Walker Brothers
Assembly:Victorian Railways
Replaced:Steam locomotives and carriges
AEC railmotors
Leyland railmotors
Yearconstruction:1948-1955 (102/153hp power units)
1948-1953 (102/153hp passenger units)
1950-1953 (280hp sets)
Yearservice:15 March 1948 (102hp)
16 July 1948 (153hp)
6 June 1950 (280hp)
18 October 1948 (trailers)
Yearscrapped:1970-1981
Numberbuilt:102hp power units: 13
153hp power units: 16
102/153hp passenger units: 27
280hp: 12 (+ 1 spare power unit)
Trailers: 16
Numberpreserved:102hp: 1
153hp: 3
280hp: 3
Trailers: 3
Fleetnumbers:1-13RM (102hp power units)
20-35RM (153hp power units)
100-101, 220-234 (102/153hp passenger units)
80-92RM (280hp units)
50-64MT (Trailers)
Operator:Victorian Railways (trading as Vicrail from 1974)
Lines:Various
Trainlength:102hp: 12.6m (41.3feet)
153hp: 13.2m (43.3feet)
280hp: 37m (121feet)
Carlength:102hp power unit: 2.6m (08.5feet)
153hp power unit: 3.2m (10.5feet)
102/153hp passenger units and trailers: 10m (30feet)
Maxspeed:1-13RM: 45mph
20-13RM: 50mph
280hp sets: 60mph
Weight:1-13RM: 18t
20-35RM: 20t
280hp (whole): 55t
Trailers: 17t
Engine:1-13RM: Gardner 6LW
20-35RM: Gardner 6L3
80-92RM: 2x Gardner 8LW (140hp
Poweroutput:1-13RM: 102hp
20-35RM: 153hp
80-92RM: 280hp
Tractiveeffort:1-13RM: 13.21kN
20-35RM: 18.4kN
80-92RM: 27.96kN
Notes:Fuel capacity:
  • 102/153hp units: 40impgal
  • 280hp units: 2 x 50impgal

The family of Walker railmotors were a type of diesel railcar operated by the Victorian Railways in Australia.

After World War II, the Victorian Railways undertook a major rebuilding program known as Operation Phoenix. One of the first tasks was the upgrading of passenger services on country branch lines, through the replacement of 23 wooden-bodied railmotors built in the 1920s, and the withdrawal of steam locomotive hauled mixed trains.

An initial order of twelve 1020NaN0 railcars, six 1530NaN0 railcars with trailers, and twelve 280-1NaN-1 railcars was placed with Walker Brothers, Wigan, England. It was then extended to include a further ten 153-1NaN-1 railmotors and trailers. The first was delivered in 1948, with additions to the fleet running through to 1955.[1] [2]

Construction

The power units and controls were built by Walker Bros. and shipped out from Wigan England, the underframes were built by Thompsons of Castlemaine and the car bodies were built by Martin & King, in the Melbourne suburb of Armadale. Assembly took place at the Newport Workshops. The van bodies were constructed with composite wood and steel framework, and aluminium sheeting screwed to the frames.

The engine and trailing units were initially fitted with small plates below skirt level identifying each section as part of that specific railmotor set, i.e. 80RM,[3] but these were removed as units were rotated through workshops and mixed with each other. Within a few years the identity of the and motors was marked only on the cabside door (with nothing on the saloon unit), and on the railmotors only on one side of each motor unit with nothing on either saloon unit. Vehicle identities were occasionally further confused when cabside doors were swapped in later years.

The intended life of the Walker railmotors was only 10 years. However, most remained in service for up to 30 years.

102hp & 153hp

The final fleet included 13x 1020NaN0 engine/driving units 1-13RM and 16x 1530NaN0 engine/driving units 20-35RM which looked similar; these shared 27x trailing units each mounted on only one bogie, and attached semi-permanently to the associated motor unit, leaving one motor unit of each type spare. The trailing units were not identified normally when in service, but some correspondence notes individual identities No.100 to No.111 (or No.101 to No.112[4]) and No.220 to No.234. This was marked on a small plate on the passenger/driver door of cabs.

The passenger units were all identical with room for 18 1st class and 22 2nd class seated passengers plus 2 tons luggage, except for 100, 104 and 220, which had 18+27 seats and room for only 1.27 tons of luggage; their tare weight was a ton less than the rest of the fleet.

Newsrail April 1982 records the small-van units as "11, 12 and 20", and coupled to 3RM as of 8 June 1976, and 31RM as of 1 January 1977.[5]

280hp

Separate to the paired units, railmotors 80-92RM consisted of two driving/sitting units, one either side of the power unit that gave its identity to the full consist. Originally, 80-91RM were in service and 92RM was spare without attached driving/passenger units.

One unit in each pair was fitted with seating for 38 1st class passengers, and the other had 56 2nd class passengers, for a total of 94 seats. Each was also capable of holding a single ton of luggage, the train crew only were permitted to walk through the centre motor unit engine room.

Unlike the and 1530NaN0 variants, the driving/passenger units of the 2800NaN0 series were classed A880-A891 for the 1st class units, and B880-B891 for the 2nd class units. While possible, there's no reason to assume that the sets were broken up or shuffled around, besides the central motor section.

Trailers

To go with the Walker railmotors, sixteen trailer cars were built. The first were delivered as class RMT, numbers 50 and 51; they were reclassed to MT in 1949, and further deliveries brought the class up to 64MT.

Each was mounted on two bogies with no driving stands, so they required a runaround at terminal stations. Stylistically, they matched the 1020NaN0 and 1530NaN0 railcars, and were a little shorter than the 2800NaN0 type.

Each trailer had capacity for 16 1st, 22 2nd seated passengers and 2 tons of luggage, except 55MT fitted with 38 2nd-class seats instead of a mixture.

Like the motors, these trailers were not fitted with standard couplings so special arrangements had to be made when it was necessary to move one of the trailers with a normal locomotive.

In service

The first run was on 15 March 1948, between Heathcote and Wallan on the North Eastern line; this was with 1020NaN0, 1RM. The first 1530NaN0 unit ran from Spencer Street to Daylesford, until that roster was taken by the first of the 2800NaN0 units - 80RM - on 6 June 1950.

The railcars soon saw use on the Bendigo-Deniliquin and Ararat-Portland services, and by the time the 91RM was delivered, Mansfield, Wonthaggi, Woomelang and Wangaratta were also being served by the units. The long Glenrowan – Wangaratta section often saw the railcars exceed the 60mph speed limit.[6]

Each passenger unit was equipped with adjustable seating, internal heating, non-draught windows, water tanks for drinking or washing, along with ample luggage storage in overhead wire racks. At least when new, the engines did not cause any vibration in the passenger compartments. The lighting system was powered by the then-standard Victorian Railways' 24vDC supply, which utilised a belt-driven axle generator to charge batteries and 20-watt globes. Trailer cars were not fitted with their own power supply, instead drawing power via jumper cables from adjacent units; the exceptions being 54 and 56MT, which are thought to have had their own belt-driven axle generator to charge their own batteries.[4]

The 2800NaN0 railcars were fitted with fluorescent lighting, likely a first for the Victorian Railways.

The light construction of the vehicles proved problematic, with many needing full rebuilds by 1954.[4]

It has been reported that the 2800NaN0 units had provision for multiple unit control, but that this feature was never utilised.[4] As a result, when running in multiple each unit needed to have its own driver, the two communicating through the standard whistle codes used on locomotives.

In later years the railcars' already poor riding qualities had deteriorated, especially due to their light construction. By the late 1970s the Walkers had reached the end of their lives, with a number of railcars being withdrawn from service during 1978 and 1979. By 1980 only 82RM, 85RM and 91RM remained in service.[6] The last 2800NaN0 Walker railmotor ran on 17 September 1980, with 82RM operating the 08:00 service from Melbourne to Woodend and return.

In 1981 the Central Highlands Tourist Railway (now the Daylesford Spa Country Railway) acquired 91RM, 32RM and 56MT with the transfer being carried out in March 1982. Restoration of 91RM began in January 1987, and was certified for traffic in March 1990.[6]

Liveries

Each unit was originally painted in all-over royal blue, with silver roofs, striping and highlighting. After the first of the B class diesels was delivered, the Walkers then in service were repainted, with gold replacing the silver. Over time, the roofs were repainted blue to hide grime, and the logos and striping were made simpler. To improve visibility at level crossings, the cars had thin orange stripes added in the 1950s, followed by a wide orange "dayglo" band over the top of the yellow stripe below window level. Dayglo was designed to look fairly normal in daylight, but to become reflective at night. These stripes were removed from 1968.

A number of internal themes were used, with some cars having ivory ceilings and green and brown walls; others had blue ceilings with brown walls. All cars were fitted with seats upholstered in brown leather.

Typical rosters

By 1963, the Walkers had settled into a pattern with a number of routes.

The 102 hp Walkers typically ran between:

The 153 hp Walkers typically ran between:

The 280 hp Walkers typically ran between:

Some of these rosters required multiple units.

Withdrawal and scrapping

35RM with unit no.224 was the first to be scrapped, on Thursday 15 October 1970. Scrapping then continued at a fairly easy pace until 1977, when VicRail decreed that branch lines in general were to be closed, rendering the units without a purpose. As such, 102 hp overhauls were stopped, with failed units being held awaiting scrapping instead. The same procedure applied to 153 hp and 280 hp units from April the next year.

4RM was the last 102 hp unit in service, withdrawn in December 1978; it survived longer because its engine unit had been replaced with a General Motors unit at some stage in its life, permitting a 50 mph maximum speed and allowing it to closer match the timetables applicable to the higher-horsepower units.

Withdrawals of the larger units accelerated, and by the end of 1979 only 22, 32, 82, 85 and 91RM were still in service. The latter two of that list were withdrawn next; 85RM suffered a bearing failure and continued on to Ballarat North Workshops on one engine; however, its body condition was deemed too poor to be worth repairing, so it was transferred to Newport Workshops and was stored there. 82RM was the last of the 280 hp units to go, after running an 8:00 Melbourne to Woodend and return trip on 17 September 1980.

32RM ran with 56MT through to November 1980, when the engine was withdrawn on account of a much needed overhaul (which was never completed by VicRail). 22RM and 64MT stayed in service, usually running the 9:11am Melbourne to Leongatha and return trip on weekdays, occasionally forming a Sunbury trip or two after arriving back in Melbourne. On Saturdays the unit pair would run on the Werribee shuttles, and occasionally to either Bacchus Marsh or Seymour as railmotor shortages dictated. but eventually, the gearbox failed and the unit was withdrawn following its return from Leongatha on 1 April 1981.

Preservation

In 1981, two railmotors and a trailer – 32RM, 91RM and 56MT – were scheduled to be transferred to the SteamRanger Heritage Railway at Victor Harbor, South Australia. 91RM failed on the Ingliston Bank and the three ended up stored at Ballarat East. Later, the three units were purchased by the Central Highlands Tourist Railway, now the Daylesford Spa Country Railway. 7RM was being held at Newport for future use on the Victorian Goldfields Railway. 22RM was static in the Newport Railway Museum, with 85RM held for future addition, and 59MT was similarly allocated, but was badly vandalised, potentially to be replaced by 64MT. 82RM was stored at Wodonga for a proposed tourist service at Tallangatta.

It is thought that the passenger units which had been with 29RM and 31RM at time of scrapping had been sold for use as sheds somewhere in the Victorian countryside.

Units existing as at March 11, 2023 are:

Details of vehicles

102hp, 153hp and passenger units

RailmotorEntered serviceWithdrawnScrappedStatus 24 March 1976Current StatusNotes
1RMThursday, 4 March 19481971Sunday, 19 November 1972ScrappedScrapped
2RMSunday, 14 March 19481977Swan Hill (for Piangil)
3RMFriday, 6 August 19481978Bendigo North Workshops
4RMTuesday, 15 February 19491978MelbourneFitted with GM motor, 128 hp.
5RMWednesday, 1 June 19491973Sunday, 24 February 1974ScrappedScrapped
6RMThursday, 23 June 19491978Bendigo North Workshops
7RMFriday, 22 July 1949Monday, 3 April 1978Kerang (for Koondrook)N/AStored, pending restoration at Daylesford Spa Country Railway
8RMMonday, 26 September 19491978Bendigo (Spare)
9RMMonday, 10 October 19491976Tuesday, 1 June 1976Bendigo (burnt out, awaiting scrapping)Scrapped
10RMFriday, 4 November 19491978Spotswood reclamation depot, June 1979.MelbourneScrapped
11RMTuesday, 20 December 19491978Maryborough (for Castlemaine)
12RMFriday, 10 February 19501981ScrappedScrapped
13RMWednesday, 26 January 19551978Newport WorkshopsOriginal spare power unit
20RMFriday, 16 July 1948Monday, 20 February 1978Wednesday, 30 April 1980Ararat (repairs)ScrappedDamaged in a derailment after hitting sheep. Accident occurred between Traralgon and Maffra.
21RMThursday, 16 September 1948Monday, 3 April 1978N/ANewport WorkshopsOffered for sale on 21 June 1978.
22RMMonday, 15 November 1948Tuesday, 1 April 1980N/ANewport Workshops (Spare power unit)Allocated to Australian Railway Historical Society Museum at Newport; suballocated to Yarra Valley Tourist Railway.Operational – Restored, paired with No.225.
23RMFriday, 5 November 1948Friday, 8 April 1977Thursday, 5 May 1977Healesville (for Lilydale)Scrapped
24RMWednesday, 23 March 1949Serviceton (for Horsham)Stored at Yarra Valley Tourist Railway. In poor condition.Formerly owned by Tallangatta Valley Steam Preservation Society. Possibly paired with 228.
25RMThursday, 19 May 1949Friday, 26 November 1971Friday, 16 June 1972ScrappedScrapped
26RMWednesday, 2 July 1952Friday, 8 April 1977Thursday, 5 May 1977MelbourneScrapped
27RMThursday, 31 July 1952Monday, 1 May 1978N/AMornington (for Frankston)Offered for sale on 21 June 1978.
28RMWednesday, 10 September 1952Monday, 1 May 1978Friday, 25 July 1980Maffra (for Traralgon)Scrapped
29RMMonday, 6 October 1952Tuesday, 4 September 1979Tuesday, 1 July 1980MelbourneScrapped
30RMThursday, 20 November 1952Wednesday, 3 October 1973Thursday, 22 June 1978Wonthaggi (for Nyora)Scrapped
31RMMonday, 9 February 1953Wednesday, 21 December 1977Tuesday, 1 July 1980Ballarat (for Linton)ScrappedDerailed between Lilydale and Coldstream
on 19 February 1962.
32RMTuesday, 24 March 1953Tuesday, 13 January 1981N/ABallarat (for Maryborough)Now at Daylesford Spa Country RailwayOperational - Restored in mid 1950s blue and gold livery. Paired with No.232.
33RMFriday, 7 August 1953Tuesday, 4 September 1979Ararat (repairs)
34RMWednesday, 23 September 1953Monday, 1 May 1978Newport Workshops
35RMFriday, 3 September 1954Thursday, 15 October 1970Thursday, 15 Oct 1970ScrappedScrappedOriginal spare power unit.
No.100Thursday, 4 March 194845 seats, reduced luggage capacity
No.101Sunday, 14 March 19481978
No.102Friday, 6 August 1948
No.103Tuesday, 15 February 19491978
No.104Wednesday, 1 June 1949197845 seats, reduced luggage capacity
No.105Thursday, 23 June 1949
No.106Friday, 22 July 19491978
No.107Monday, 26 September 1949
No.108Monday, 10 October 19491978
No.109Friday, 4 November 19491978
No.110Tuesday, 20 December 19491978
No.111Friday, 10 February 19501971
No.220Friday, 16 July 1948197845 seats, reduced luggage capacity
No.221Thursday, 16 September 19481978
No.222Monday, 15 November 19481978
No.223Friday, 5 November 19481978
No.224Wednesday, 23 March 19491970Thursday, 15 Oct 1970
No.225Thursday, 19 May 19491980Allocated to Australian Railway Historical Society Museum at Newport; suballocated to Yarra Valley Tourist Railway.Operational – Restored, paired with 22RM.
No.226Wednesday, 2 July 19521977
No.227Thursday, 31 July 19521978
No.228Wednesday, 10 September 19521979Possibly paired with 24RM at Yarra Valley Tourist Railway.
No.229Monday, 6 October 19521981
No.230Thursday, 20 November 19521978
No.231Monday, 9 February 19531977
No.232Tuesday, 24 March 19531981Now at Daylesford Spa Country RailwayOperational - Restored in mid 1950s blue and gold livery. Paired with 32RM.
No.233Friday, 7 August 19531979
No.234Wednesday, 23 September 19531979

280hp and passenger units

RailmotorEntered serviceWithdrawnScrappedStatus 24 March 1976Current StatusNotes
80RMTuesday, 6 June 1950Melbourne
81RMMonday, 21 August 1950Newport Workshops
82RMTuesday, 12 December 1950N/ABallarat North WorkshopsNow at Daylesford Spa Country RailwayStored pending restoration. Paired with 887A and 891B
83RMFriday, 2 February 1951Newport Workshops
84RMWednesday, 21 March 1951Melbourne
85RMWednesday, 23 May 1951Newport (for Werribee)Now at Daylesford Spa Country RailwayStored pending restoration
86RMTuesday, 17 July 1951Melbourne
87RMFriday, 3 August 1951Melbourne
88RMFriday, 7 September 1951Melbourne
89RMThursday, 25 October 19511980MelbourneScrapped
90RMThursday, 13 December 1951Ballarat North Workshops
91RMSunday, 30 December 1951N/ACrib Point (for Frankston)Now at Daylesford Spa Country RailwayOperational, paired with 880A and 887B.
92RMN/ANewport Workshops (Spare power unit)Original spare power unit only
880ATuesday, 6 June 1950Now at Daylesford Spa Country RailwayOperational, paired with 91RM and 887B.
881AMonday, 21 August 1950
882ATuesday, 12 December 1950
883AFriday, 2 February 1951
884AWednesday, 21 March 1951
885AWednesday, 23 May 1951
886ATuesday, 17 July 1951
887AFriday, 3 August 1951Now at Daylesford Spa Country RailwayStored pending restoration. Paired with 82RM and 891B
888AFriday, 7 September 1951
889AThursday, 25 October 1951
890AThursday, 13 December 1951
891ASunday, 30 December 1951
880BTuesday, 6 June 1950
881BMonday, 21 August 1950
882BTuesday, 12 December 1950
883BFriday, 2 February 1951
884BWednesday, 21 March 1951
885BWednesday, 23 May 1951
886BTuesday, 17 July 1951
887BFriday, 3 August 1951Now at Daylesford Spa Country RailwayOperational, paired with 880A and 91RM.
888BFriday, 7 September 1951
889BThursday, 25 October 1951
890BThursday, 13 December 1951
891BSunday, 30 December 1951Now at Daylesford Spa Country RailwayStored pending restoration. Paired with 887A and 82RM.

Trailers

RailmotorEntered serviceWithdrawnScrappedStatus 24 March 1976Current StatusNotes
50MT18 October 1948Bendigo North Workshops
51MT7 December 1948Melbourne
52MT25 February 1949Linton (for Ballarat)
53MT24 June 1949Bendigo North Workshops
54MT9 July 1949Ballarat loco depotFitted with belt-driven axle generator and batteries
55MT30 July 19491979Clunes (for Maryborough)All 2nd class, 38 seats
56MT5 February 1952MelbourneFitted with belt-driven axle generator and batteries
57MT11 August 195230 June 1977Melbourne
58MT17 September 1952Healesville (for Lilydale)27 April 1983 – Sold to Tallangatta[7]
59MT24 October 19521982Bendigo North Workshops
60MT4 December 1952Melbourne
61MT17 February 1953Melbourne
62MT25 November 1953Bendigo North Workshops
63MT23 December 1953Clunes (for Maryborough)
64MT18 June 1954Frankston (for Crib Point or Mornington)13 October 1983 – Sold to Tallangatta

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Railmotors: 102 hp Walker. VICSIG. www.vicsig.net. 2008-03-24.
  2. Web site: Railmotors: 280 hp Walker. VICSIG. www.vicsig.net. 2008-03-24.
  3. Web site: Unknown.
  4. Newsrail December 1981 pg284
  5. Newsrail April 1982 pg79, correcting photo captions Newsrail December 1981 pg292
  6. July 1990 . A very brief history of the 280s. Barry Fell . Newsrail . Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division) . 200–201 .
  7. http://pjv101.net/cd/pages/c073d.htm PJV'S