280hp Walker railmotor
Encyclopedia
The 280hp Walker railmotor were a diesel
railcar
operated by the Victorian Railways
in Australia
.
After the Second World War, 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 train
s.
An initial order of six 153hp railcars, twelve 102hp railcars and twelve 280hp railcars from Walker Brothers in Wigan, England
was placed, with twelve complete 280hp units built in total, as well as a spare motor unit. The power units and controls were shipped out from England and the car bodies built locally by Martin & King
in Malvern
, with the finished units assembled at Newport Workshops. Each railmotor had a total seating capacity of 94.
The first of the 280hp Walkers entered service on 6 June 1950, with 80RM departing Spencer Street for Daylesford
. 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 60 miles per hour (96.6 km/h) speed limit.
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 mass withdrawals being carried out in 1978 and 1979. By 1980 only 82RM, 85Rm and 91RM remaining in service. The last 280hp Walker railmotor run on 17 September 1980, with 82RM operating the 08.00 am service from Melbourne to Woodend and return. The intended life of the Walker railmotors was only 10 years with most running for up to 30 years.
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, being certified for traffic in March 1990
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
operated by the Victorian Railways
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
After the Second World War, the Victorian Railways
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
undertook a major rebuilding program known as "Operation Phoenix
Operation Phoenix (railway)
Operation Phoenix was a post World War II rehabilitation program carried out by the Victorian Railways in Australia. The program commenced in 1950 and was originally planned to take 10 years and cost £80 million pounds...
". 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 train
Mixed train
A mixed train is a train that hauls both passenger and freight cars or wagons. In the early days of railways they were quite common, but by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. As the trains provided passengers with very slow service, mixed trains have...
s.
An initial order of six 153hp railcars, twelve 102hp railcars and twelve 280hp railcars from Walker Brothers in Wigan, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was placed, with twelve complete 280hp units built in total, as well as a spare motor unit. The power units and controls were shipped out from England and the car bodies built locally by Martin & King
Martin & King
Martin & King was a manufacturing company based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The company specialised in car and railway coachwork.-History:...
in Malvern
Malvern, Victoria
Malvern is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington. At the 2006 Census, Malvern had a population of 9,422.-History:...
, with the finished units assembled at Newport Workshops. Each railmotor had a total seating capacity of 94.
The first of the 280hp Walkers entered service on 6 June 1950, with 80RM departing Spencer Street for Daylesford
Daylesford, Victoria
Daylesford is a town located in the Shire of Hepburn, Victoria, Australia. It is a former goldmining town about 115 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. At the 2006 census, Daylesford had a population of 3,073...
. The railcars soon saw use on the Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
-Deniliquin and Ararat
Ararat, Victoria
Ararat is a city in south-west Victoria, Australia, about west of Melbourne, on the Western Highway on the eastern slopes of the Ararat Hills and Cemetery Creek valley between Victoria's Western District and the Wimmera...
-Portland
Portland, Victoria
The city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg. It is located on Portland Bay.-History:...
services, and by the time the 91RM was delivered Mansfield, Wonthaggi
Wonthaggi, Victoria
Wonthaggi is a town located south east of Melbourne via the South Gippsland and Bass Highways, in the Bass Coast Shire of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia...
, Woomelang and Wangaratta were also being served by the units. The long Glenrowan - Wangaratta section often saw the railcars exceed the 60 miles per hour (96.6 km/h) speed limit.
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 mass withdrawals being carried out in 1978 and 1979. By 1980 only 82RM, 85Rm and 91RM remaining in service. The last 280hp Walker railmotor run on 17 September 1980, with 82RM operating the 08.00 am service from Melbourne to Woodend and return. The intended life of the Walker railmotors was only 10 years with most running for up to 30 years.
in 1981 the Central Highlands Tourist Railway (now the Daylesford Spa Country Railway
Daylesford Spa Country Railway
The Daylesford Spa Country Railway is a volunteer-operated broad gauge tourist railway located in Victoria, Australia. It operates on a section of the formerly disused and dismantled Daylesford line...
) acquired 91RM, 32RM and 56MT with the transfer being carried out in March 1982. Restoration of 91RM began in January 1987, being certified for traffic in March 1990
Status
| Railmotor | Entered service | Withdrawn | Scrapped | Current Status | Notes |
| 80RM | Tuesday, 6 June 1950 | ||||
| 81RM | Monday, 21 August 1950 | ||||
| 82RM | Tuesday, 12 December 1950 | N/A | Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway Daylesford Spa Country Railway The Daylesford Spa Country Railway is a volunteer-operated broad gauge tourist railway located in Victoria, Australia. It operates on a section of the formerly disused and dismantled Daylesford line... |
Stored pending restoration. | |
| 83RM | Friday, 2 February 1951 | ||||
| 84RM | Wednesday, 21 March 1951 | ||||
| 85RM | Wednesday, 23 May 1951 | Mornington Railway Mornington Railway The Mornington Railway is a heritage railway near Mornington, a town on the Mornington Peninsula, near Melbourne, Victoria. The line is managed by the Mornington Railway Preservation Society and operates on part of the former Victorian Railways branch line which ran from Baxter to Mornington.-... |
Stored pending restoration | ||
| 86RM | Tuesday, 17 July 1951 | ||||
| 87RM | Friday, 3 August 1951 | ||||
| 88RM | Friday, 7 September 1951 | ||||
| 89RM | Thursday, 25 October 1951 | 1980 | Scrapped | ||
| 90RM | Thursday, 13 December 1951 | ||||
| 91RM | Sunday, 30 December 1951 | N/A | Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway Daylesford Spa Country Railway The Daylesford Spa Country Railway is a volunteer-operated broad gauge tourist railway located in Victoria, Australia. It operates on a section of the formerly disused and dismantled Daylesford line... |
Operational | |
| 92RM | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Spare Power unit only |