C set (CityRail)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Untargetted C set at Glenfield.
Enlarge
Untargetted C set at Glenfield.

The C Set is a stainless steel double deck train, manufactured by United Goninan, operating on CityRail's suburban routes. The "C" set was the first suburban train in the CityRail fleet to be fitted with chopper control, which gives the train smoother acceleration (and hence the "C" set designation). These trains were also the first to be fitted with fixed seating (originally with fabric material), glass partition vestibules, and door operation indicator boxes. The chopper cars were originally known as the "K" sets and for a while when they entered service originally, they ran together with the earlier force-ventilated cars (then known as "R" set). This however caused problems as force ventilated cars were fitted with camshaft control and this caused some "jerking" while the train was accelerating.

Only 56 C-Set carriages were built in 1986-87, split into 14 4-car trains. The "C" set carriage design is based on the "K" sets and these cars were built as there were delays in the Tangara project. However, the "C" set is distinguished externally by a fibreglass moulding mounted on the front of the motor carriage. This fibreglass moulding was originally white with orange and red stripes on the lower portion, known as the candy livery of the State Rail Authority. Car C3596 was the only motor car to have its Candy stripes on its front repainted CityRail blue and yellow prior to its "Citydecker" refurbishment in 1998. The chopper cars are amongst the heaviest in the suburban fleet, with the motor cars weighing 52 tonnes.

When the CityRail fleet was reorganised in the 1980s, the "R" set designation was given to the older non airconditioned six-car sets, while the force ventilated cars were given the "K" set designation. In turn, the chopper cars were remarshalled into six-car sets and was given the "C" set target. From 2001, the "C" sets were once again operating as 4 and 8 car sets.

As of October 2005, all C-Sets are operating on Sector 2 and maintained at Flemington maintenance centre (as indicated by the blue target plate), although some sets still carry the black target plate from when they were maintained at Hornsby Maintenance Centre.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


CityRail fleet
Interurban and outer suburban electric fleet

V set | G set | H set

Suburban electric fleet

L, R, and S sets | K set | C set | Tangara | Millennium

Regional diesel fleet

620 & 720 railcar | Endeavour railcar | Hunter railcar