V set (CityRail)
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The CityRail V Set is a stainless-steel double deck electric railway train that operates on the Intercity lines of the CityRail network in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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[edit] History
[edit] First batch (DCF, DDC, DTF & DTC)
The Cityrail DDIU (Double Deck Inter-Urban) /V Set (originally known as U set) was first introduced into the CityRail network (or back then, the New South Wales Government Railways/Public Transport Commission era) in 1970. The first order was for 16 cars, placed in 1968, for Commonwealth Engineering Pty. Ltd. Granville. The cars made a first run from Sydney to Gosford on 10 June 1970, targeted as F111. This 4 car train was the first set to operate in revenue traffic from 22 June 1970, and all 16 cars were in operation by September of the same year. The configuration of these cars was unsuccessful. The cars were fitted with AEI equipment, and the electrical equipment was split between the motor and trailer car. The cables were not able to provide the power needed to operate the train as proposed. This resulted in many failures to the train itself, being unable to operate, and the air-conditioning system.
There were:
- 8 Motor Cars (DCF 8001-8008) Economy Class
- 4 Driving Trailers (DDC 9001-9004) 1st Class Upper Deck, Economy Class for other seats
- 4 Trailers (DTF 9011&9012) Economy Class & (DTC9021-9022) 1st Class Upper Deck, Economy Class for other seats
These cars had many similar features to the later-built cars, including the one-piece moulded fibreglass front in royal blue & grey livery, semi-automatic doors, electronically controlled brakes and double-glazed windows.
One class travel was introduced in September 1974, so the seating was all "economy class". The Driver's Compartment was removed, and replaced by passenger toilets and luggage space. Also, the original luggage racks above the seating in the single deck section was also removed. The cars were renumbered as:
- DCF 8001-8008 > DMT 9201-9207 (7 cars remained after the writing off of 8004)
- DDC 9001-9004 > DDT 9208-9211
- DTF 9011-9012 & DTC 9021-9022 > DFT 9212-9215
The 1970 cars were also targeted as "U Sets", which were the plates used on the then current single deck inter-urbans.
[edit] Second batch (DCM & DCT)
During 1977, the second batch of DDIUs arrived, with many differences from the first batch of cars. The electrical equipment was all mounted on the Motor Car, using Mitsubishi Electrical Equipment, had stainless steel underframes, and were the first to be fitted with vacuum retention toilets, which was the first time it was used in NSW. These cars were the first of the "V Sets", with the "V" showing that they were installed with this new feature. They operated along with the 1970 cars (but not together, as they were not compatible with each other).
The cars built were:
- Motor Cars DCM 8021-8036
- Driving Trailers DCT 9031-9044
The Driving Trailers weren't used that much, due to driver complaints about an uncomfortable "kick" when the motor car started to push the trailer. The controls in the DCTs were gradually stripped, and replaced defective ones on the DCMs. However, during the "Citydecker" refurbishment by Goninan, DCT 9031-9036 were recabbed, and recoded DTD. At the same time, the DCMs in the refurbishment received destination indicators, but were gradually removed, because it was unsuccessful. Before the "Citydecker" refurbishment in 1995, the DCM motor cars were not fitted with cab air-conditioning and a union ban on them operating as terminal cars resulted in the DCM cars being placed in the middle of the train, resulting in permanent 8 car sets. DCM 8032-8036 were modified to have wheelchair seating, and recoded DTM. All of these cars lost their "Blue Goose" livery during the refurbishment, and were repainted in a Grey and Yellow livery, known as "Golden Goose".
[edit] DIM and DIT cars
The first V Set Cars were a success, and in 1982, DIM Motor Cars were introduced. There were no more driving trailers built, but a new trailer, coded DIT, was built. These cars gained seating from the DC series, from 88 to 96 for the Motor Cars, and from 92 to 112 for the Trailers.
The cars built were:
- DIM 8037-8092
- DIT 9101-9184
These cars were the last to have the "Blue Goose" Livery applied to their fibreglass fronts, with later deliveries to have a "Candy" front instead.
A decision was made to convert the 1970 cars to trailers, and make them compatible with the later V Sets, when the DIM cars were under delivery. The cars were rewired at Elcar Workshops, but their interiors remained the same.
[edit] DJM and the rest of DIT cars
A thyristor chopper system was fitted to the next batch of cars, coded DJM. The chopper cars made a smoother and quieter ride for passengers. The chopper cars can be distinguished from the earlier "camshaft" cars with a large open grille at the pantograph end of the motor car, as well as different hatch coverings over the driver side of the motor car. DJM 8123-8137 featured larger open grilles on the pantograph end. These cars were the first V Sets to be painted in the Cityrail "Candy" Livery, and were delivered with the rest of the DIT trailers. Motor car DJM8101 had its "Candy" livery repainted CityRail blue and yellow in 1990 to form a special set with the commemorative wording "celebrating 20 years of double-deck intercity services to Gosford" applied near the driver's cab window.
[edit] Final batch (DKM & DKT)
The final V Sets were introduced in 1989, and they were the very last cars to come out from Commonwealth Engineering Granville Plant. These cars were coded DKM and DKT and are permanently coupled. Altogether, 14 cars were built, and the only thing to distinguish these cars from others was that they were finished in corrugated steel, instead of the previous inserted Budd fluting. Instead of the push-pull doors inside the previous V Sets, the DKs were fitted with an electronically operated vestibule door, and no door was installed at the gangway. This was done so that passengers could access the toilets easier and hence the DKM and DKT cars were permanently coupled in two car configuration, with another two car chopper V Set forming a four-car V Set. Only 14 cars were built-7 Motor Cars (DKM 8139-8145) and 7 Trailer Cars (DKT 9185-9191). There was a proposal for more to be built, but that order was never placed.
[edit] Accidents
- On 16 January 1976, a 6 car DDIU broke down at Glenbrook. Locomotive 4623 struck the rear car (DCF 8004), which killed one passenger, and injured several others. DCF 8004 was then the first car to be scrapped in its class.
- DCM 8030 was written off after an accident near Lapstone.
- DCM 8027 was rebuilt after an accident at Katoomba, with the DK series V Sets.
- DJM 8107 was written off, after an incident at Lawson.
- DIMs 8037, 8048 and 8060 were written off from this group after accidents. 8067 was rebuilt, along with DCT 9034, and both have been renumbered DIM 8020 (8067) and DET 9216 (9034-the ex-contura car).
[edit] Current Operation
The V Sets were a large success, and continue to provide an excellent and comfortable service for passengers on the CityRail Network today. A new livery ("Intercity") is being painted onto the fibreglass fronts along with yellow doors and the CityRail yellow stripe along the underframe as the V Sets come for a minor refurbishment, and this shows that the design of the Vs is beneficial for years to come.
The 15 1970 DDIUs were withdrawn in late 2005 due to corrosion in the underframes (these cars had low-carbon mild steel underframes instead of stainless steel ones), but no further problems with the V Set fleet have been experienced.
The V Sets will be running for at least another 15 years, as from 2006. They service destinations such as Lithgow, Kiama and Newcastle.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| CityRail fleet | |
|---|---|
| Interurban and outer suburban electric fleet | |
|
V set | G set (Tangara) | H set (OSCARS) |
|
| Suburban electric fleet | |
|
L, R, and S sets | K set | C set | T set (Tangara) | M set (Millennium) |
|
| Regional diesel fleet | |
