153hp Walker railmotor

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153hp Walker railmotor
Image:153hp walker railmotor.jpg
153hp Walker railmotor
Power type Diesel
Designer Walker Bros.
Builder Walker Bros. (Power Unit),
Martin & King (Body),
Victorian Railways (Assemble).
Build date 1948-54
Total production 16
Length 17.18m
Locomotive weight 20.00t
Top speed 80km/h
Power output 153 hp

The 153hp 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 trains.

An initial order of six 153hp railcars, twelve 102hp railcars and twelve 280hp railcars from Walker Brothers in Wigan, England was placed, this was extended to include a further nine 153hp railmotors, being the delivered into revenue service on Wednesday, 26 January 1955. Sixteen 153hp units were built in total.[1]

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 58. The last 153hp Walker railmotor ran in 1981, the intended life of the Walker railmotors was only 10 years with most running for up to 30 years.

[edit] Status

Railmotor Entered service Withdrawn Scrapped Current Status Notes
20RM Friday, 16 July 1948 Monday, 20 February 1978 Wednesday, 30 April 1980 Scrapped Damaged in a derailment after hitting sheep. Accident occurred between Traralgon and Maffra.
21RM Thursday, 16 September 1948 Monday, 3 April 1978 N/A Offered for sale on 21 June 1978.
22RM Monday, 15 November 1948 Tuesday, 1 April 1980 N/A Now at Yarra Valley Tourist Railway. Being restored to running order.
23RM Friday, 5 November 1948 Friday, 8 April 1977 Thursday, 5 May 1977 Scrapped
24RM Wednesday, 23 March 1949 Friday, 9 May 1980 Scrapped
25RM Thursday, 19 May 1949 Friday, 26 November 1971 Friday, 16 June 1972 Scrapped
26RM Wednesday, 2 July 1952 Friday, 8 April 1977 Thursday, 5 May 1977 Scrapped
27RM Thursday, 31st July 1952 Monday, 1st May 1978 N/A Offered for sale on 21 June 1978.
28RM Wednesday, 10 September 1952 Monday, 1 May 1978 Friday, 25 July 1980 Scrapped
29RM Monday, 6 October 1952 Tuesday, 4 September 1979 Tuesday, 1 July 1980 Scrapped
30RM Thursday, 20 November 1952 Wednesday, 3 October 1973 Thursday, 22 June 1978 Scrapped
31RM Monday, 9 February 1953 Wednesday, 21 December 1977 Tuesday, 1 July 1980 Scrapped Derailed between Lilydale and Coldstream
on 19 February 1962.
32RM Tuesday, 24th March 1953 Tuesday, 13th January 1981 N/A Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway Being restored to running order.
33RM Friday, 7 August 1953 Tuesday, 4 September 1979
34RM Wednesday, 23 September 1953 Monday, 1 May 1978
35RM Friday, 3 September 1954 Thursday, 15 October 1970 Scrapped Spare power unit.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Railmotors: 153 hp Walker. VICSIG. www.vicsig.net. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.


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