N type carriage

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N type carriage
N class locomotive hauling a five car N type carriage set
N class locomotive hauling a five car N type carriage set

Interior of a BTN type economy carriage
Interior of a BTN type economy carriage

Manufacturer Victorian Railways
Built at Newport Workshops
Refurbishment 2007
Constructed 1981 - 1984
Entered service 1981 -
Operator V/Line, various heritage operators
Specifications
Intercar connections Rubber corridor connectors
Power supply Underfloor generator or Head end power
Gauge Broad gauge only

The N type carriages are an intercity passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. They were introduced between 1981 and 1984 as part of the 'New Deal' reforms of country passenger rail services. Today there are seen on both V/Line long distance InterCity services, as well as shorter InterUrban services.

The carriage sets have both first class 2+2 seating, and 2+3 economy seating. Snack bar facilities are also provided onboard. Originally delivered as 3 car sets, some sets were extended in length with S and Z type carriages.

Today the carriages are normally hauled by N class diesel locomotives. The carriages can use an external head end power supply for lighting and air conditioning operation, or an internal generator set. Each carriage has two swing doors per side, which were originally manually opened by passengers, but have since been converted to powered operation by the conductor. Toilets, drinking fountains and luggage areas are provided throughout each carriage set.

Contents

[edit] History

The N type carriages were built between 1981 and 1983, based upon the structural design of the Victorian Z type carriages built between 1956 and 1960.[1]

In 2007 V/Line commenced a refurbishment program for their existing H type carriages and Sprinter railcars,[2] this program later being extended to the N type carriages. In October 2007 the first refurbished N type carriage was released into traffic with the new V/Line grey exterior livery, as well as updated interior curtains and seat fabrics.[3] Since then two complete sets have been released from refurbishment (sets VN12 and FN14), along with a number of loose BZN carriages. Work continues on the remainder of the fleet.

[edit] Coding

N type carriages are individually numbered in the 1 to 57 series. Sets were issued to traffic with three types of carriage:

  • ACN first class with conductors van
  • BRN economy class with snack bar
  • BN economy class

From 1995 surplus Z type carriages were upgraded to N type interiors, with the following codes but with their original Z type numbers:

  • BZN economy class with disabled access and toilet
  • BTN economy class

[edit] Carriage sets

The N cars appear in fixed sets not altered in ordinary service. The sets are numbered between 1 and 19. Initially issued to service as 3 car sets, from 1995 additional cars of the BCZ, ACZ, BS, BZN or BTN type were attached to give longer sets. Additional cars may also be temporary attached or detached to a set without the set code being altered.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Level Crossing Collision V/Line Passenger Train 8042 and a Truck Near Kerang, Victoria 5 June 2007. Chief Investigator, Transport and Marine Safety Investigations. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
  2. ^ Media Release: NEW LOOK V/LINE FLEET TAKES TO THE TRACKS. www.dpc.vic.gov.au. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
  3. ^ V/Line - New Livery @ Fotopic.Net. wongm.fotopic.net. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.