U set

The U sets were a type of electrical multiple unit operated by the New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) and successor organisations between September 1958 and November 1996.

Development

The New South Wales Government Railways began planning the Blue Mountains electrification scheme from 1949, and with that plan in full swing by the early 1950s, called tenders for 80 cars (40 motor cars, 20 trailer cars and 20 planned first with buffet trailer cars), of which the contract was awarded to Commonwealth Engineering (Comeng) of Granville in 1954. However, the 20 planned first with buffet cars, which would have been coded RT 6601-20, were replaced by 20 full First-class seating cars just before construction began, after a 200-million pound review of the NSW Railways took place by American firm Ebasco Services Incorporated in the mid-50s recommended the replacement of these cars.

The U sets were a bit different compared to the normal suburban single-decked trains that were running at the time. They were the first EMUs in NSW to feature stainless-steel construction (earlier NSWGR EMUs featured painted mild steel or were of wood construction, of which was found on the "Bradfield" EMUs, also the oldest and first electric multiple units in NSWGR service at the time), improving train acceleration and giving the trains lower maintenance costs and a longer usable life.

Delivery

The U Sets started to be delivered from June 1957, and the first sets made their first public appearances that same year. The first appearance took place on the 22nd June 1957 when they were hauled by electric locomotive 4612 as part of the first train to travel on the newly-electrified Blue Mountains network. Normal services began on the 15th September 1958, and all of the members of the type were delivered by March 1960.

The cars were numbered as:

Second-class Motor Cars-CF 5001-40

Second-class Trailer Cars-TF 6001-20

First-class (non-smoking) Trailer Cars-ETB 6021-40

First class travel was abolished on the 1st of September, 1974, so therefore all cars were changed to one-class after September 1974. This saw the removal of the word "SECOND" on all carriages (and also allowed non-first class passengers to enjoy the benefits of non-smoking carriages for the first time!).

In service

The cars were used on Interurban services from Newcastle-Sydney Terminal (Central) and from Sydney to Lithgow, up in the Blue Mountains. These trains were supplemented by the double-decked Interurban trains from 1970 until final withdrawal in November 1996.

The trains could be found mostly on the Lithgow-Sydney services, especially after the V set trains started running more services during the 1980s. Like their normal suburban single-deck cousins, halfway through their service lives most got their original lift-up windows replaced by Beclawat sliding windows-the U sets are not air-conditioned.

Withdrawal and preservation

The U Sets (and their older Suburban single-deck brethren) met their doom from 1988 when the new Tangaras started entering service across the CityRail network. Withdrawals began in late 1994, and the last U Sets were withdrawn by 1996-on the other hand, all single-decked, non-U set trains were all withdrawn by 1993.

Most of the U Set stock are preserved and some are operational. Out of the 40 motor cars, 20 trailer cars and 20 non-smoking trailer cars built, only 14 motor cars and 23 trailer cars have been preserved:

The Sydney Electric Train Society (SETS) owns 10 examples - non smoking cars ETB 6037 and ETB 6038, trailer cars TF 6006 and TF 6010, and motor cars CF 5003, CF 5006, CF 5010, CF 5021 and CF 5022.

A few are owned by RailCorp for electric carriage preservation, and the Glenreagh Mountain Railway and Richmond Vale Railway also own trailer cars, too.

External links

• SETS article on the U sets