South Australian Railways Brill railcar

The South Australian Railways Model 55 and 75 Brill railcars were two types of railcars that served the South Australian Railways for several decades (1925–1971). Introduced to run on country rail services, the "Barwell Bulls" serviced most of the state's railway lines until they were eventually replaced by both the Bluebird and Redhen railcars, with the last units withdrawn from SAR service in 1971.

Background

In 1924, the South Australian Railways (SAR) decided to order a group of railcars in order to continue services at country stations that didn't have enough passenger numbers to make those services financially viable. J.G. Brill were contracted to supply twelve railcar chassis, which would be mated to bodies constructed by the SAR's own Islington Workshops. Eventually these railcars entered service during 1924 and 1925 as the Model 55 railcar class, and overnight these trains were a success.

Two years later the Brill company supplied the SAR with an improved version of the railcar, known as the Model 75 within the SAR and soon after 24 Model 75s and 25 trailers were under construction at Islington Workshops, and during 1927 these entered service. Like the 55s before it these were intended for country services, but the main difference was the engine choice (the 75s had 186 hp Winton Model 110 six-cylinder engines versus the 68 hp Midewest fours found on the 55s).

In service

When first built the 55s and 75s worked on country lines around South Australia up until their withdrawal from service and featured a brown livery. To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the SAR in 1936, all Model 55s and 75s still in service were given a repaint into a green and cream livery-which they wore until retirement. Later on yellow stripes were added to the front to increase visibility.

Another change was the engine choices. From delivery all 55s carried Midewest four-cylinder engines, while the 75s used more powerful Winton Model 110 six-cylinder engines. From 1934 SAR begun re-fitting the railcars with Gardner six-cylinder diesel engines on the 55s and Cummins diesels on the 75s, but thanks to the events that occurred between 1939 and 1945 some railcars didn't get their conversions until after the end of World War II. At the same time multiple-unit controls were fitted to the Brill railcars.

Withdrawal and preservation

Preserved 8 at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, 2014

However, the Brills were facing replacement during the 1950s. In 1955 the SAR introduced its Bluebird and Redhen railcars, and therefore the "Barwell Bulls"-nicknamed after the then Premier of South Australia and the sound that the air horn emitted-were eventually moved to suburban services in Adelaide and its surrounding suburbs.

More Redhens eventually came to replace them on the metropolitan lines and as a result the last Brill railcars were withdrawn in October 1971s-not long after the last Redhens entered service.

Only five Brills have survived their replacement. Railcars 8 (55) currently under restoration hopefully to operational condition and 41 (75) which is a static exhibit, are at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, 106 (75) and trailer car 305 are at the Pichi Richi Railway in operational condition. SteamRanger has 60 (75) which was converted from condemned Brill trailer 207 and also 43 (75) which was donated to the society at no cost long-time ARHS member John Wilson.

The remainder have been scrapped or converted to PWS sleeping cars. A few ended up as accommodation at the "Barossa Junction Motel" in Adelaide's Barossa Valley. This motel has since closed and the carriages sold on to new owners.

References

[1] National Railway Museum website

External links

Media related to Brill railcar at Wikimedia Commons