South Australian Railways Bluebird railcar

SAR 250 class Bluebird

Preserved 257 at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide in April 2014
Manufacturer Islington Railway Workshops
Constructed 1954–1959
Number built 21
Fleet numbers 100 to 106, 250 to 260, 280 to 282
Capacity 250 class: 56 (some reduced to 52)
100 class: 72
280 class 20 tonnes (20 long tons; 22 short tons)
Operator(s) South Australian Railways
Specifications
Car length 100/250 class: 23.85 m (78 ft 3 in)
280 class: 20.42 m (67 ft 0 in)
Width 2.9718 m (9 ft 9 in)
Height 4.1656 m (13 ft 8 in)
Maximum speed 112 km/h (70 mph)
Weight 250/280 class: 60 tonnes (59.05 long tons; 66.14 short tons)
100 class: 42 tonnes (41.34 long tons; 46.30 short tons)
Prime mover(s) 2x Cummins NT-855 6-cylinder diesel
Auxiliaries General Motors 3-71 cylinder diesel
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in), 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)

The Bluebird Railcars are a self-propelled railcar built at the Islington Railway Workshops for the South Australian Railways between 1954 and 1959.

History

252 at Millicent in July 1983

The Bluebird Railcars were built to provide modern air-conditioned services on the country passenger rail system where the patronage did not warrant the use of locomotive hauled passenger trains, and to replace the ageing fleet of Brill railcars introduced in 1924.

21 Bluebirds were manufactured by the South Australian Railways' Islington Railway Workshops. The fleet consisted of 11 second class passenger power cars (250 class), 3 baggage power cars (280 class) and 7 first class passenger trailer cars (100 class). They were first introduced in October 1954 with the last unit entering service on 12 November 1959. The 100 and 250 class were named after birds; the 280 class were not named and only carried road numbers. They operated services on the broad gauge network from Adelaide to Burra, Gladstone, Moonta, Morgan, Mount Gambier, Nuriootpa and Victor Harbor.[1][2] Three matching powered vans were also constructed.[3][4]

The Bluebirds were initially powered by two Cummins NHHS-600 engines. These were replaced in the early 1960s by Cummins NHHRS engines and in the mid-1970s by Cummins NT 855s. A General Motors 3-71 provided auxiliary power, this was replaced by a Deutz unit.[4]

In March 1978 all were included in the transfer of the South Australian Railways to Australian National. By 1985, 10 had been fitted with standard gauge bogies for use on services to Port Pirie, Whyalla and Broken Hill.[5] In December 1989, the 100 class trailers began to be used as sitting carriages on the Indian Pacific and The Overland.[6][7] They were also converted for use as crew carriages on Trans-Australian Railway services.[4][8][9] The last were withdrawn in January 1993 and placed in store at Mile End and later Islington Railway Workshops. In May 1995, 257 was donated to the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.[2]

In 1997 15 Bluebirds were sold to Bluebird Rail.[4] In May 1998 Bluebird Rail commenced operating the Barossa Wine Train from Adelaide to Tanunda via the Barossa Valley line with three refurbished Bluebirds (102, 251 and 252). This ceased in April 2003 with the railcars stored at the National Railway Museum.[10]

In 1998 another four Bluebirds (106, 107, 254 and 255) were refurbished and hired to V/Line for Gippsland line services to Warragul and Traralgon.[11][12] Following numerous failures whilst being trialled on the Gippsland line, the railcars were returned in June 1999.[13] One (103) was sold to Northern Rivers Railroad for use on its Murwillumbah line charter train.[14]

In 2003 some returned to Victoria for a proposed service to Mildura, however this again did not commence.

Summary

Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Scrapped
Number Original name In service Withdrawn Scrapped Current owner Current identity Notes
250 Quail October 1954 2012 Renumbered 261 in 1978. Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Converted to crew car FDAY 4 for FreightLink. Destroyed in a bridge washaway Katherine on 27/12/2011, scrapped.
251 Lowan November 1954 2003 Barossa Wine Train Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Returned to service in 1998 for Barossa Wine Train and renamed Chardonnay. Stored at Islington Railway Workshops since 2003.
252 Blue Wren August 1955 2003 Barossa Wine Train Fitted with a buffet in 1972, seating reduced to 52. Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Returned to service in 1998 for Barossa Wine Train and renamed Merlot. Stored at Islington Railway Workshops since 2003.
253 Pelican August 1955 SCT Logistics PDAY 1 Fitted with a buffet in 1972, seating reduced to 52. Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Converted to crew car for SCT Logistics.
254 Brolga September 1955 CFCL Australia CDBY 254 Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Renumbered 801 and leased to V/Line 1998-1999. Converted to crew car for CFCLA in 2007.
255 Curlew March 1956 CFCL Australia CDBY 255 Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Renumbered 802 and leased to V/Line 1998-1999. Converted to crew car for CFCLA in 2007.
256 Kookaburra December 1956 FreightLink FDAY 5 Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Converted to crew car for FreightLink in 2003.
257 Kestrel February 1957 March 1995 National Railway Museum Fitted with a buffet in 1972, seating reduced to 52. Withdrawn 1995 and gifted to the National Railway Museum.
258 Goshawk April 1957 SCT Logistics PDAY 3 Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Converted to crew car for SCT Logistics in 2005.
259 Penguin November 1957 December 1995 Rail Technical Services Fitted with a buffet in 1972, seating reduced to 52. Converted to locomotive hauled car BM 259 in 1990. Withdrawn 1995 and sold to International Development Services. Sold in 1998 to West Coast Railway. Sold to Rail Technical Services in 2004. Stored.
260 Corella November 1959 SCT Logistics PDAY 2 Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Converted to crew car for SCT Logistics in 2005.
280 December 1958 1995 1995
281 December 1958 1995 1995
282 May 1959 1995 1995
100 Mopoke September 1955 CFCL Australia RZDY 100 Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Renumbered 811 and leased to V/Line 1998-1999. Renumbered back to 100 and named Cabernet for Barossa Wine Train in 2001. Sold to CFCLA in 2002. Converted to crew car for Pacific National in 2006.
101 Grebe October 1955 FreightLink FDAY 1 Converted to locomotive hauled cat BR 101 in 1990. Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Sold to FreightLink 2003 and converted to crew car in 2004.
102 Plover November 1955 1995 CFCL Australia Converted to locomotive hauled cat BR 102 in 1990. Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Renamed Shiraz for Barossa Wine Train in 2001. Sold to CFCLA in 2003. Stored.
103 Ibis June 1956 Pacific National RZDY 103 Converted to locomotive hauled cat BR 103 in 1990. Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Sold to Pacific National and converted to crew car in 2006.
104 Avocet February 1958 FreightLink FDAY 2 Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Sold to FreightLink and converted to crew car in 2003.
105 Snipe July 1958 FreightLink FDAY 3 Converted to locomotive hauled cat BR 105 in 1990. Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Sold to FreightLink and converted to crew car in 2003.
106 Bittern August 1958 CFCL Australia RZDY 106 Converted to locomotive hauled cat BR 106 in 1990. Withdrawn 1995 and sold to Bluebird Rail. Sold to Great Northern Rail Services in 2001. Sold to CFCLA in 2002. Converted to crew car for Pacific National in 2006.

References

  1. ↑ The Bluebird Railcars of the South Australian Railways The Railways of South Australia & Victoria
  2. 1 2 "Kestral returns to operation" Railway Digest May 2013 pages 52-53
  3. ↑ Bluebird Railcars 280 to 282 Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Bluebird" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin volume 737 March 1999 pages 85-86
  5. ↑ "South Australia" Railway Digest" April 1985 page 119
  6. ↑ "Indian Pacific" Railway Digest February 1990 page 68
  7. ↑ "Loco Hauled Cars" Railway Digest" May 1990 page 191
  8. ↑ Bluebird Railcar Driving Trailers 100 to 107 Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages
  9. ↑ Bluebird Railcars 250 to 260 Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages
  10. ↑ Wine train plan derailed Adelaide Advertiser 10 November 2006
  11. ↑ "Rolling Stock Alterations" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin March 1999 page 18
  12. ↑ "Bluebird Railcars" Railway Digest January 1999 page 35
  13. ↑ "The Bluebirds Have Flown from Victoria" Railway Digest July 1999 page 17
  14. ↑ "Northern Rivers launches a Ritzy Train" Railway Digest July 1999 page 50

Further reading

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