Crew car

Last updated

A former Victorian Railways passenger car converted into a crew car, owned by Pacific National. Pn-crew-car.jpg
A former Victorian Railways passenger car converted into a crew car, owned by Pacific National.
The term crew car may also refer to a track speeder.

A crew car (also known as a relay van) is a passenger carriage specially fitted out for the use of train drivers. Interior fittings include a sleeping compartment for each crew member, a lounge area, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry. They are usually provided with an onboard generator system and air conditioning. The practice is also known as Relay Working.

Contents

Background

They are used mainly on long-distance Intermodal freight trains in Australia and Grain trains that travel with two crews, who alternate crewing the train on duty / off duty during the journey. The car is usually marshalled directly or a few carriages behind the locomotives. Most crew cars have been converted from older SAR, VR and NSWGR passenger cars or depowered SAR Bluebird Railcars. [1]

Major Australian users of crew cars include One Rail Australia, Aurizon, Pacific National, and SCT Logistics and are predominantly found on routes between Adelaide, Darwin and Perth. In 2023, Aurizon commenced relay working in Victoria on Intermodal services to Perth using Adelaide based drivers.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conductor (rail)</span> Train crew member

A conductor or guard is a train crew member responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve actual operation of the train/locomotive. The conductor title is most common in North American railway operations, but the role is common worldwide under various job titles. In Commonwealth English, a conductor is also known as guard or train manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide–Darwin railway line</span> Railway line in Australia

The Adelaide–Darwin railway line is a railway line in Australia, between the South Australian town of Tarcoola and the Northern Territory city of Darwin. Preceded by a number of other shorter railways, a line through to Darwin was fully realised in 2004 when the final link from Alice Springs to Darwin was opened. Forming the main section of the 2,975 kilometres (1,849 mi) rail corridor between the cities of Adelaide and Darwin, the line is used by The Ghan passenger train and interstate freight trains operated by Aurizon.

There are many types of car body styles. They vary depending on intended use, market position, location, and the era they were made in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passenger railroad car</span> Railway car for passenger transport

A passenger railroad car or passenger car, also called a passenger carriage, passenger coach, or passenger bogie is a railroad car that is designed to carry passengers. The term passenger car can also be associated with a sleeping car, a baggage car, a dining car, railway post office and prisoner transport cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenbrook rail accident</span>

The Glenbrook rail accident occurred on 2 December 1999 at 8:22 am on a curve east of Glenbrook railway station on the CityRail network between Glenbrook and Lapstone, in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. Seven passengers were killed and 51 passengers were taken to hospital with injuries when a CityRail electric interurban train collided with the rear wagon of the long-haul Perth-to-Sydney Indian Pacific.

<i>The Overland</i> Australian passenger train between Adelaide and Melbourne

The Overland is an Australian passenger train service between the state capitals of Melbourne and Adelaide, a distance of 828 km (515 mi). It first ran in 1887 as the Adelaide Express, known by South Australians as the Melbourne Express. It was given its current name in 1926. Now operated by private company Journey Beyond, the train undertakes two return trips a week. Originally an overnight train that stopped at large intermediate stations, it now operates during the day, stopping less frequently. The Overland was converted to standard gauge in the 1990s and now operates from Melbourne over the longer standard gauge line initially heading south to the port city of Geelong, before returning to its original route in Ararat. After departing Ararat the train stops in the Victorian towns of Stawell, Horsham, Dimboola and Nhill before crossing the South Australian border. The final stretch into Adelaide, after crossing the Murray River is over the scenic Adelaide Hills. The train contains Red Premium and Red seated accommodation and a bar/lounge car, Café 828.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Trains K set</span> Class of electric train operating in Sydney, Australia

The Sydney Trains K sets are a class of electric multiple units that currently operate on the Sydney Trains network. Built by A Goninan & Co, the K sets first entered service in 1981 operating under the State Rail Authority, and later CityRail. The carriages are of stainless steel, double deck construction and share much of their design with the older S sets. All of the 40 K sets originally built remain in service and are currently the oldest in the Sydney Trains fleet. 2 16 Car K Sets 1st 16 Car K Set 2nd 16 Set K Set

Railmotor is a term used in the United Kingdom and elsewhere for a railway lightweight railcar, usually consisting of a railway carriage with a steam traction unit, or a diesel or petrol engine, integrated into it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways S type carriage</span>

The S type carriages are a corridor-type passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. The first carriages were constructed by the Victorian Railways in 1937 for use on the Spirit of Progress, with additional carriages built for other trains until the mid-1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downer EDI Rail GT46C ACe</span> Australian diesel-electric locomotive class

The GT46C-ACe is a model of Australian diesel-electric locomotive designed and built between 2007 and 2014 by Downer Rail at its Cardiff Locomotive Workshops using Electro-Motive Diesel components, and subsequently built in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways Royal Train</span> Trains to transport the Royal Family in Australia

The Victorian Railways' (VR) Royal Trains operated to transport members of the Royal Family on their numerous tours of Australia on the Victorian rail network. The same carriages were also used for a number of vice-regal trains for the Governor-General of Australia and the Governor of Victoria. The last Royal Train ran in 1988.

This article contains information on Victorian Railways vehicles that do not fit into other categories. These were for the most part "one-offs", and many were not even classed.

The V type carriages, introduced from 1897, were the first group of Victorian Railways passenger rolling stock to have their own distinct class.

The New South Wales stainless steel carriage stock was a type of passenger carriage operated by the New South Wales Government Railways from 1961 until 1993.

This article is intended as a catalogue of sleeping carriages used by the Victorian Railways and successors.

V & SAR <i>The Overland</i> carriages

The first carriages built specifically for The Overland train service operated by the Victorian and South Australian Railways (V & SAR) were introduced in 1949. By the end of 1951, eight new sleeping cars and six new sitting cars had entered service. Additions to the fleet continued until 1972; in all, 44 carriages were built. About eight were still in service in March 2020 on The Overland operated by Journey Beyond. Other carriages have been transferred to different services or sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V&SAR Intercolonial Express Carriages</span> 19th-century carriages on the Adelaide–Melbourne railway line

V&SAR Intercolonial Express Carriages were carriages on a new train called the Intercolonial Express running on Victorian Railways and South Australian Railways in 1887. The track of two railways met on Wednesday 19 January 1887. The Victorian Railways' Western Line to Dimboola, and the South Australian Railways' Wolseley line, met at Serviceton. Since both sides shared the broad gauge of 5'3", an agreement was made between the two railways allowing a pool of carriages, classed O, to be specifically allocated to interstate trains linking the capitals of Melbourne and Adelaide. The operating and maintenance cost of the new train would be funded by both railways, approximately 60% paid for by the Victorian Railways and 40% by the South Australian Railways.

This article describes the nine airconditioned sitting cars and fourteen guard's vans that were constructed by the South Australian Railways at Islington Workshops between 1964 and 1967. All were distinguished by fluted stainless steel panels on their sides, compatible with the appearance of cars introduced to The Overland in 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways E type carriage</span> Class of passenger railway car in Australia

The E type carriages were wooden express passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. Originally introduced by Victorian Railways Chairman of Commissioners Thomas James Tait for the interstate service between Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, these Canadian-inspired carriages remained in regular service for 85 years over the entire Victorian network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways Long W type carriage</span>

The W type carriages were wooden passenger carriages used on the railways of Victoria, Australia.

References

  1. "General Code of Operating Rules: Section 5.12: Protection of Occupied Outfit Cars". Archived from the original on December 28, 2002. Retrieved June 19, 2008.