New South Wales Sputnik suburban carriage stock

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Sputnik suburban carriage stock
8 cars of Rattler (cropped).jpg
Preserved carriage C3702 now part of heritage set W3 at the Flemington Maintenance Depot
Stock typeElectric multiple unit
In service1957–1993
Manufacturer Commonwealth Engineering
Built at Granville
Constructed1956–1960
Number built
  • 40 motor cars
  • 40 trailer cars
Formation8 carriages
Fleet numbers
  • C3701-3740
  • T4701-T4740
Operators
Depots
Lines servedAll Sydney suburban except Eastern Suburbs
Specifications
Car length19.105 m (62 ft 8.2 in)
Width3,142 mm (10 ft 3.7 in)
Doors8
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)
Traction system4 x Metropolitan-Vickers MV222 or 4 x AEI AEI149 series-wound DC traction motors per power car, each rated at 180 hp, semi automatic electro-pneumatic resistance control
Transmission74:17 Gear ratio. Helical gears. Wheel diameter 36 inch (914mm)
Power supply 120vDC
Electric system(s) 1,500 V DC catenary
Current collection Single-pan diamond pantograph
Braking system(s) Westinghouse, air
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The New South Wales Sputnik suburban carriage stock is a type of electric multiple unit that was operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between 1957 and 1993 and served on the Sydney suburban network.

Contents

In their later years, they, alongside the Standard and Tulloch trains, were nicknamed "Red Rattlers", the expression coming from Melbourne in reference to the wooden Tait trains. [1] [2]

History

Between 1956 and 1960, 40 power cars and 40 trailer cars were built by Commonwealth Engineering for the New South Wales Government Railways. They were ostensibly built to provide rolling stock for the newly electrified Parramatta to Penrith section of the Main Western line, they operated across the Sydney suburban network. [3] 80 carriages were built by 1960.

Following the delivery of the Tulloch double deck trailers from 1964, these replaced the original trailers in the Sputnik sets. Originally, only the sputnik power cars were going to haul the double deck carriages due to having more tractive power. But the older motor cars proved to also be capable. After having originally being targeted S1-S9, The Sputnik sets were retargeted as W1-W9 when the double deck suburban cars that fell under the former designation were introduced in 1972. [4]

Originally painted Tuscan red, from 1973 they were repainted in the Public Transport Commission blue and white livery before the livery was replaced with Indian red in 1976. The interiors were originally painted brown and cream with the later repaints being in two-tone green. [3]

Overhauls of the stock continued up until 1988, with some receiving sliding aluminium Beclawat windows to alleviate rust problems. Most of the trailer cars remained in service until the end of single deck operation in January 1992. [5] The last power cars were withdrawn in November 1993 and several of these carriages were scrapped across the network alongside the Standard and Tulloch cars that had been retired the year before. [3] Several have been preserved. [6]

Construction and Distinguishing Features

A Sputnik power car on set W7 (left) next to a Tulloch power car on set M1 at a depot (right) Tulloch and Sputnik cars at a depot.jpg
A Sputnik power car on set W7 (left) next to a Tulloch power car on set M1 at a depot (right)

The Sputnik cars were broadly similar to the Tulloch built carriages, built earlier in the 1950s, they differed in having motors on all four (as opposed to two) bogies. This meant they were electrically incompatible with the previously built suburban cars but were compatible with the interurban cars also built by comeng around the same period. Like previous built stock their tractive equipment was provided by Metropolitan-Vickers.

These cars were additionally fitted with power operated doors as well as being of spot welded construction rather then riveted like previously built suburban carriages and the crew compartment door set further back with a larger cab in the power cars. [4] They only received a sun shade over the driver's window.

TotalTypeNumbersNotes
80Motor carsC3701–C3740
80Trailer carsT4701–T4740Put into manual door single deck sets in 1964

The displaced trailer carriages had their power door equipment disconnected, were fitted with manually operated door equipment and pooled with the Standard and Tulloch stock. These were renumbered upwards by 50, e.g. T4701 became T4751. [5] [7] [3]

They operated as eight carriage sets and were targeted as S sets and were the first trains to have their target plates distinguish the type in contrast to the previously built sets of which the target plates correspond to the depot they were located to. With the S standing for "Safety Doors", gaining the nickname Sputniks after the Russian satellite that was launched at the same time as their entry into service. [5] [7] [3] While they were targeted differently, they were still kept at the same four depots as the other single deck suburban carriages.

Preservation

Over 11 carriages remain with some having converted into housing. Other cars are stored at Chullora and others are privately owned. [8] Only three remain for heritage all of which are in the care of Historic Electric Traction, who have made efforts to restore heritage set W3 to the mainline for charter train services. This set comprises Sputnik Power cars C3708 and C3702 as well as Tulloch double deck trailers T4801 and T4814. This set has yet to take any heritage tours. [9]

Preserved C3704 outside Eveleigh Railway Workshops in October 2006 Eveleigh1.jpg
Preserved C3704 outside Eveleigh Railway Workshops in October 2006

Sydney Trains has three Commonwealth Engineering Sputnik cars in the care of Historic Electric Traction.

On 8 May 2019, C3704 (Commonwealth Engineering (4 motor) Power Car) was removed from the Australian Technology Park and relocated to Taree to a private buyer. [10] It was previously owned by 3801 Limited (now East Coast Heritage Rail) and was used as a site office. [10]

Other surviving cars include:

Privately owned cars

Car NumberOwnerLocationCondition
C3704Geoff Willis, formerly 3801Ltd/ECHRTaree, NSWPreserved
C3705Carriageway [12] Dungog, NSWConverted
C3711CarriagewayDungog, NSWConverted
C3726Krinklewood Cootage and Carriages [13] Polkobin, NSWConverted
C3730Country Carriage Bead and Breakfast [14] Ariah Park, NSWConverted
C3733Formerly Mudgee [15] MudgeePreserved
C3735CarriagewayDungog, NSWConverted
T4736The Last Stop Ambledown Brook [16] Wallaroo, NSWConverted

References

  1. SCANLON, MIKE (12 September 2014). "HISTORY: The old 'Red Rattlers' live on". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  2. "Generations of electric rolling stock - Sydney Trains". Sydney Trains. Archived from the original on 6 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 The Sputnik Cars Sydney Electric Traction Society
  4. 1 2 City Connections (26 February 2023). Rolling Stock of Sydney: The Red Rattlers (Standard, Tulloch and Sputnik Suburban Stock) . Retrieved 6 September 2025 via YouTube.
  5. 1 2 3 "Rolling Stock" Railway Digest October 1991 page 374
  6. C3708 - Comeng 1955 Suburban Motor Car NSW Environment & Heritage
  7. 1 2 "Sydney's Electric Trains from 1926 to 1960" ARHS Bulletin issue 761 March 2001 pages 90-93
  8. "SETS Fleet - Single-Deck Suburban Cars". www.sets.org.au. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  9. Traction, Historic Electric. "Historic Electric Traction". Historic Electric Traction. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Past Fleet – East Coast Heritage Rail". East Coast Heritage Rail. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  11. Sanders, Garry (8 August 2010), Red Rattler at Rest , retrieved 11 September 2025
  12. "Home | Carriageway" . Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  13. "KRINKLEWOOD COTTAGE & TRAIN CARRIAGES | POKOLBIN, AUSTRALIA | SEASON DEALS FROM $218". krinklewood-cottage-train-carriages.newsouthwaleshotels.net. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  14. Rbromfield. "CARRIAGES AND RATES". Country Carriage Bed and Breakfast Temora accommodation. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  15. "'Those items are of significance': Frustration that parts of the 'Red Rattler' stolen". Mudgee Guardian. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  16. "Last Stop Ambledown Brook B&B - Vintage Trains near Canberra". mysite. Retrieved 15 January 2023.