The Sydney Electric Train Society (SETS) had a problem. Two problems actually.

They needed two of their single decker interurban motor cars moved from Goulburn to Sydney so they could restore them to active duty.

And they needed to move two 46 class electric locomotive bogies from Chullora to Goulburn for undercover storage.

The interurban cars are the original stainless steel sets which ran through to Lithgow from 1958 after completion of electrification in 1957. Colloquially they are known as "U-boats". The 46 class was introduced in 1956.

SETS hunted around several operators but only ARHS (ACT) was available in the required timeframe. They came to us with a hire proposal.

All this is why 4807 found itself in Goulburn station coupled to five carriages (click on any of these pictures to see a larger image).

With around 18 SETS representatives on board, the three extra cars looked like overkill.

Not so; three cars were needed as braked vehicles behind the bogies (which are unbraked), during the return trip. If the U-boats were unable to be activated, the cars would have served the same purpose.

The SETS people were a little apologetic about the internal condition of the cars as they had been entered and graffitied before SETS took them over. Our carriage restorers would love to work with something so good!

A re-spray, attention to flooring and floor coverings, and spit and polish on the fittings will have the cars better than new. Compare these cars with our air-conditioned sitting car presently in our shed.

Both cars are driving motors and restoration work has been on-going while they have been in Goulburn.

The air brake system and related air-operated accessories have been overhauled, even the windscreen wipers work.

A start has been made on the electrical controls. The bearings and running gear had been checked and greased. Only one motor bearing was a little noisy, and the motor was going to be changed out anyway.

The cars rode very well and gave no sign of causing trouble during the trip: well, almost no sign.

Having to turn two cars-worth of un-powered traction motors made 4807's task of lifting the load that much harder; a bit heavier than the 230 tonne trailing load would indicate.

Climbing up to Bundanoon was slower and noisier than expected. If that had been 1210, I would say she was being fired very well indeed!

Some of the SETS people travelled first class while others slummed it in economy.

The route into our Sydney destination took us around a goods line to join the main north at North Strathfield.

The climb up the hill broke no speed records - we were overtaken by one spark on a four-track section - but was also uneventful in the best sense of the term. The loco crew certainly appeared relaxed.

When we arrived at our destination, 4807 ran around and shunted the cars into the desired location.

The two U-boats were split off here and we moved out to the departure signal, ready for a sprint down to Chullora.

Those who used to drool past Chullora on the Hume yonks ago can't recognise the place now.

The Sydney Morning Herald is now printed where Signals Branch manufactured point fittings, signals, point locks, lever frames and a thousand and one other things that still - in places - guard the safety of the system.

We were tootling around what was Welders, the long rail welding shop, though you wouldn't know it.

4807 ran around the cars at the entrance to the yard, leaving the cars in a wasteland.

The run round on the remains of once extensive track is a story in itself.

The loco ran beneath the bridge and ran a fair way before setting back along a track to the left of the one it entered on.

Right beneath the bridge, it crossed over its entrance track via a diamond crossing and passed the cars on the right on the other side of the "jungle".

The yard was completely left and the loco eventually joined the yard entrance track through points controlled by the Enfield signaller. After a fair while, 4807 eventually returned to its train.

The cars were propelled under the bridge and what was Welders was on the left.

- Continued next column

There was still a lot to see looking out the end of the cars as they were propelled.

To the right was Freight Australia's loco area in Sydney with a G on a line of Xs.

The 46 class bogies for SETS were between those locos and a wheat wagon. Cement wagons behind the wheat wagon were coupled to the bogies.

These were unbraked and were too heavy to be left by themselves. Chocks are not enough and two cement wagons provided the necessary hand-braked ballast.

There was a turntable hidden behind the line of FA locos and the wheat wagon and the bogies - roads lead onto it.

Centre distance saw a stabled 44 class while the Herald printery takes the skyline.

Two cannibalised locos occupied the end of the sidings while to the left four more 46 class bogies occupied an isolated track.

The Hume Highway was off to the left and parallels the yard.

The 46-class bogies had already been refurbished when the order to withdraw the whole class was made.


4807 picked up the cement wagons and bogies and placed the bogies on the front of our three cars.

The red RIP VH means someone celebrated the closure of Valley Heights loco, a 46 class depot, presumably when the bogies was part of a loco.

After we booked off for a rest period, the trip to Canberra resumed late at night.

This surreal picture is a look at the bogies in transit taken from the door of the leading carriage.

The idea was to use station lights plus flash to get something you can see. You can see the brake line hose snaking across the top of the bogies.

Despite this horror look, the bogies rode very well. Only one stop was needed to move the brake hose away from a bogie wheel - a broken train brake line WOULD have been a problem.

The trip was made fairly sedately as we had specified a conservative speed for the bogies.

It was around 2am when we reached Goulburn where we were relieved - that crew could look after shunting. We had done enough of that.

- report and pictures from Max Fish

See: Other editions of The Kingston Mail

See: Other editions of The Kingston Mail

See: Other editions of The Kingston Mail