Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT Division)

Sleeping Car AL 1040 The oldest passenger car at Canberra Railway Museum started life in 1901 as AL 1040, an early design sleeping car. It ranged NSW providing passenger services to Albury, Cowra, Broken Hill and South Grafton. She was built at Eveleigh Carriage Works in Sydney from plans provided by the Pullman Car Company of the USA. Beds were arranged longitudinally along the sides of the car with opposite beds separated by curtains. AL 1040 initially provided accommodation for 20 passengers. Gas lighting was eventually replaced by electric lighting in the 1920s. In late 1935, she was converted to a dental clinic car with sleeping accommodation for a government dentist at one end of the car and with a surgery at the other. At that time, specialist dental work such as the fitting of dentures and plates or more than just the simplest of extractions or fillings was not available in many country areas. Moving around the State, these cars - there were two - enabled some of these services to be provided in regional centres. The car was used extensively throughout NSW until the late 1940s. At that time, dental appointments were made at railway stations! The carriage was transferred to Canberra in 1977 and is being restored in the Society's workshop at Kingston. It is planned to return it to its daytime sitting configuration. See also: Progress Reports for AL 1040's restoration.

Click on picture for larger image; use your 'Back' button to return to this page    End section, AL 1040    Exterior restoration    Interior restoration work

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