Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT Division)

Kitchen / Sitting Car BSR 2031

BSR 2031 first entered service as a BS car in 1935 and is now the oldest operational steel, non-air-conditioned first class sitting car in Australia. Originally it seated 42 people in seven compartments; today it seats 18 in three compartments while the rest of the car is given over to food-preparation services. In October 1965, three compartments were dismantled and a kitchen and buffet installed for use on the Brisbane Express and subsequently the North West Mail. The car was withdrawn from service in 1974. Since being received into the care of ARHS in 1979, it has been upgraded to meet current food hygiene standards and the kitchen now operates on electricity as well as the original gas. A further compartment has been converted for a wash-up facility, and the remaining three compartments, seating 18 people, are now electrically heated. BRS 2031 provides the Society with a facility to produce excellent on-board, multi-course meals for RailRoad Restaurant patrons, and for those on dinner / dance trains and long-distance tours and charters. These kitchen facilities have been used to cater for up to 350 passengers.

Click on picture for larger image; use your 'Back' button to return to this page    BSR 2031 compartment, without table    Food preparation area in BSR 2031    Kitchen area, BSR 2031

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