Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT Division)

First Class Lounge Car BVJ 1457 BVJ 1457 was built in 1909 as an AM class sleeping car with 4 berths per compartment. The first AM class sleeping cars were built in the early 1900s; AM 1457 was built in 1909, initially for use on the then-new Temora Mail. (Three more were later built for the introduction of the Cooma Mail in 1912). The car's five compartments each contained four sleeping berths. An end compartment was built for use by female travellers, and this was separated from the other four by a door in the corridor. When these cars first entered service, they had gas lighting. Electric lighting came in the 1920s. About this time, the AM cars were reconfigured into eight compartments, each with two berths, providing more privacy for travellers. AM 1457 was converted in 1951 to a second class compartment sitting car. It was recoded FJ 1457. Withdrawn from passenger service in 1962, it was then converted to a waitress training car (becoming TCS 1457), with a bar and various forms of seating for training purposes. It was in use at Sydney Central Station until purchased by the Society in 1983. It was restored by Society members for use on Canberra-Sydney show trains ("Les Miserables", "Cats") and later for the Austeam '88 tour. At that time, the carriage was recoded from TCS to BVJ 1457, representing a first class lounge car. It was actively used on Society trains until 1990, after which it became a static display at Canberra Railway Museum and a facility for meetings and parties. During 2001, BVJ 1457 was again restored to working condition by Society volunteers, for use on the Centenary of Federation train which ran on Sunday, September 16, 2001, and other Society trains. The bottom photograph is an external view of the carriage during Federation Train duties at Queanbeyan station.

Click on picture for larger image; use your 'Back' button to return to this page    Interior of BVJ 1457    Interior, from the bar section    End platform of BVJ 1457    Lounge car BVJ 1457

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