Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT Division)

FS 2nd Class Compartment Cars

The Society's four FS cars each have 64 seats in eight compartments; in dinner train format, they are equipped with large tables seating (usually) 48 people, or six to a compartment. When in regular NSW service, the FS cars were second class corridor-type sitting cars. They are distinctive, having a centre and end door on each side of the car. As part of the NSW Railway's post-World War One construction program, FS 2021 was built in 1935, FS 2023 and FS 2082 in 1936, and FS 2140 in 1937. As the first country passenger cars which had steel bodies and underframes, FS cars - along with their first class counterparts (BS cars) - provided the backbone for country services for many years. For three decades, very few changes were made to the cars. During winter, the compartments often carried individual foot warmers for passengers, but FS 2021 and FS 2023 were fitted with steam heating in the late 1940s / early 1950s. These four cars came to the Society between 1977 and 1986. FS 2021, FS 2082 and FS 2140 were fitted with electrical heating in 1990, with power supplied from a power van. During 2002, FS 2082 and FS 2140 were fitted with a handbrake and air tap to enable their use as terminal (end) cars. Today the cars are used as sitting cars on picnic and dinner / dance trains when other available saloon (open, centre-aisle) cars are already in use, or where groups of 6-8 people or families prefer separate compartments.

Click on picture for larger image; use your 'Back' button to return to this page    FS 2140 compartment interior    FS compartment with table    FS 2140, Canberra Museum    Airtap fitted to FS 2140

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