153hp Walker railmotor
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The 153hp Walker railmotor were a diesel railcar operated by the Victorian Railways in Australia.
After the Second World War, the Victorian Railways undertook a major rebuilding program known as "Operation Phoenix". One of the first tasks was the upgrading of passenger services on country branch lines, through the replacement of 23 wooden bodied railmotors built in the 1920s, and the withdrawal of steam locomotive hauled mixed trains.
An initial order of six 153hp railcars, twelve 102hp railcars and twelve 280hp railcars from Walker Brothers in Wigan, England was placed. This was extended to include a further nine 153hp railmotors which were delivered into revenue service by 1953. Sixteen 153hp units were built in total.[1]
The power units and controls were shipped out from England and the car bodies built locally by Martin & King in Malvern, with the finished units assembled at Newport Workshops. Each railmotor had a total seating capacity of 58. The last 153hp Walker railmotor ran until 1981. The intended life of the Walker railmotors was only 10 years. However, most remained in service for up to 30 years.
Status
Railmotor | Entered service | Withdrawn | Scrapped | Current Status | Notes |
20RM | Friday, 16 July 1948 | Monday, 20 February 1978 | Wednesday, 30 April 1980 | Scrapped | Damaged in a derailment after hitting sheep. Accident occurred between Traralgon and Maffra. |
21RM | Thursday, 16 September 1948 | Monday, 3 April 1978 | N/A | Offered for sale on 21 June 1978. | |
22RM | Monday, 15 November 1948 | Tuesday, 1 April 1980 | N/A | Now at Yarra Valley Tourist Railway. | Operational - Restored |
23RM | Friday, 5 November 1948 | Friday, 8 April 1977 | Thursday, 5 May 1977 | Scrapped | |
24RM | Wednesday, 23 March 1949 | Stored at Huon on the former Cudgewa line. | Owned by former Tallangatta Valley Steam Preservation Society. | ||
25RM | Thursday, 19 May 1949 | Friday, 26 November 1971 | Friday, 16 June 1972 | Scrapped | |
26RM | Wednesday, 2 July 1952 | Friday, 8 April 1977 | Thursday, 5 May 1977 | Scrapped | |
27RM | Thursday, 31 July 1952 | Monday, 1 May 1978 | N/A | Offered for sale on 21 June 1978. | |
28RM | Wednesday, 10 September 1952 | Monday, 1 May 1978 | Friday, 25 July 1980 | Scrapped | |
29RM | Monday, 6 October 1952 | Tuesday, 4 September 1979 | Tuesday, 1 July 1980 | Scrapped | |
30RM | Thursday, 20 November 1952 | Wednesday, 3 October 1973 | Thursday, 22 June 1978 | Scrapped | |
31RM | Monday, 9 February 1953 | Wednesday, 21 December 1977 | Tuesday, 1 July 1980 | Scrapped | Derailed between Lilydale and Coldstream on 19 February 1962. |
32RM | Tuesday, 24 March 1953 | Tuesday, 13 January 1981 | N/A | Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway | Being fully restored to running order. Will appear in mid 1950's blue and gold livery. |
33RM | Friday, 7 August 1953 | Tuesday, 4 September 1979 | |||
34RM | Wednesday, 23 September 1953 | Monday, 1 May 1978 | |||
35RM | Friday, 3 September 1954 | Thursday, 15 October 1970 | Scrapped | Spare power unit. |
Model railways
HO scale
Weico has produced whitemetal kits for the 102hp and 153hp Walker Railmotors and trailers.
Trainbuilder announced a series of brass 153hp Walker railmotors, to retail at $1175 per Railmotor, or $1695 each for Railmotor plus trailer. Numbers include 21RM+50MT with silver roof; 22RM+52MT, 25RM, 29RM, 31RM, 32RM+56MT with yellow roof, and 23RM+61MT, 27RM, 30RM, 30RM+62MT, 32RM, 33RM, 34RM with blue roof. The range does not include motors 20, 24, 26, 28, 35RM or trailers 51, 53-55, 57-60, 63 or 64MT.[2]
References
- ↑ "Railmotors: 153 hp Walker". VICSIG. www.vicsig.net. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ↑ "Trainbuilder". trainbuilder.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.