Silver City Comet (Retired)Silver City Comet (Retired) The Silver City Comet was a train service that operated from September 1937 until November 1989 between Parkes and Broken Hill in western New South Wales. It was the first air-conditioned train in the British Empire. Silver City Comet Design The original engines were built in Belfast by Harland & Wolff under licence from Burmeister & Wain known as the "Harlandic" type. An eight cylinder in line uniflow two-stroke engines with blower scavenging which developed 330 bhp (250 kW) at 1200 rpm. The transmission was a Voith-Sinclair torque converter design with two final drive gear ratios, geared for 130 km/h (81 mph) 0r 115 km/h (71 mph). Two "National" 22 kW (30 hp) diesel generator sets producing DC power for train lighting and air conditioning. In 1953 spare parts supply difficulties and engine age prompted the NSWGR to re-engine the fleet with four 6-110 GM diesel engines rated at 250 bhp (190 kW) at 1800 rpm coupled in pairs driving Allison torque converters to the inner axle of each bogie. These are coupled in pairs through a GM Model TCLA 965 torque converter to gear boxes connected to each of the bogies. A Standard Waygood GM 120 volt, 50 kW (67 hp), generator set for power requirements including train lighting, cooking and air conditioning. The power van was re-classed 'DP', tare weight was 63 long tons (64 t; 71 short tons). Silver City Comet Service Broken Hill had two tramways which were established by the early 1900s. One was closed in 1926 due to being unprofitable while the other was converted to standard gauge rail in 1919 and eventually connected to Sydney via the Broken Hill line in 1927. When the rolling stock was ordered, it was planned that they would be utilised on both the Parkes to Broken Hill and Dubbo to Bourke services. In September 1937 the Silver City Comet commenced operating three times a week between Parkes and Broken Hill connecting with the Western Mail from Sydney. This was increased to daily from May 1938 before reverting to thrice weekly in October 1939. This released some stock for transfer to Sydney to operate Federal City Express services to Canberra from October 1939 until November 1945. In April 1940 the remaining stock was also transferred to Sydney to operate Newcastle Flyer services for a few months. From January 1957, Silver City Comet stock operated a three times per week service from Parkes to Orange and Dubbo. Following the introduction of the Central West XPT service to Dubbo, in April 1982 this was cut back to Orange. Silver City Comet Rolling Stock The New South Wales Government Railways placed orders for five diesel power vans with Eveleigh Carriage Workshops and 12 trailer cars with Ritchie Brothers, Auburn in the mid-1930s. The double ended power cars were each fitted with two Harland & Wolff Hardlandic diesel engines. One was destroyed by fire at Ivanhoe in January 1950 with the remaining four repowered with General Motors 6-110 engines between 1952 and 1957. Another was withdrawn after being struck at a level crossing at Forbes in August 1982. The carriages were the first in Australia to feature air-conditioning. Originally painted silver with blue lining, in the 1950s they were repainted in the standard tuscan and russet livery. By the 1970s they had returned to their original livery. In the 1980s they were repainted into the State Rail Authority's candy colours before once again being returned to their original livery in time for their 50th anniversary in 1987. In its twilight years the Silver City Comet became a popular train for enthusiast tours including operating up the North Coast line to Brisbane in April 1986 and the Main Northern line to Tenterfield in October 1989. In September 1987, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their entry into service, a set operated tours from Sydney to Canberra and Kiama. Silver City Comet Trailer Cars Along with the power cars, 12 air-conditioned passenger trailers were ordered from Ritchie Brothers of Auburn NSW. The trailers were built in three configurations - four First Class sitting cars (coded BT 201-204), four Second Class sitting cars with buffet (coded RFT 205-208) and four Second Class sitting cars (coded FT 209-212). Two additional parcel trailers (coded HT 301-302) were also constructed by NSWGR Carriage Works at Eveleigh, NSW. The passenger trailers were each 55 feet long while the parcel trailers were 42 feet long. All cars featured a full-length side skirt below the floor level, partially coverying the bogies and underfloor equipment. They were all painted in the same silver and blue livery as the power cars. The trailers were constructed principally of aluminium alloy on a steel underframe. The cars were arranged internally with two saloons separted by male and female toilets. Entrance doors and vestibules were provided at each end. The trailers were refurbished in the early 1950s to bring them uo to the same standard as the new air-conditioned HUB and RUB daylight express carriages. The original First Class seating was retained and reclassified as Second Class, while new First Class seating was installed. Two cars (DR 205 and 207) were also converted into full dining cars. FT 212 was converted to a relief parcel trailer in 1953 and was condemned following a shunting accident in 1968. Following the demise of DEH 212 an Emergency Parcel Trailer {ETP 1475) was converted to operate with the Comet and renumbered EDH 320. This vehicle was condemned in 1981. To fulfil the luggage and parcel loading requirements on Comet services following the withdrawal of DH 301 and 302 and EDH 320, two surplus 500 Class trailer cars (HCT 504 and 508) were converted into Comet parcels trailers in 1985. Silver City Comet Demise & Preservation On 3 November 1989 the final Silver City Comet ran with road transport taking over the service. Following their withdrawal in November 1989 the rolling stock was disposed of. The State Rail Authority donated a power van and four carriages to the City of Broken Hill that was placed on display at the Sulphide Street Railway Museum, and a carriage to the City of Parkes. The Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum and New South Wales Rail Transport Museum each purchased a power van and four and three carriages respectively. These latter two both moved to the Rail Motor Society, Paterson in April 1990. Dorrigo's stock was moved to Kooragang Island in May 1994 while the Rail Transport Museum's stock moved to Thirlmere in April 1999. Silver City Comet Power Car Roster Silver City Comet Power Vans No: PH 101 Entered service: September 1937 Rebuild: DP 101 Organisation: Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum Location: Broken Hill Status: static exhibit No: PH 102 Entered service: August 1937 Rebuild: DP 102 Status: condemned after accident August 1982, scrapped No: PH 103 Entered service: January 1938 Rebuild: DP 103 Organisation: Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum Location: Dorrigo Status: static exhibit No: PH 104 Entered service: May 1938 Rebuild: DP 104 Organisation: New South Wales Rail Transport Museum Location: Thirlmere Status: static exhibit PH 105 September 1938 Status: destroyed by fire January 1950, scrapped Trailer Car Roster Trailer Cars No: BT 201 Entered service: September 1937 Rebuild: DB 201 Organisation: Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum Location: Dorrigo Status: static exhibit No: BT 202 Entered service: September 1937 Rebuild: DC 202 Organisation: Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum Location: Broken Hill Status: static exhibit No: BT 203 Entered service: January 1938 Rebuild: DC 203 Organisation: Parkes City Council Location: Parkes Status: static exhibit No: BT 204 Entered service: September 1937 Rebuild: DF/DZF 204 Organisation: Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum Location: Dorrigo Status: static exhibit No: RFT 205 Entered service: September 1937 Rebuild: DR 205 Organisation: New South Wales Rail Transport Museum Location: Thirlmere Status: static exhibit No: RFT 206 Entered service: September 1937 Rebuild: DB 206 Organisation: Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum Location: Dorrigo Status: static exhibit No: RFT 207 Entered service: January 1938 Rebuild: DR 207 Organisation: Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum Location: Broken Hill Status: static exhibit No: RFT 208 Entered service: September 1937 Rebuild: HFT 208 Organisation: Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum Location: Broken Hill Status: static exhibit No: FT 209 Entered service: August 1941 Rebuild: HFT 209 Organisation: Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum Location: Broken Hill Status: static exhibit No: FT 210 Entered service: October 1938 Rebuild: DB 210 Organisation: New South Wales Rail Transport Museum Location: Thirlmere Status: static exhibit No: FT 211 Entered service: May 1941 Rebuild: DF/DZF 211 Organisation: New South Wales Rail Transport Museum Location: Thirlmere Status: static exhibit No: FT 212 Entered service: July 1941 Rebuild: DEH 212 Status: condemned after accident December 1968, scrapped No: HT 301 Entered service: September 1937 Rebuild: DH 301 Status: condemned April 1983, scrapped No: HT 302 Entered service: March 1938 Rebuild: DH 302 Status: condemned April 1983, scrapped No: EDH 320 Entered service: November 1970 Status: condemned December 1981, scrapped No: PT 504 Entered service: September 1985 Organisation: Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum Location: Broken Hill Status: static exhibit No: PT 508 Entered service: September 1985 Organisation: Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum Location: Dorrigo Status: static exhibit Silver City Comet Overview Service Type: Passenger train Status: Ceased First Service: 27 September 1937 Last Service: 3 November 1989 Former Operator(s): State Rail Authority Route Start: Parkes Route End: Broken Hill Distance Travelled: 920 km (570 mi) Line Used: Main Western Broken Hill Quick Guide to Australia Country Guides & Australia Tourism Attractions Country Guides - Days Out - Tourism Attractions - Theme Parks - Family Days Out - Tourism Guides Quick Guide to Australia Places to Visit & Australia Cultural Tourism Theatres - Museums - Art Galleries - Cathederals - Synagogues - Mosques - Temples Festivals - Concerts - Gigs - Sport Stadiums - Sport Events - Airports Zoological Gardens - Aquariums - Racing Tracks - Racing Circuits - Athletics Tracks Quick Guide to Australia Rail Guides & Australia Rail Tourism Rail Tickets - Railway Maps - Railway Tourism Advice - Rail Passes - Rail Tours - Eurostar Eurail - Interrail - Train Stations - Metro Stations - Underground Stations Railway Modelling - Railway News Train Tickets - Rail Tours - Luxury Rail Tours - Europe Rail Pass - Steam Trains - Rail Journeys HS2 - Mountain Trains - Heritage Trains - Cog Trains - High Speed Rail - Escorted Rail Tours Cable Cars - Funicular - Gondola Lifts - Tramways - Ski Lifts - Ski Pass Railway Companies of the World - Heritage Railways - Steam Trains - Luxury Rail Journeys Airport Shuttles - Night Trains - Sleeper Rail Cars - High Speed Trains - TGV - Eurostar Cog Railways - Swiss Mountain Railways - Train Journeys - Express Trains Quick Guide to World Train Companies Amtrak - Orient Express - Rovos Rail - Rocky Mountaineer - Glacier Express Jungfrau Express - Gotthard Panorama Express - Jungfrau Travel Pass- Express Trains Eurostar - British Pullman - Bernina Express - Shongololo Express - Blue Train - Danube Express Trans Siberian Express - GoldenPass Panoramic - Golden Eagle Train - Andean Explorer Swiss Travel Pass - Jacobite - El Transcantabrico - Tren Al Andus - Hiram Bingham Australia Business Centre - Australia Exhibitions Business Centre - Trade Exhibitions - Trade Shows - Trade Fairs - Trade Events Trade Exhibition Staff - Trade Exhibition Stands - Trade Show Help Australia Business Centre - Australia Procurements Business Incorporation - Procurements - Business Leads - Foreign Exchange Business Insurance - Shares - Commodities - Futures - Property Sales - Money Transfer Asset Finance - Asset Leasing - Crowd Funding - Currency Transfer Australia Business Centre - Australia Freight Rail Freight - Rail Cargo - Multimodal Freight - Road Freight - Air Freight - Sea Freight Freight - Cargo - Containers - Pallet Delivery - Letter Delivery - Parcel Delivery Australia Business Centre - Australia Finance Business Finance - Business Insurance - Business Cards - Apprentices - Need Staff - Jobs Vehicle Finance - Car Insurance - Car Leasing - Commercial Property - Foreign Exchange Utility Swop - Utility Gas - Utility Electricity - Utility Oil - Utility Solar Power Rail Finance - Business Leasing - Crowd Funding - Currency Transfer Insurance - Utilities - Savings - Credit Cards - Car Insurances - Car Finance - Pensions Quick Guide to World Travel & Australia Tourism Hotels - Hostels - Flights - Car Rental - Flight + Hotel - River Cruises - Cruises B&B - Holiday Homes - Apartment Rentals - Chalet Rental Summer Holidays - Holiday Deals - Beach Holidays - Short Trips - Package Holidays Summer Vacations - Vacation Deals - Beach Vacations - Weekend Breaks - Package Vacations Winter Holidays - Winter Holiday Deals - Ski Holidays - Ski Lift Passes - Short Breaks Winter Vacations - Winter Vacation Deals - Ski Vacations - Ski Pass - Weekend Trips | |||||
| |||||
