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Harris (train)
Encyclopedia
The Harris trains were the first steel-bodied Electric Multiple Unit
train to operate on the suburban railway network
of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. They were introduced in 1956 by the Victorian Railways
, and last operated in 1988, although a number of the carriages were converted for other uses and are still operating. They were named after Norman Charles Harris
, Chairman of Commissioners of the Victorian Railways between 1940 and 1950.
The trains had a saloon seating layout, divided into smaller sections by full height partitions. They were provided with either two or three sets of hand operated dual sliding doors per carriage side. Later sets were fitted with power doors. Interiors were split into smoking and no-smoking compartments until late 1978 with the abolition of smoking on trains, and carriages were designated as First or Second class until 1958 when one class travel was introduced. The trains were initially delivered without end gangways between carriages, this being a later addition.
The Harris trains were originally run as 7-carriage (M-T-T-M-BT-T-M) sets, reduced to 4-carriage (M-T-T-M) sets for off-peak and weekend services. The M-T-T-M sets were known as 'Blocks' while the BT-T-M sets were called 'Units'. The extra motor carriages built from 1968 allowed for some BT-T-M units to be converted to M-T-T-M sets, to provide for trains to be run in M-T-T-M-M-T-T-M configurations.
Carriages were connected by semi-permanent drawbars, except for the driving ends of motor carriages and one end of BT carriages, which were provided with automatic couplers.
by Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
and delivered between 1956 and 1959. Another 30, the second series, were built by Martin & King
in Melbourne and delivered between 1961 and 1967. From 1966, these were delivered with end doors and gangways between carriages, allowing passengers to change carriages.
The first series of 'T' and 'BT' trailers were built by Comeng
(the first 10 in Sydney, the rest in Melbourne) and finished by Martin & King
, with the remainder built at the Newport Workshops. Between 1968 and 1970, ten additional motor carriages built by the Victorian Railways Newport Workshops were delivered to provide for some Harris trains to be lengthened to eight carriages.
In 1970 and 1971 six new trailer carriages were built as prototypes for the next fleet (the Hitachi
trains). These carriages were 75 feet (22.9 m) long, compared to 63 feet (19.2 m) of the earlier carriages, and were equipped with the mechanisms for power-closing doors, the first such use in Melbourne. However, it was not until the following year that a complete (4-carriage) train was used this way, after conversion of some motor carriages.
insulation. The first sets contained blue asbestos, and the later sets contained white asbestos. Due to the presence of asbestos, most were wrapped in plastic and disposed of in a tip in Clayton
, south-east of Melbourne.
Two motor carriages (pictured, one original car and one refurbished car) have been preserved at the Williamstown Railway Museum with two additional motor carriages retained for preservation. The latter two cars were formerly used as a works train and are painted yellow. These cars were decommissioned after mechanical problems and have been stored since 2004 pending restoration. No original Harris trailer cars remain, all trailers having been converted to locomotive-hauled H cars or scrapped. Additionally, no first series motor units were preserved, the three remaining unmodified cars being high-numbered second series M cars.
However, industrial and other problems with the refurbished trains meant that only 16 carriages were so converted before the program was stopped.
The refurbished trains were withdrawn in 1991, with five motor units (901M and 904-907M) cut up for scrap. One carriage, 903M, has been preserved in its refurbished state and is on display at the Williamstown Railway Museum, Melbourne. All eight refurbished trailer cars were converted to standard H type passenger cars, along with motors 902M and 908M which were converted to the BCH sub-class.
The four refurbished trains ran initially in an M-T-T-M configuration, but three of the trains were later remarshalled to M-T-M-M-T-M configuration.
The refurbished trains generally ran on the Port Melbourne, St Kilda and Sandringham lines. They never ran in the City Loop, except for a farewell tour in 1991. The restriction to these three lines was due to the additional weight of the refurbished carriages; while the passenger areas were upgraded and included two air conditioning units per car, the mechanical components were still unmodified and still using the 1960s-era second series motors, which were in fact less powerful than the first series cars of 1956.
s for interurban service and are still in operation with V/Line
as of 2011. These trains are currently being refurbished and will continue in service until at least 2016.
Similarly, four carriages were converted to MTH carriages and remained in use on the Stony Point line behind A class diesel locomotives until 26 April 2008, when Sprinter
trains were introduced on the route.
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
train to operate on the suburban railway network
Railways in Melbourne
The Melbourne rail network is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne under franchise from the Government of Victoria. The network is based on a commuter rail model centred on the Melbourne Central Business District and Flinders Street Station, rather than a rapid transit model, with a focus on...
of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. They were introduced in 1956 by the Victorian Railways
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
, and last operated in 1988, although a number of the carriages were converted for other uses and are still operating. They were named after Norman Charles Harris
Norman Charles Harris
Norman Charles Harris was a decorated World War I army engineer and Chairman of Commissioners of the Victorian Railways from 1940 – 1950....
, Chairman of Commissioners of the Victorian Railways between 1940 and 1950.
Description
The Harris trains were commonly referred to as "Blue Trains" due to their deep blue colour, with only a yellow band about halfway up the body. Royal blue and yellow were common colours for the Victorian Railways rolling stock.The trains had a saloon seating layout, divided into smaller sections by full height partitions. They were provided with either two or three sets of hand operated dual sliding doors per carriage side. Later sets were fitted with power doors. Interiors were split into smoking and no-smoking compartments until late 1978 with the abolition of smoking on trains, and carriages were designated as First or Second class until 1958 when one class travel was introduced. The trains were initially delivered without end gangways between carriages, this being a later addition.
The Harris trains were originally run as 7-carriage (M-T-T-M-BT-T-M) sets, reduced to 4-carriage (M-T-T-M) sets for off-peak and weekend services. The M-T-T-M sets were known as 'Blocks' while the BT-T-M sets were called 'Units'. The extra motor carriages built from 1968 allowed for some BT-T-M units to be converted to M-T-T-M sets, to provide for trains to be run in M-T-T-M-M-T-T-M configurations.
Carriages were connected by semi-permanent drawbars, except for the driving ends of motor carriages and one end of BT carriages, which were provided with automatic couplers.
History
The first 30 7-carriage trains, known as the first series, were constructed in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company was a railway rolling stock manufacturer based at Gloucester, England; from 1860 until 1986....
and delivered between 1956 and 1959. Another 30, the second series, were built by Martin & King
Martin & King
Martin & King was a manufacturing company based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The company specialised in car and railway coachwork.-History:...
in Melbourne and delivered between 1961 and 1967. From 1966, these were delivered with end doors and gangways between carriages, allowing passengers to change carriages.
The first series of 'T' and 'BT' trailers were built by Comeng
Comeng
The Comeng train is a type of electric train that operates on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. They first appeared on the network in VicRail "teacup" livery in 1981 to replace the last of the then-60 year old Tait trains. More were ordered after the failed refurbishment and...
(the first 10 in Sydney, the rest in Melbourne) and finished by Martin & King
Martin & King
Martin & King was a manufacturing company based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The company specialised in car and railway coachwork.-History:...
, with the remainder built at the Newport Workshops. Between 1968 and 1970, ten additional motor carriages built by the Victorian Railways Newport Workshops were delivered to provide for some Harris trains to be lengthened to eight carriages.
In 1970 and 1971 six new trailer carriages were built as prototypes for the next fleet (the Hitachi
Hitachi (train)
Hitachi is the name given for one of a set of electric multiple unit trains that operate on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. Introduced to service in 1972, the trains are the oldest in the city's suburban fleet still in revenue service...
trains). These carriages were 75 feet (22.9 m) long, compared to 63 feet (19.2 m) of the earlier carriages, and were equipped with the mechanisms for power-closing doors, the first such use in Melbourne. However, it was not until the following year that a complete (4-carriage) train was used this way, after conversion of some motor carriages.
Conversions and disposal
With the exceptions of the last few carriages built, all Harris trains contained asbestosAsbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
insulation. The first sets contained blue asbestos, and the later sets contained white asbestos. Due to the presence of asbestos, most were wrapped in plastic and disposed of in a tip in Clayton
Clayton, Victoria
Clayton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Monash. At the 2006 Census, Clayton had a population of 14,332.-Overview:...
, south-east of Melbourne.
Two motor carriages (pictured, one original car and one refurbished car) have been preserved at the Williamstown Railway Museum with two additional motor carriages retained for preservation. The latter two cars were formerly used as a works train and are painted yellow. These cars were decommissioned after mechanical problems and have been stored since 2004 pending restoration. No original Harris trailer cars remain, all trailers having been converted to locomotive-hauled H cars or scrapped. Additionally, no first series motor units were preserved, the three remaining unmodified cars being high-numbered second series M cars.
Refurbishment
A program to refurbish the Harris trains was begun in 1982. The refurbishment, which was made to look similar to a Comeng interior, included individual vinyl foam type cushions on an integrated plastic frame to replace the former more traditional vinyl sprung seats, air conditioning, and a new colour scheme.However, industrial and other problems with the refurbished trains meant that only 16 carriages were so converted before the program was stopped.
The refurbished trains were withdrawn in 1991, with five motor units (901M and 904-907M) cut up for scrap. One carriage, 903M, has been preserved in its refurbished state and is on display at the Williamstown Railway Museum, Melbourne. All eight refurbished trailer cars were converted to standard H type passenger cars, along with motors 902M and 908M which were converted to the BCH sub-class.
The four refurbished trains ran initially in an M-T-T-M configuration, but three of the trains were later remarshalled to M-T-M-M-T-M configuration.
The refurbished trains generally ran on the Port Melbourne, St Kilda and Sandringham lines. They never ran in the City Loop, except for a farewell tour in 1991. The restriction to these three lines was due to the additional weight of the refurbished carriages; while the passenger areas were upgraded and included two air conditioning units per car, the mechanical components were still unmodified and still using the 1960s-era second series motors, which were in fact less powerful than the first series cars of 1956.
Locomotive-hauled services
55 carriages, including the 75 ft (22.9 m) carriages, were converted to H type carriageH type carriage
The H type carriages are an interurban passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. Fitted with economy class only high density 2+3 seating, they are exclusively used on short distance interurban services with V/Line.-History:...
s for interurban service and are still in operation with V/Line
V/Line
V/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
as of 2011. These trains are currently being refurbished and will continue in service until at least 2016.
Similarly, four carriages were converted to MTH carriages and remained in use on the Stony Point line behind A class diesel locomotives until 26 April 2008, when Sprinter
Sprinter (Victorian train)
The Sprinter is a high speed diesel railcar train manufactured by Goninan for use on interurban and semi-regional rail services in Victoria, Australia...
trains were introduced on the route.
External links
- Harris trains on VicSig (enthusiast site).
- Suburban carriage details by Peter J. Vincent.
- V/LineCars.com - MTH Carriages