.gif)
Tait (train)
Encyclopedia
The Tait trains, also referred to as the "Red Rattlers", were a wooden bodied Electric Multiple Unit
train that operated on the suburban railway network
of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. They were introduced in 1910 by the Victorian Railways
as steam locomotive hauled cars, and converted to electric traction in from 1919 when the Melbourne electrification project was underway. The trains derived their name from Sir Thomas James Tait
, the chairman of commissioners of the Victorian Railways from 1903 to 1910. The first cars were built during 1909 with the last entering service in 1951.
The trains were initially known as "Sliding Door" trains, as opposed to the Swing Door
then in service. They were later known as "Red rattlers" or "Reds" from the 1950s when the blue painted Harris
trains were introduced.
Tait trains have a partly open saloon layout, with bench seats running across the train, the saloon being divided by partitions into a number of smaller areas. Each seating aisle is provided with its own exterior sliding door.
Incandescent lighting, a ceiling with pressed tin patterns, luggage racks above head height, and stained woodgrain walls were fitted inside each compartment. 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 exterior of the trains are of two main styles: clerestory roofed, and the later arched roof from the late 1920s onward.
From 1971 the interior was simplified to cut maintenance costs, with some doorway windows being replaced by metal and plywood, and sun blinds being removed. The motor bogie
s on the trains were originally of pressed steel construction, being changed for a new design in cast steel in the 1930s.
traction equipment was fitted to the trains, of the same type as that in the Swing Door
trains and enabling the trains to be operated in mixed sets using multiple-unit train control
.
The 'D' type cars were the least common of the car types: of the 66 cars built with guards compartments, only 18 were fitted with control equipment and coded 'D' in 1923. The rest were known as 'ringer' trailers, having a white ring on the door indicating the compartment was available for the use of passengers. It was not until 1964-72 the numbers increased to over 60 with the 'ringers' being converted to 'D' cars as intended.
Five Tait motor carriages were converted to parcel vans: 1CM to 5CM. Six further parcel vans were converted from Swing Door trains.
The Tait trains originally entered service as six car sets, the majority made up of three 'M' cars and three trailers. From the 1920s sets were extended to 7 cars sets, with the introduction of the 'G' trailer cars. These sets were made up of a four car 'block' and a three car 'unit'.
Regular two car operation of Tait trains commenced in 1964, with a 'block' of cars made up M-D-M-D that could be split as required. One car operation commenced in 1968, after the conversion of 470M the previous year and the end of union disputes.
In May 1968 an 8 car Tait train was tested on the Frankston line, made up of 3 motor cars and 5 trailers, entering service under the new timetable in August 1968. After 1973 these 8 car sets were reconfigured with a 50:50 motor - trailer mix to avoid special rosters restricting 3 motor car sets to flatter lines.
From 1973 3 car sets were also reintroduced, as M-T-D consists. Six car M-T-T-T-T-M consists were also formed for peak hour use.
trains sets, and the later Comeng trains.
From 1981 the last 37 of them were being replaced by 50 Comeng trains. They were not allowed in the City Loop due to fire hazard presented by their wooden bodies, so they spent most of their final years on the Port Melbourne, St Kilda and Sandringham lines.
Due to industrial problems the last Tait trains were withdrawn from service in 1984.
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 that operated 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 1910 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...
as steam locomotive hauled cars, and converted to electric traction in from 1919 when the Melbourne electrification project was underway. The trains derived their name from Sir Thomas James Tait
Thomas James Tait
Sir Thomas James Tait was a Canadian-born rail executive.Born in Melbourne, Quebec, the son of Melbourne McTaggart Tait, Tait entered the service of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1880, and by 1903 he was manager of transportation with Canadian Pacific Railway company.In March 1903 Tait was appointed...
, the chairman of commissioners of the Victorian Railways from 1903 to 1910. The first cars were built during 1909 with the last entering service in 1951.
The trains were initially known as "Sliding Door" trains, as opposed to the Swing Door
Swing Door (train)
Swing doors, more commonly known as "Dogboxes" or "Doggies" are a wooden bodied Electric Multiple Unit train that operated on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
then in service. They were later known as "Red rattlers" or "Reds" from the 1950s when the blue painted Harris
Harris (train)
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...
trains were introduced.
Layout
Incandescent lighting, a ceiling with pressed tin patterns, luggage racks above head height, and stained woodgrain walls were fitted inside each compartment. 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 exterior of the trains are of two main styles: clerestory roofed, and the later arched roof from the late 1920s onward.
From 1971 the interior was simplified to cut maintenance costs, with some doorway windows being replaced by metal and plywood, and sun blinds being removed. The motor bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s on the trains were originally of pressed steel construction, being changed for a new design in cast steel in the 1930s.
Equipment
General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
traction equipment was fitted to the trains, of the same type as that in the Swing Door
Swing Door (train)
Swing doors, more commonly known as "Dogboxes" or "Doggies" are a wooden bodied Electric Multiple Unit train that operated on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
trains and enabling the trains to be operated in mixed sets using multiple-unit train control
Multiple-unit train control
Multiple-unit train control, sometimes abbreviated to multiple-unit or MU, is a method of simultaneously controlling all the traction equipment in a train from a single location, whether it is a Multiple unit comprising a number of self-powered passenger cars or a set of locomotives.A set of...
.
Set configuration
A number of carriage types were built - 'M' driving motor cars, 'T' trailer cars, 'D' driving trailer cars, and 'G' trailer cars fitted with gas lighting for locomotive hauled country use. Trains usually operated as a M-T-T-M+G-T-M setup.The 'D' type cars were the least common of the car types: of the 66 cars built with guards compartments, only 18 were fitted with control equipment and coded 'D' in 1923. The rest were known as 'ringer' trailers, having a white ring on the door indicating the compartment was available for the use of passengers. It was not until 1964-72 the numbers increased to over 60 with the 'ringers' being converted to 'D' cars as intended.
Five Tait motor carriages were converted to parcel vans: 1CM to 5CM. Six further parcel vans were converted from Swing Door trains.
The Tait trains originally entered service as six car sets, the majority made up of three 'M' cars and three trailers. From the 1920s sets were extended to 7 cars sets, with the introduction of the 'G' trailer cars. These sets were made up of a four car 'block' and a three car 'unit'.
Regular two car operation of Tait trains commenced in 1964, with a 'block' of cars made up M-D-M-D that could be split as required. One car operation commenced in 1968, after the conversion of 470M the previous year and the end of union disputes.
In May 1968 an 8 car Tait train was tested on the Frankston line, made up of 3 motor cars and 5 trailers, entering service under the new timetable in August 1968. After 1973 these 8 car sets were reconfigured with a 50:50 motor - trailer mix to avoid special rosters restricting 3 motor car sets to flatter lines.
From 1973 3 car sets were also reintroduced, as M-T-D consists. Six car M-T-T-T-T-M consists were also formed for peak hour use.
Retirement
The Tait trains were replaced from 1974 by the HitachiHitachi (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 sets, and the later Comeng trains.
From 1981 the last 37 of them were being replaced by 50 Comeng trains. They were not allowed in the City Loop due to fire hazard presented by their wooden bodies, so they spent most of their final years on the Port Melbourne, St Kilda and Sandringham lines.
Due to industrial problems the last Tait trains were withdrawn from service in 1984.