U set
Encyclopedia
The U sets were a type of electrical multiple unit operated by the New South Wales Government Railways
(NSWGR) and successor organisations between September 1958
and November 1996
.
Government Railways began planning the Blue Mountains
electrification scheme from 1949, and with that plan in full swing by the early 1950s, called tenders for 80 cars (40 motor cars, 20 trailer cars and 20 planned first with buffet trailer cars), of which the contract was awarded to Commonwealth Engineering
(Comeng) of Granville in 1954. However, the 20 planned first with buffet cars, which would have been coded RT 6601-20, were replaced by 20 full First-class seating cars just before construction began, after a 200-million pound review of the NSW Railways
took place by American firm Ebasco Services Incorporated in the mid-50s recommended the replacement of these cars.
The U sets were a bit different compared to the normal suburban single-decked trains that were running at the time. They were the first EMUs in NSW to feature stainless-steel construction (earlier NSWGR EMUs featured painted mild steel or were of wood construction, of which was found on the "Bradfield" EMUs, also the oldest and first electric multiple units in NSWGR service at the time), improving train acceleration and giving the trains lower maintenance costs and a longer usable life.
as part of the first train to travel on the newly-electrified Blue Mountains network. Normal services began on the 15th September 1958, and all of the members of the type were delivered by March 1960.
The cars were numbered as:
Second-class Motor Cars-CF 5001-40
Second-class Trailer Cars-TF 6001-20
First-class Trailer Cars-ETB 6021-40
First class travel was abolished on the 1st of September, 1974, so therefore all cars were changed to one-class after September 1974. This saw the removal of the word "SECOND" on all carriages.
-Sydney Terminal (Central) and from Sydney to Lithgow
, up in the Blue Mountains. These trains were supplemented by the double-decked Interurban trains from 1970 until final withdrawal in November 1996.
The trains could be found mostly on the Lithgow-Sydney services, especially after the V set trains started running more services during the 1980s. Like their normal suburban single-deck cousins, halfway through their service lives most got their original lift-up windows replaced by Beclawat sliding windows-the U sets are not air-conditioned.
network. Withdrawals began in late 1994, and the last U Sets were withdrawn by 1996-on the other hand, all single-decked, non-U set trains were all withdrawn by 1993.
Most of the U Set stock are preserved and some are operational. Out of the 40 motor cars, 20 trailer cars and 20 non-smoking trailer cars built, only 14 motor cars and 23 trailer cars have been preserved:
The Sydney Electric Train Society (SETS) owns 10 examples - non smoking cars ETB 6037 and ETB 6038, trailer cars TF 6006 and TF 6010, and motor cars CF 5003, CF 5006, CF 5010, CF 5021 and CF 5022.
A few are owned by RailCorp
for electric carriage preservation, and the Glenreagh Mountain Railway and Richmond Vale Railway also own trailer cars, too.
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
(NSWGR) and successor organisations between September 1958
1958 in rail transport
-January events:* January - Unable to keep his promises to shareholders, Robert Ralph Young suspends dividends on New York Central stock.* January 1 - The Chicago and North Western Railway acquires the Litchfield and Madison Railway.-February events:...
and November 1996
1996 in rail transport
-January events:* January 6 - A computer-controlled Washington Metro train overruns the platform at the Shady Grove station, colliding with a parked train and fatally injuring the operator.-February events:...
.
Development
The New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Government Railways began planning the Blue Mountains
City of Blue Mountains
The City of Blue Mountains is a local government area of New South Wales, Australia, governed by the Blue Mountains City Council. The city is located in the Blue Mountains range west of Sydney.-Demographics:...
electrification scheme from 1949, and with that plan in full swing by the early 1950s, called tenders for 80 cars (40 motor cars, 20 trailer cars and 20 planned first with buffet trailer cars), of which the contract was awarded to Commonwealth Engineering
Commonwealth Engineering
The Commonwealth Engineering Company Limited is the brand name of a former Australian Engineering Company that designed Locomotives, Electrical Multiple Units , Diesel Multiple Units and Trams.-History:...
(Comeng) of Granville in 1954. However, the 20 planned first with buffet cars, which would have been coded RT 6601-20, were replaced by 20 full First-class seating cars just before construction began, after a 200-million pound review of the NSW Railways
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
took place by American firm Ebasco Services Incorporated in the mid-50s recommended the replacement of these cars.
The U sets were a bit different compared to the normal suburban single-decked trains that were running at the time. They were the first EMUs in NSW to feature stainless-steel construction (earlier NSWGR EMUs featured painted mild steel or were of wood construction, of which was found on the "Bradfield" EMUs, also the oldest and first electric multiple units in NSWGR service at the time), improving train acceleration and giving the trains lower maintenance costs and a longer usable life.
Delivery
The U Sets started to be delivered from June 1957, and the first sets made their first public appearances that same year. The first appearance took place on the 22nd June 1957 when they were hauled by electric locomotive 4612New South Wales 46 class locomotive
The New South Wales 46 class are a class of mainline electric locomotive introduced onto the NSW rail system from 1956 under New South Wales Government Railways...
as part of the first train to travel on the newly-electrified Blue Mountains network. Normal services began on the 15th September 1958, and all of the members of the type were delivered by March 1960.
The cars were numbered as:
Second-class Motor Cars-CF 5001-40
Second-class Trailer Cars-TF 6001-20
First-class Trailer Cars-ETB 6021-40
First class travel was abolished on the 1st of September, 1974, so therefore all cars were changed to one-class after September 1974. This saw the removal of the word "SECOND" on all carriages.
In service
The cars were used on Interurban services from NewcastleNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
-Sydney Terminal (Central) and from Sydney to Lithgow
Lithgow, New South Wales
Lithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
, up in the Blue Mountains. These trains were supplemented by the double-decked Interurban trains from 1970 until final withdrawal in November 1996.
The trains could be found mostly on the Lithgow-Sydney services, especially after the V set trains started running more services during the 1980s. Like their normal suburban single-deck cousins, halfway through their service lives most got their original lift-up windows replaced by Beclawat sliding windows-the U sets are not air-conditioned.
Withdrawal and preservation
The U Sets (and their older Suburban single-deck brethren) met their doom from 1988 when the new Tangaras started entering service across the CityRailCityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
network. Withdrawals began in late 1994, and the last U Sets were withdrawn by 1996-on the other hand, all single-decked, non-U set trains were all withdrawn by 1993.
Most of the U Set stock are preserved and some are operational. Out of the 40 motor cars, 20 trailer cars and 20 non-smoking trailer cars built, only 14 motor cars and 23 trailer cars have been preserved:
The Sydney Electric Train Society (SETS) owns 10 examples - non smoking cars ETB 6037 and ETB 6038, trailer cars TF 6006 and TF 6010, and motor cars CF 5003, CF 5006, CF 5010, CF 5021 and CF 5022.
A few are owned by RailCorp
Rail Corporation New South Wales
Rail Corporation New South Wales is a statutory authority of the New South Wales government. RailCorp owns, operates and maintains the Sydney suburban and interurban rail network which is marketed under the CityRail brand; in addition to operating rural passenger services under the CountryLink...
for electric carriage preservation, and the Glenreagh Mountain Railway and Richmond Vale Railway also own trailer cars, too.