Tait train

The Tait trains were a wooden bodied electric multiple unit EMU train that operated on the suburban railway network of MelbourneVictoriaAustralia. They were introduced in by the Victorian Railways as steam locomotive hauled cars, and converted to electric traction from when tait train Melbourne electrification project was underway, tait train.

For almost half a century from to , Victorian Railways VR of Australia built and introduced over Tait trains, used across Melbourne's suburban rail network. Named after Canadian Thomas James Tait, they were initially built as carriages to be hauled by Steam traction before being electricfied under Tait's initiative. They were used in a number of formations right up until , by which time they had all been withdrawn. Their aged wooden bodies were simply not fit for the lines of the time and presented a real risk of fire compared to more contemporary rolling stock. Ironically, some Tait trains were disposed of by being burned, with others sold off for scrap and others entering preservation. A Tait Train pre-electrification hauled by a Dd Class steam locomotive. Occasionally, in the last 20 years, steam-hauled sets of Tait trains have returned to the mainline on special excursion tours using refurbished sets.

Tait train

Also running on the Werribee Line today is a restored Tait set on its first test runs. The Tait trains entered service on the Melbourne Rail Network, originally pulled by steam locomotives. They were converted to electric locos from The trains derived their name from Sir Thomas James Tait, the chairman of commissioners of the Victorian Railways from to They became affectionately known as Red Rattlers and were on the network until being phased out in the early 's. This unique Level Crossing has since been removed, and the rail line is currently in the process of being lowered underneath the road here. Steamrail Victoria was conducting a Tait train testing today from Newport to Lilydale and return. They were replaced by the Blue Harris trains. This was the taits first run with paying public passengers for close to 2 decades. Great to see people enjoying the train at last! The restored Tait set arrives at Upper Ferntree Gully with a driver training special bound for Belgrave. This train was a private Ashburton Shuttles charter. Also the first presense of a steam train on the Alamein line since

Flying Scotsman was also there too, inside a wired cage, with a charge for admission.

Heritage red rattler train welcomes back Melbourne passengers for the first time in years. Eighteen years after financial trouble took Melbourne's red rattlers off the rails, the historic electric trains are back on track and available for the public. Today's launch marks the first time the Tait train has been certified to carry passengers on Melbourne's suburban railway network while operating under its own power since Steamrail volunteer Alex McLennan said they had been through some "devastating" times trying to get the trains up and running, so today was "exciting" for everyone involved. Steamrail Victoria had been successfully operating tours and public shuttle trips of the Tait trains from the mids until when their operator West Coast Rail folded. The volunteer organisation struggled to find another operator. Then in the early hours of the morning on March 4, , a fire was lit at the Newport Railyards destroying a newly restored swing door train as well as damaging the workshop and other carriages.

They were introduced in by the Victorian Railways, and last operated in , although a number of the carriages were converted for other uses and are still operating. A program to refurbish the Harris trains was begun in 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 and subsequently cut up for scrap, except for one M carriage which has been preserved and is now held at the Williamstown Railway Museum, Melbourne. They never ran in the City Loop, except for a farewell tour in Hitachi Class 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.

Tait train

M cars: 50 LT 4 cwt 0 qtr The Tait trains were a wooden bodied electric multiple unit EMU train that operated on the suburban railway network of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia. They were introduced in by the Victorian Railways as steam locomotive hauled cars, and converted to electric traction from when the Melbourne electrification project was underway. Tait trains were initially referred to as "Sliding Door" trains, as opposed to the Swing Door trains then in service. From the s, they became known as Reds or Red Rattlers , following the introduction of the blue-painted Harris trains. Tait trains had 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 was provided with its own exterior sliding door. Incandescent lighting, a ceiling with pressed tin patterns, luggage racks above head height, and beautifully stained woodgrain walls were fitted inside each compartment. Interiors were split into smoking and no-smoking compartments until late with the abolition of smoking on trains, and carriages were designated as first or second class until when one class suburban travel was introduced.

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Flying Scotsman was suggested as an alternative. Red Rattler by David Nice. On Friday 15 February , the "great carriage auction" was held at Newport Workshops with large quantities of vehicle bodies sold and proceeds donated to the Australian Railway Historical Society's museum. Trundling through the forest within Nillumbuik Ranges, the Taits make their appearance on the Hurstbridge Line once again as the photographer captures it along the single track section between Wattle Glen and Hurstbridge. Developed and published by DTG. That gives a rough indication of when the decision was made to proceed with a V DC overhead wiring system for Melbourne's electrification, as opposed to earlier proposals to use a third rail. The "D" type cars were the least common of the car types. The final step was a "load test run" with Steamrail volunteers as passengers on February July Newport Workshops. Additional M cars, — and —, were built new in Inspiration came from the railways th celebrations in England in The owner of the Flying Scotsman, William McAlpine had his bank to do a credit search on Wal Stuchbery the creator of Aus Steam '88 and his wife, to assess the soundness of the project. Explore Wikis Community Central. Current Wiki.

For almost half a century from to , Victorian Railways VR of Australia built and introduced over Tait trains, used across Melbourne's suburban rail network. Named after Canadian Thomas James Tait, they were initially built as carriages to be hauled by Steam traction before being electricfied under Tait's initiative.

Australian Dictionary of Biography. Programme of events for Aus Steam '88 and the Flying Scotsman: Aus Steam '88 festivities got under way on Tuesday, 18 October, , which saw many broad gauge trips between Melbourne and Geelong, including a visit to the Bellarine Peninsula Railway at Queenscliff. Aurora RUB sets. In the first half of , six AC P carriages 16—17, 23, 92—93 and 52 and five BC P carriages 2—3, 8—9 and 18 were rewired and recoded with a "D" appended. Railfan-Joe May 20th, Max Thum's railway photographs can be found on his Instagram Page and on Facebook. During its run to Melbourne, it was welcomed by local residents at towns along the way. Tait Train 1 by Allan Williams. The restored Tait set arrives at Upper Ferntree Gully with a driver training special bound for Belgrave. Article Talk. Alex McLennan says it feels "magnificent" to have the Tait trains running after all the hardship. The funding will be used to reinstate the automatic stopping trip system, provide radios and speedometers for the first time, and restore and upgrade the mechanical and electrical components to modern standards as required.