Walker railmotor

The family of Walker railmotors were a type of diesel railcar operated by the Victorian Railways in Australia.

After World War II, the Victorian Railways undertook a major rebuilding program known as Operation Phoenix. One of the first tasks was the upgrading of passenger services on country branch lines, through the replacement of 23 wooden-bodied railmotors built in the 1920s, and the withdrawal of steam locomotive hauled mixed trains.

An initial order of twelve 102 hp (76 kW) railcars, six 153 hp (114 kW) railcars with trailers, and twelve 280 hp (210 kW) railcars was placed with Walker Brothers, Wigan, England. It was then extended to include a further ten 153 hp (110 kW) railmotors and trailers. The first was delivered in 1948, with additions to the fleet running through to 1955.^[1][2]

102hp Walker Railmotor
102hp Walker railmotor soon after delivery
Type and origin Power type Diesel Designer Walker Brothers Builder Walker Brothers (Power Unit) Martin & King (Body), Thompsons (Underframe) Victorian Railways (Assemble) Build date 1948-1955 Total produced 13
Specifications Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Length 8.5625 ft (2.6 m) Loco weight 18.00t Fuel type Diesel Engine type Gardner 6LW
Performance figures Maximum speed 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) Power output 102 horsepower (76 kW) Tractive effort 2,969 pounds-force (13.21 kN)
Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 12 Numbers 1RM-13RM First run 15 March 1948

153hp Walker Railmotor
Type and origin Power type Diesel Designer Walker Brothers Builder Walker Brothers (Power Unit) Martin & King (Body) Thompsons (Underframe) Victorian Railways (Assemble) Build date 1948-1955 Total produced 16 (153hp)
Specifications Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Length 10.55 ft (3.2 m) Loco weight 20.00t – 153hp Fuel type Diesel Engine type Gardner 6L3
Performance figures Maximum speed 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) Power output 153 horsepower (114 kW) Tractive effort 4,130 pounds-force (18.4 kN)
Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 12 Numbers 20RM-35RM First run 16 July 1948 (153hp)

102hp & 153hp Walker Railmotor – Passenger unit
Type and origin Designer Walker Brothers Builder Martin & King (Body) Thompsons (Underframe) Victorian Railways (Assemble) Build date 1948-1953 Total produced 27
Specifications Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Length 44.5 ft (10 m) Fuel capacity 40 imperial gallons (180 L)
Performance figures Maximum speed 50 miles per hour (80 km/h)
Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 27 Numbers 100-101, 220-234 First run 15 March 1948

280hp Walker Railmotor
Type and origin Power type Diesel Designer Walker Brothers Builder Walker Brothers (Power Unit) Martin & King (Body) Thompsons (Underframe) Victorian Railways (Assemble) Build date 1950-1954 Total produced 12 + spare power unit
Specifications Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Length 37 m (121 ft 5 in) Loco weight 55.00t Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 2 x 50 imperial gallons (230 L) Engine type 2 x Gardner 8LW 140 hp engines
Performance figures Maximum speed 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) Power output 280 horsepower (210 kW) Tractive effort 6,285 pounds-force (27.96 kN)
Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 12 Numbers RM 80 – RM 91, RM 92 (Power unit) First run 6 June 1950

Walker Railmotor Trailer
Type and origin Designer Walker Brothers Builder Martin & King (Body) Thompsons (Underframe) Victorian Railways (Assemble)
Specifications Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Length 44.15 ft (10 m) Loco weight 17.00t
Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 16 Numbers 50MT-64MT First run 18 October 1948

Construction

The power units and controls were built by Walker Bros. and shipped out from Wigan England, the underframes were built by Thompsons of Castlemaine and the car bodies were built by Martin & King, in the Melbourne suburb of Armadale. Assembly took place at the Newport Workshops. The van bodies were constructed with composite wood and steel framework, and aluminium sheeting screwed to the frames.

The engine and trailing units were initially fitted with small plates below skirt level identifying each section as part of that specific railmotor set, i.e. 80RM,^[3] but these were removed as units were rotated through workshops and mixed with each other. Within a few years the identity of the 102 hp (76 kW) and 153 hp (114 kW) motors was marked only on the cabside door (with nothing on the saloon unit), and on the 280 hp (209 kW) railmotors only on one side of each motor unit with nothing on either saloon unit. Vehicle identities were occasionally further confused when cabside doors were swapped in later years.

The intended life of the Walker railmotors was only 10 years. However, most remained in service for up to 30 years.

102hp & 153hp

The final fleet included 13x 102 hp (76 kW) engine/driving units 1-13RM and 16x 153 hp (114 kW) engine/driving units 20-35RM which looked similar; these shared 27x trailing units each mounted on only one bogie, and attached semi-permanently to the associated motor unit, leaving one motor unit of each type spare. The trailing units were not identified normally when in service, but some correspondence notes individual identities No.100 to No.111 (or No.101 to No.112^[4]) and No.220 to No.234. This was marked on a small plate on the passenger/driver door of cabs.

The passenger units were all identical with room for 18 1st class and 22 2nd class seated passengers plus 2 tons luggage, except for 100, 104 and 220, which had 18+27 seats and room for only 1.27 tons of luggage; their tare weight was a ton less than the rest of the fleet.

Newsrail April 1982 records the small-van units as "11, 12 and 20", and coupled to 3RM as of 8 June 1976, and 31RM as of 1 January 1977.^[5]

280hp

Separate to the paired units, railmotors 80-92RM consisted of two driving/sitting units, one either side of the power unit that gave its identity to the full consist. Originally, 80-91RM were in service and 92RM was spare without attached driving/passenger units.

One unit in each pair was fitted with seating for 38 1st class passengers, and the other had 56 2nd class passengers, for a total of 94 seats. Each was also capable of holding a single ton of luggage, the train crew only were permitted to walk through the centre motor unit engine room.

Unlike the 120 hp (89 kW) and 153 hp (114 kW) variants, the driving/passenger units of the 280 hp (209 kW) series were classed A880-A891 for the 1st class units, and B880-B891 for the 2nd class units. While possible, there's no reason to assume that the sets were broken up or shuffled around, besides the central motor section.

Trailers

To go with the Walker railmotors, sixteen trailer cars were built. The first were delivered as class RMT, numbers 50 and 51; they were reclassed to MT in 1949, and further deliveries brought the class up to 64MT.

Each was mounted on two bogies with no driving stands, so they required a runaround at terminal stations. Stylistically, they matched the 102 hp (76 kW) and 153 hp (114 kW) railcars, and were a little shorter than the 280 hp (209 kW) type.

Each trailer had capacity for 16 1st, 22 ^2nd seated passengers and 2 tons of luggage, except 55MT fitted with 38 2nd-class seats instead of a mixture.

Like the motors, these trailers were not fitted with standard couplings so special arrangements had to be made when it was necessary to move one of the trailers with a normal locomotive.

In service

The first run was on 15 March 1948, between Heathcote and Wallan on the North Eastern line; this was with 102 hp (76 kW), 1RM. The first 153 hp (114 kW) unit ran from Spencer Street to Daylesford, until that roster was taken by the first of the 280 hp (209 kW) units - 80RM - on 6 June 1950.

The railcars soon saw use on the Bendigo-Deniliquin and Ararat-Portland services, and by the time the 91RM was delivered, Mansfield, Wonthaggi, Woomelang and Wangaratta were also being served by the units. The long Glenrowan – Wangaratta section often saw the railcars exceed the 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) speed limit.^[6]

Each passenger unit was equipped with adjustable seating, internal heating, non-draught windows, water tanks for drinking or washing, along with ample luggage storage in overhead wire racks. At least when new, the engines did not cause any vibration in the passenger compartments. The lighting system was powered by the then-standard Victorian Railways' 24vDC supply, which utilised a belt-driven axle generator to charge batteries and 20-watt globes. Trailer cars were not fitted with their own power supply, instead drawing power via jumper cables from adjacent units; the exceptions being 54 and 56MT, which are thought to have had their own belt-driven axle generator to charge their own batteries.^[4]

The 280 hp (209 kW) railcars were fitted with fluorescent lighting, likely a first for the Victorian Railways.

The light construction of the vehicles proved problematic, with many needing full rebuilds by 1954.^[4]

It has been reported that the 280 hp (209 kW) units had provision for multiple unit control, but that this feature was never utilised.^[4] As a result, when running in multiple each unit needed to have its own driver, the two communicating through the standard whistle codes used on locomotives.

In later years the railcars' already poor riding qualities had deteriorated, especially due to their light construction. By the late 1970s the Walkers had reached the end of their lives, with a number of railcars being withdrawn from service during 1978 and 1979. By 1980 only 82RM, 85RM and 91RM remained in service.^[6] The last 280 hp (209 kW) Walker railmotor ran on 17 September 1980, with 82RM operating the 08:00 service from Melbourne to Woodend and return.

In 1981 the Central Highlands Tourist Railway (now the Daylesford Spa Country Railway) acquired 91RM, 32RM and 56MT with the transfer being carried out in March 1982. Restoration of 91RM began in January 1987, and was certified for traffic in March 1990.^[6]

Liveries

Each unit was originally painted in all-over royal blue, with silver roofs, striping and highlighting. After the first of the B class diesels was delivered, the Walkers then in service were repainted, with gold replacing the silver. Over time, the roofs were repainted blue to hide grime, and the logos and striping were made simpler. To improve visibility at level crossings, the cars had thin orange stripes added in the 1950s, followed by a wide orange "dayglo" band over the top of the yellow stripe below window level. Dayglo was designed to look fairly normal in daylight, but to become reflective at night. These stripes were removed from 1968.

A number of internal themes were used, with some cars having ivory ceilings and green and brown walls; others had blue ceilings with brown walls. All cars were fitted with seats upholstered in brown leather.

Typical rosters

By 1963, the Walkers had settled into a pattern with a number of routes.

The 102 hp Walkers typically ran between:

• Morwell - Mirboo North
• Ararat - Hamilton
• Swan Hill - Piangil
• Castlemaine - Maryborough
• Benalla - Yarrawonga
• Ballarat - Ararat
• Nyora - Wonthaggi
• Horsham - Goroke
• Kerang - Koondrook
• Ouyen - Pinnaroo and
• Numurkah - Cobram

The 153 hp Walkers typically ran between:

• Traralgon - Maffra
• Ballarat - Linton
• Echuca - Balranald
• Ararat - Hamilton
• Frankston - Mornington
• Ballarat - Ballan
• Bendigo - Deniliquin
• Echuca - Kyabram "School Train", with three trailers.
• Lilydale - Healesville
• Melbourne - Seymour
• Dimboola - Serviceton
• Bendigo - Cohuna
• Wallan - Heathcote
• Lilydale - Warburton and
• Melbourne - Mansfield

The 280 hp Walkers typically ran between:

• Ararat - Portland
• Melbourne - Werribee
• Melbourne - Leongatha
• Melbourne - Daylesford
• Melbourne - Woomelang
• Melbourne - Wonthaggi and
• Geelong - Ballarat
• Frankston - Stony Point

Some of these rosters required multiple units.

 

Walker Railcar at Romsey

Withdrawal and scrapping

35RM with unit no.224 was the first to be scrapped, on Thursday 15 October 1970. Scrapping then continued at a fairly easy pace until 1977, when VicRail decreed that branch lines in general were to be closed, rendering the units without a purpose. As such, 102 hp overhauls were stopped, with failed units being held awaiting scrapping instead. The same procedure applied to 153 hp and 280 hp units from April the next year.

4RM was the last 102 hp unit in service, withdrawn in December 1978; it survived longer because its engine unit had been replaced with a General Motors unit at some stage in its life, permitting a 50 mph maximum speed and allowing it to closer match the timetables applicable to the higher-horsepower units.

Withdrawals of the larger units accelerated, and by the end of 1979 only 22, 32, 82, 85 and 91RM were still in service. The latter two of that list were withdrawn next; 85RM suffered a bearing failure and continued on to Ballarat North Workshops on one engine; however, its body condition was deemed too poor to be worth repairing, so it was transferred to Newport Workshops and was stored there. 82RM was the last of the 280 hp units to go, after running an 8:00 Melbourne to Woodend and return trip on 17 September 1980.

32RM ran with 56MT through to November 1980, when the engine was withdrawn on account of a much needed overhaul (which was never completed by VicRail). 22RM and 64MT stayed in service, usually running the 9:11 am Melbourne to Leongatha and return trip on weekdays, occasionally forming a Sunbury trip or two after arriving back in Melbourne. On Saturdays the unit pair would run on the Werribee shuttles, and occasionally to either Bacchus Marsh or Seymour as railmotor shortages dictated. but eventually, the gearbox failed and the unit was withdrawn following its return from Leongatha on 1 April 1981.

Preservation

 

280 hp Walker Railcar at Daylesford

In 1981, two railmotors and a trailer – 32RM, 91RM and 56MT – were scheduled to be transferred to the SteamRanger Heritage Railway at Victor Harbor, South Australia. 91RM failed on the Ingliston Bank and the three ended up stored at Ballarat East. Later, the three units were purchased by the Central Highlands Tourist Railway, now the Daylesford Spa Country Railway. 7RM was being held at Newport for future use on the Victorian Goldfields Railway. 22RM was static in the Newport Railway Museum, with 85RM held for future addition, and 59MT was similarly allocated, but was badly vandalised, potentially to be replaced by 64MT. 82RM was stored at Wodonga for a proposed tourist service at Tallangatta.

It is thought that the passenger units which had been with 29RM and 31RM at time of scrapping had been sold for use as sheds somewhere in the Victorian countryside.

Units existing as at March 11, 2023 are:

• 7RM Stored at Daylesford.
• 22RM with No.225 – Owned by VicTrack, allocated to Newport Railway Museum, sub-allocated to Yarra Valley Tourist Railway. In service.
• 24RM Possibly with No.228. Stored in poor condition at Huon.
• 32RM In service at Daylesford.
• 82RM with No.887A and No.891B – Stored at Daylesford.
• 85RM with Units X, Y – Stored at Daylesford.
• 91RM with No.880A and No.887B – In service at Daylesford.
• 56MT – Stored at Daylesford.
• 58MT – Under restoration at the Yarra Valley Tourist Railway.
• 64MT – Location unknown.

Details of vehicles

102hp, 153hp and passenger units

Railmotor	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Status 24 March 1976^[4]	Current Status	Notes
1RM	Thursday, 4 March 1948	1971	Sunday, 19 November 1972	Scrapped	Scrapped
2RM	Sunday, 14 March 1948	1977		Swan Hill (for Piangil)
3RM	Friday, 6 August 1948	1978		Bendigo North Workshops
4RM	Tuesday, 15 February 1949	1978		Melbourne		Fitted with GM motor, 128 hp.
5RM	Wednesday, 1 June 1949	1973	Sunday, 24 February 1974	Scrapped	Scrapped
6RM	Thursday, 23 June 1949	1978		Bendigo North Workshops
7RM	Friday, 22 July 1949	Monday, 3 April 1978		Kerang (for Koondrook)	N/A	Stored, pending restoration at Daylesford Spa Country Railway
8RM	Monday, 26 September 1949	1978		Bendigo (Spare)
9RM	Monday, 10 October 1949	1976	Tuesday, 1 June 1976	Bendigo (burnt out, awaiting scrapping)	Scrapped
10RM	Friday, 4 November 1949	1978	Spotswood reclamation depot, June 1979.	Melbourne	Scrapped
11RM	Tuesday, 20 December 1949	1978		Maryborough (for Castlemaine)
12RM	Friday, 10 February 1950	1981		Scrapped	Scrapped
13RM	Wednesday, 26 January 1955	1978		Newport Workshops		Original spare power unit
20RM	Friday, 16 July 1948	Monday, 20 February 1978	Wednesday, 30 April 1980	Ararat (repairs)	Scrapped	Damaged in a derailment after hitting sheep. Accident occurred between Traralgon and Maffra.
21RM	Thursday, 16 September 1948	Monday, 3 April 1978	N/A	Newport Workshops		Offered for sale on 21 June 1978.
22RM	Monday, 15 November 1948	Tuesday, 1 April 1980	N/A	Newport Workshops (Spare power unit)	Allocated to Australian Railway Historical Society Museum at Newport; suballocated to Yarra Valley Tourist Railway.	Operational – Restored, paired with No.225.
23RM	Friday, 5 November 1948	Friday, 8 April 1977	Thursday, 5 May 1977	Healesville (for Lilydale)	Scrapped
24RM	Wednesday, 23 March 1949			Serviceton (for Horsham)	Stored at Huon on the former Cudgewa line. In poor condition.	Owned by former Tallangatta Valley Steam Preservation Society. Possibly paired with 228.
25RM	Thursday, 19 May 1949	Friday, 26 November 1971	Friday, 16 June 1972	Scrapped	Scrapped
26RM	Wednesday, 2 July 1952	Friday, 8 April 1977	Thursday, 5 May 1977	Melbourne	Scrapped
27RM	Thursday, 31 July 1952	Monday, 1 May 1978	N/A	Mornington (for Frankston)		Offered for sale on 21 June 1978.
28RM	Wednesday, 10 September 1952	Monday, 1 May 1978	Friday, 25 July 1980	Maffra (for Traralgon)	Scrapped
29RM	Monday, 6 October 1952	Tuesday, 4 September 1979	Tuesday, 1 July 1980	Melbourne	Scrapped
30RM	Thursday, 20 November 1952	Wednesday, 3 October 1973	Thursday, 22 June 1978	Wonthaggi (for Nyora)	Scrapped
31RM	Monday, 9 February 1953	Wednesday, 21 December 1977	Tuesday, 1 July 1980	Ballarat (for Linton)	Scrapped	Derailed between Lilydale and Coldstream on 19 February 1962.
32RM	Tuesday, 24 March 1953	Tuesday, 13 January 1981	N/A	Ballarat (for Maryborough)	Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Operational - Restored in mid 1950s blue and gold livery. Paired with No.232.
33RM	Friday, 7 August 1953	Tuesday, 4 September 1979		Ararat (repairs)
34RM	Wednesday, 23 September 1953	Monday, 1 May 1978		Newport Workshops
35RM	Friday, 3 September 1954	Thursday, 15 October 1970	Thursday, 15 Oct 1970	Scrapped	Scrapped	Original spare power unit.
No.100	Thursday, 4 March 1948					45 seats, reduced luggage capacity
No.101	Sunday, 14 March 1948	1978
No.102	Friday, 6 August 1948
No.103	Tuesday, 15 February 1949	1978
No.104	Wednesday, 1 June 1949	1978				45 seats, reduced luggage capacity
No.105	Thursday, 23 June 1949
No.106	Friday, 22 July 1949	1978
No.107	Monday, 26 September 1949
No.108	Monday, 10 October 1949	1978
No.109	Friday, 4 November 1949	1978
No.110	Tuesday, 20 December 1949	1978
No.111	Friday, 10 February 1950	1971
No.220	Friday, 16 July 1948	1978				45 seats, reduced luggage capacity
No.221	Thursday, 16 September 1948	1978
No.222	Monday, 15 November 1948	1978
No.223	Friday, 5 November 1948	1978
No.224	Wednesday, 23 March 1949	1970	Thursday, 15 Oct 1970
No.225	Thursday, 19 May 1949	1980			Allocated to Australian Railway Historical Society Museum at Newport; suballocated to Yarra Valley Tourist Railway.	Operational – Restored, paired with 22RM.
No.226	Wednesday, 2 July 1952	1977
No.227	Thursday, 31 July 1952	1978
No.228	Wednesday, 10 September 1952	1979				Possibly paired with 24RM at Huon.
No.229	Monday, 6 October 1952	1981
No.230	Thursday, 20 November 1952	1978
No.231	Monday, 9 February 1953	1977
No.232	Tuesday, 24 March 1953	1981			Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Operational - Restored in mid 1950s blue and gold livery. Paired with 32RM.
No.233	Friday, 7 August 1953	1979
No.234	Wednesday, 23 September 1953	1979

280hp and passenger units

Railmotor	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Status 24 March 1976^[4]	Current Status	Notes
80RM	Tuesday, 6 June 1950			Melbourne
81RM	Monday, 21 August 1950			Newport Workshops
82RM	Tuesday, 12 December 1950		N/A	Ballarat North Workshops	Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Stored pending restoration. Paired with 887A and 891B
83RM	Friday, 2 February 1951			Newport Workshops
84RM	Wednesday, 21 March 1951			Melbourne
85RM	Wednesday, 23 May 1951			Newport (for Werribee)	Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Stored pending restoration
86RM	Tuesday, 17 July 1951			Melbourne
87RM	Friday, 3 August 1951			Melbourne
88RM	Friday, 7 September 1951			Melbourne
89RM	Thursday, 25 October 1951		1980	Melbourne	Scrapped
90RM	Thursday, 13 December 1951			Ballarat North Workshops
91RM	Sunday, 30 December 1951		N/A	Crib Point (for Frankston)	Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Operational, paired with 880A and 887B.
92RM		N/A		Newport Workshops (Spare power unit)		Original spare power unit only
880A	Tuesday, 6 June 1950				Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Operational, paired with 91RM and 887B.
881A	Monday, 21 August 1950
882A	Tuesday, 12 December 1950
883A	Friday, 2 February 1951
884A	Wednesday, 21 March 1951
885A	Wednesday, 23 May 1951
886A	Tuesday, 17 July 1951
887A	Friday, 3 August 1951				Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Stored pending restoration. Paired with 82RM and 891B
888A	Friday, 7 September 1951
889A	Thursday, 25 October 1951
890A	Thursday, 13 December 1951
891A	Sunday, 30 December 1951
880B	Tuesday, 6 June 1950
881B	Monday, 21 August 1950
882B	Tuesday, 12 December 1950
883B	Friday, 2 February 1951
884B	Wednesday, 21 March 1951
885B	Wednesday, 23 May 1951
886B	Tuesday, 17 July 1951
887B	Friday, 3 August 1951				Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Operational, paired with 880A and 91RM.
888B	Friday, 7 September 1951
889B	Thursday, 25 October 1951
890B	Thursday, 13 December 1951
891B	Sunday, 30 December 1951				Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Stored pending restoration. Paired with 887A and 82RM.

Trailers

Railmotor	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Status 24 March 1976^[4]	Current Status	Notes
50MT	18 October 1948			Bendigo North Workshops
51MT	7 December 1948			Melbourne
52MT	25 February 1949			Linton (for Ballarat)
53MT	24 June 1949			Bendigo North Workshops
54MT	9 July 1949			Ballarat loco depot		Fitted with belt-driven axle generator and batteries
55MT	30 July 1949		1979	Clunes (for Maryborough)		All 2nd class, 38 seats
56MT	5 February 1952			Melbourne		Fitted with belt-driven axle generator and batteries
57MT	11 August 1952		30 June 1977	Melbourne
58MT	17 September 1952			Healesville (for Lilydale)		27 April 1983 – Sold to Tallangatta^[7]
59MT	24 October 1952		1982	Bendigo North Workshops
60MT	4 December 1952			Melbourne
61MT	17 February 1953			Melbourne
62MT	25 November 1953			Bendigo North Workshops
63MT	23 December 1953			Clunes (for Maryborough)
64MT	18 June 1954			Frankston (for Crib Point or Mornington)		13 October 1983 – Sold to Tallangatta^[7]

References

1. "Railmotors: 102 hp Walker". VICSIG. www.vicsig.net. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
2. "Railmotors: 280 hp Walker". VICSIG. www.vicsig.net. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
3. "Unknown".^{[permanent dead link]}
4. Newsrail December 1981 pg284
5. Newsrail April 1982 pg79, correcting photo captions Newsrail December 1981 pg292
6. Barry Fell (July 1990). "A very brief history of the 280s". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). pp. 200–201.
7. PJV'S

• Newsrail December 1981 p. 284