The AEC railmotor was the first generally successful railmotor built for the Victorian Railways. 19 vehicles were constructed from 1922 to 1925, along with 24 trailer vehicles built to a similar design.
| A.E.C. railmotor | |
|---|---|
 AEC railmotor near Fawkner | |
| In service | 1922–1954 |
| Manufacturer | Associated Equipment Company (Chassis & Engine) Victorian Railways (Body) |
| Designer | Victorian Railways |
| Assembly | Victorian Railways |
| Built at | Newport Workshops |
| Constructed | 1922–1925 |
| Number built | 19 |
| Number scrapped | 19 |
| Design code | RM |
| Fleet numbers | 1–19 |
| Capacity | 32 to 37 passengers |
| Specifications | |
| Prime mover(s) | Petrol |
| Engine type | Petrol engine |
| Power output | 45 hp (34 kW) |
| Track gauge | 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) |
Design
editFour different internal layouts were used, providing for different traffic.
| Railmotor | First Class | Second Class | Railmotor | First Class | Second Class | |
| AEC 1 | 0 | 37 | AEC 10 | 32 | 0 | |
| AEC 2 | 0 | 37 | AEC 11 | 32 | 0 | |
| AEC 3 | 0 | 37 | AEC 12 | 0 | 37 | |
| AEC 4 | 0 | 37 | AEC 13 | 0 | 37 | |
| AEC 5 | 0 | 37 | AEC 14 | 10 | 22 | |
| AEC 6 | 0 | 37 | AEC 15 | 32 | 0 | |
| AEC 7 | 10 | 22 | AEC 16 | 32 | 0 | |
| AEC 8 | 32 | 0 | AEC 17 | 32 | 0 | |
| AEC 9 | 11 | 21 | AEC 18 | 10 | 22 | |
| AEC 19 | 32 | 0 |
Construction
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In service
edit- AEC railmotors were used on the Reservoir – Whittlesea shuttle service from 1924 until 1931.[1]
- On the Outer Circle line, a pair of AEC railmotors coupled back to back operated the Deepdene Dasher service from Riversdale to Deepdene from 15 August 1926 until 10 October 1927, after which the service was replaced by buses.[2]
- A single AEC railmotor operated a shuttle service on the Upfield line, between Fawkner and Somerton (just south of the site of the current Roxburgh Park station), from 1928 until 1956. A turntable for the railmotor was installed at Fawkner and Somerton.[3]
Withdrawal & preservation
editThe AECs were progressively withdrawn in the early 1950s as the new Walker railmotors came into service.
None survive into preservation.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Jack McLean (November 1995). "Reservoir – Whittlesea: Signalling and Safeworking". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division): 333–337.
- ^ David Beardsell and Bruce Herbert (1979). The Outer Circle: A history of the Oakleigh to Fairfield Park Railway. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). p. 63. ISBN 0-85849-024-2.
- ^ "Somerton" (PDF). Victorian Signalling Histories. Andrew Waugh. Retrieved 22 January 2008.