David
Do you know the reason for a sliding door being placed at the front off-side
corner of
cars C3182 and C3396? Certainly, it must have been a fair while ago because
in the
case of C3396, it occurred prior to its modification to "four-motor" status.
(First Stop
Central, published in April 1963, contains a photo of C3182 with its extra
doorway).
Another Standard car, C3176, with a door (swing type) fitted at the front
off-side
corner of the vehicle appears to have received such facility upon rebuilding
after the
January 1945 derailment just south of Merrylands, where it did an "u-turn" as
a result
of hitting material placed on the rails by vandals.
Years later, of course, during 1975/76, five other Standard motor cars were
remodelled with a large guard's compartment (and an off-side swing door that
was
hinged at the front corner on some vehicles and at the other side of the
doorway on
others) between the front of the car and the first vestibule. Presumably,
this was done
to provide additional cars for marshalling in the centre of 8-car sets after
the Bradfields
had been withdrawn, and at a time when the only other vehicles with large
guard's compartments were the 1950s Tulloch motor cars. (I've got the info
for these five
cars, but I still can't find out much about the reasons for the "surgery" on
cars C3182
& C3396).
In any case, could you arrange for this request to be put on the 'Ausrail'
news group,
or tell me how I can do it?
Thanks.
Regards
Paul Rogers