Re: railmotor and DMUs

[fjones@pipeline.com.au (Frank Jones)]

On Sat, 06 May 2000 01:01:34 GMT, James C. <james_ccj@my-deja.com>
wrote:

>In article <8F2C81D0telstraNews@139.130.239.94>,
>  mk@netstra.com.au (Michael Kurkowski) wrote:
>> ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au (James Brook) wrote in
>> <3912B69A.9DAF2DC3@ozemail.com.au>:
>>
>> >The VR DERM is the best railmotor in Australia! :-)


>>
>> But, the Walkers railmotors are the nicest looking (not that I've
>ever had
>> the pleasure to ride on one :( ).

No offence to Daylesford's CHTR intended here, but when in service
riding in them was *not* particularly a pleasure.

Easily the roughest riding piece of rollingstock the VR had, even
worse if you were in a trailer. The flimsy link and pin coupler was
wrenched out of a trailer at Lara one day - must have been good
whiplash!

Virtually non-existent ventilation - I once came back from Wonthaggi
on a 153 - the outside temperature was about 43 degrees, the railmotor
was packed, and it had been sitting in the sun all day during a 4-hour
layover at the terminus. Must have been 50 degrees plus inside the
Walker all the way back to Nyora.

They were probably the worst example of the VR's 'cheap and nasty'
policy. I rode on the 280hp unit that went to Wodonga originally for
the Tallangatta preservation group - roof panels were springing off as
we went along!!! (This RM went to Huon and is now at Daylesford). Most
of the DERMS, around 20 years older, outlasted them.

You only have to look at the frame and bogies of CHTR's 153 (currently
stripped back for restoration) to see how flimsy they were.

>>
>> Michael
>IT'S HIJACK TIME!!!
>
>Try Daylesford's Central highland railway, most of the time they use
>Walker railmotors for general operation, Walker railmotor are very
>different, look inside the train you will notice this train is design
>to be a long distance train .

No, they were for branch lines, but there was a service Melb. - Donald
at one stage.

>Personally I prefer a QR 2000 class DMU,
>maybe grew up in Brisbane also influenced me somehow....
>
>any Endeavour or Sprinter fans out there???
>

A Sprinter would be infinitely preferable for longer distances.

>--
>Cheers
>
>James
>
>
>Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
>Before you buy.