Commonwealth Railways carbon steel carriage stock

In January 1963 Commonwealth Railways placed an order with Commonwealth Engineering, Granville for 24 air-conditioned carbon steel carriages.[1][2]

These standard gauge carriages were purchased for use on the Trans Australian between Port Pirie Junction and Kalgoorlie, as well as on The Ghan from Port Pirie Junction to Marree.[1]

At 22.92 metres (75 ft 2 in), they were the longest carriages in Australia. They were Commonwealth Railways' first Australian built standard gauge carriages, their predecessors having been manufactured in Europe or Japan.[1]

In July 1975, all were included in the transfer of Commonwealth Railways to Australian National. Some were converted to crew carriages for use on Trans-Australian Railway freight trains while others were sold to the Australian Rail Track Corporation.

Fleet details

Individual carriage details
Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Scrapped Unknown
Code Number Entered Service Withdrawn Current Owner Current Location Notes
ECA 132 1963-12-20[3] 1990-06-xx (passenger car) ~2006 (crew car)[3] *scrapped* In June 1990, BRE132 was converted into ECA132. During conversion to a crew car, lounge and dining facilities were installed. The carriage was scrapped in 2011 at Dry Creek because ECA132 became a redundant crew car.
ECA 133 1964-2-4[3] ~1995 (passenger car) unknown (crew car)[3] *likely scrapped* In 1995, BRE133 was converted into ECA133. During conversion to a crew car, lounge and dining facilities were installed. Withdrawal date unknown, now likely scrapped at Dry Creek.
BRE 134 1964-2-5[3] Unknown[3] Unknown In 1970, BRE134 was converted to narrow gauge on 6 wheel bogies for use on The Ghan from Marree to Alice Springs. In November 1980, NBRE134 featured on the last Old Ghan journey (Marree-Alice Springs). In June 1982, the carriage was converted to standard gauge. Withdrawal date unknown, it is now not known where the carriage is.
ECA 135 1964-3-20[3] 1991-2-x (passenger), ~2000 (crew car)[3] *scrapped* Shortly after the carriage entered service, BRE135 was converted to narrow gauge on 6 wheel bogies for use on The Ghan from Marree to Alice Springs. In November 1980, NBRE134 featured on the last Old Ghan journey (Marree-Alice Springs). In October 1981, the carriage was returned to standard gauge. The carriage was still painted Commonwealth Railways Maroon even after the carriage was converted to the standard gauge. In February 1991, BRE135 was converted into ECA135. During conversion to a crew car, lounge and dining facilities were installed. The carriage was scrapped in 2011 at Dry Creek because ECA132 became a redundant crew car.
DD 136 1964-4-03[4] Unknown[5] Rail Heritage WA Bassendean As of 1987, the carriage still featured a Commonwealth Railways Maroon livery with the letters 'Australian National' on the top and the Commonwealth of Australia seal. The carriage was withdrawn at an unknown date and put on the breakdown train at Port Augusta. In the late 1990s, the carriage was sold to a private individual, who later used the carriage on the Murraylander that carried school children between Adelaide and Tailem Bend. The carriage was withdrawn in 2003 following the termination of the Murraylander and sold to South Spur Rail Services. From 2005 to 2008, the carriage was used on the Spirit of the West train as the Regency Carriage. In 2014, DD136 was sold to Rail Heritage WA which now preserves the carriage.
AFB 137 1963-12-20[6] 1997-04-01[7] *scrapped* In 1973, the exterior of the carriage was repainted into Commonwealth Railways Maroon, with the carpets being repaired and the chairs were re-trimmed. In 1976, the carriage was repainted grey. The interior was overhauled in 1979. Colour TV and VCRs were installed in the carriage in 1983. In 1989, the Legendary Ghan colour scheme was applied to the exterior, which included a new Ghan board and desert-coloured stripes applied to the exterior. AFB137 was withdrawn in 1997 and sold to Australian Southern Railroad a few years later. An orange livery and showers were fitted inside AFB137 in 1999. In 2004, the carriage was sold to South Spur Rail Services for use on the Spirit of the West Train. From 2004 to 2008, the carriage was used on the Spirit of the West and repainted into the original Commonwealth Railways Carriages. In 2014, AFB137 was sold to Rail Heritage WA and scrapped by accident when they were meant to scrap other locomotives on the different side of the road.
BA 147 1964-10-02[8] 1995-12-xx[9] Withdrawn Tailem Bend In 1989, the Legendary Ghan colour scheme was applied to the exterior, which included a new Ghan board and desert-coloured stripes applied to the exterior. BA147 was written off in 1995 and initially recorded as scrapped, when it was actually sold to International Development Services. International Development Services onsold the train carriage to Mr Hackett from Port Pirie and later Steve Moritz for the Murraylander service between Adelaide and Tailem Bend.[10] The carriage's first use after restoration was in 2000, when the train carriage transported school children to Adelaide from Port Pirie and vice versa. When the Murrylander was withdrawn, the train carriage was soon after withdrawn. BA147 was put up for sale, but it wasn't sold to anyone. Thus, BA147 is now derelict at the Tailem Bend Train Graveyard[11] .
BA 148 1964-10-05[12] 1995-12-xx[13] Withdrawn Tailem Bend In 1989, the Legendary Ghan colour scheme was applied to the exterior, which included a new Ghan board and desert-coloured stripes applied to the exterior. BA148 was written off in 1995 and initially recorded as scrapped, when it was actually sold to International Development Services. International Development Services onsold the train carriage to Mr Hackett from Port Pirie and later Steve Moritz for the Murraylander service between Adelaide and Tailem Bend.[14] The carriage's first use after restoration was in 2000, when the train carriage transported school children to Adelaide from Port Pirie and vice versa. When the Murrylander was withdrawn, the train carriage was soon after withdrawn. BA148 was put up for sale, but it wasn't sold to anyone. Thus, BA148 is now derelict at the Tailem Bend Train Graveyard[15] .
BA 149 1964-10-21[16] 1995-12-xx[17] Withdrawn Tailem Bend BA149 was written off in 1995 and initially recorded as scrapped, when it was actually sold to International Development Services. International Development Services onsold the train carriage to Mr Hackett from Port Pirie and later Steve Moritz for the Murraylander service between Adelaide and Tailem Bend.[18] BA149 was put up for sale, but it wasn't sold to anyone. Thus, BA149 is now derelict at the Tailem Bend Train Graveyard[19] .
BA 150 1964-10-15[20] 1997[21] Withdrawn Tailem Bend In 1989, the Legendary Ghan colour scheme was applied to the exterior, which included a new Ghan board and desert-coloured stripes applied to the exterior. In 1997, the carriage was withdrawn and thus stored at Keswick. The carriage was sold to the Great Southern Railway and later Steve Moritz for the Murraylander service between Adelaide and Tailem Bend.[22] The carriage's first use after restoration was in 2000, when the train carriage transported school children to Adelaide from Port Pirie and vice versa. When the Murrylander was withdrawn, the train carriage was soon after withdrawn. BA150 was put up for sale, but it wasn't sold to anyone. Thus, BA150 is now derelict at the Tailem Bend Train Graveyard[23] .
BA 151 1964-12-14[24] 1997[25] Withdrawn Tailem Bend In 1989, the Legendary Ghan colour scheme was applied to the exterior, which included a new Ghan board and desert-coloured stripes applied to the exterior. In 1997, the carriage was withdrawn and thus stored at Keswick. The carriage was sold to the Great Southern Railway and later Steve Moritz for the Murraylander service between Adelaide and Tailem Bend.[26] The carriage's first use after restoration was in 2000, when the train carriage transported school children to Adelaide from Port Pirie and vice versa. When the Murrylander was withdrawn, the train carriage was soon after withdrawn. BA151 was put up for sale, but it wasn't sold to anyone. Thus, BA151 is now derelict at the Tailem Bend Train Graveyard[27] .
DD 156 1965-2-2[28] 1995-12-xx[29] Unknown In 1989, the Legendary Ghan colour scheme was applied to the exterior, which included a new Ghan board and desert-coloured stripes applied to the exterior. DD156 was written off in 1995 and initially recorded as scrapped, when it was actually sold to International Development Services. International Development Services onsold the train carriage to Mr Hackett of Port Pirie, Michael Menzies and then the Old Ghan railway museum at Adelaide. In 2003, the carriage was put up for sale. It is not known where the carriage is now.
AFB 157 1964-12-14[30] Unknown Port Pirie Train Graveyard Port Pirie, South Australia The carriage was historically preserved at the Port Pirie Station Complex. The carriage is now derelict because the Port Pirie Station Complex closed.[31]
AFB 158 1965-01-22[32] Unknown Port Pirie Train Graveyard Port Pirie, South Australia The carriage was historically preserved at the Port Pirie Station Complex. The carriage is now derelict because the Port Pirie Station Complex closed.[33]
ARH 159 1965-06-29[34] 2011-03-05[35] Unknown Coolac, New South Wales In 1996, the carriage became part of the Breakdown Train at Parkeston. The carriage was sold from Australian National to the Australian Rail Track Corporation on 1 July 1998. The carriage was sold to a private owner in Coolac in 2013.
BRE 160 1964-10-02[36] 2011-03-05[37] Unknown In 1995, BRE160 was still on the Australian National register as a surplus vehicle. The carriage was sold from Australian National to the Australian Rail Track Corporation on 1 July 1998. The carriage has since been withdrawn from use.
BRE 161 1964-12-08[38] Unknown[39] Unknown In 1995, BRE160 was still on the Australian National register as a surplus vehicle. The carriage was withdrawn at Port Augusta and moved to the Islington Works for storage in 2001. It is not known where the carriage is now.
ECA 162 1964-12-09[40] Unknown[41] *likely scrapped* In 1965, the carriage was converted into a first class roomette sleeping car with only a single (rather than a twin) occupant in each compartment. The carriage was withdrawn from regular service in 1988 and converted into an ECA crew car by 1991. The carriage, along with other ECA crew cars, is very likely to be scrapped at Dry Creek due to disuse.
BRFD 163 1965-05-17[42] 2011-03-05[43] Unknown The carriage was sold from Australian National to the Australian Rail Track Corporation on 1 July 1998. The carriage has since been withdrawn from use.

References
  1. Dunn, John (2008). Comeng A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 2 1955-1966. Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 266–272. ISBN 1877058734.
  2. Commonwealth Railways Passenger Carriage Information Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages
  3. "BRE - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  4. "DD - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  5. "DD - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  6. "AFB - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  7. "AFB - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  8. "BA - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  9. "BA - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  10. "MurrayLander". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  11. "The Tailem Bend Train Graveyard". www.weekendnotes.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  12. "BA - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  13. "BA - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  14. "MurrayLander". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  15. "The Tailem Bend Train Graveyard". www.weekendnotes.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  16. "BA - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  17. "BA - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  18. "MurrayLander". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  19. "The Tailem Bend Train Graveyard". www.weekendnotes.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  20. "BA - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  21. "BA - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  22. "MurrayLander". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  23. "The Tailem Bend Train Graveyard". www.weekendnotes.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  24. "BA - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  25. "BA - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  26. "MurrayLander". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  27. "The Tailem Bend Train Graveyard". www.weekendnotes.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  28. "DD - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  29. "DD - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  30. "AFB - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  31. "Photographer captures haunting images of abandoned carriages at Australian train graveyard". BT.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  32. "AFB - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  33. "Photographer captures haunting images of abandoned carriages at Australian train graveyard". BT.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  34. "ARH - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  35. "ARH - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  36. "BRE - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  37. "BRE - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  38. "BRE - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  39. "BRE - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  40. "BRE - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  41. "BRE - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  42. "BRFD - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  43. "BRFD - Classification". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
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