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WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 10:33 am
by Herbert
A selection of classic photos by Dennis96 of my favourite diesel railcars (AEC powered, of course) wearing the livery I believe suited them best.

A pair of ADG/Vs with an AYE car in Maylands during 1974, with a beloved X-class & the infamous 7th Avenue Bridge in the background. Note that the WAGR destination displays showed "CITY", not Perth. By this stage the ADGs had been converted from pre-select to Voith torque converter. Much less character gearbox-wise, but it meant full throttle upon leaving every station. Can you imagine those 4 lovely AEC engines purring along?
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In May 1975 an ADG/V accelerate out of Subiaco station towards Fremantle. Not only are the railcars a memory, but the location is completely altered, having been rebuilt as an underground station. No more semaphore signals with kerosene lanterns any more either. Not quite the same really.
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Further up the Fremantle line, in June 1975, ADX662 hauls its ADA trailer through Swanbourne. The ADXs had the larger 112kW engines (in lieu of the 9.6litre 93.25kW units found in the ADGs & ADHs) but retained their pre-select gearboxes until the end. ADX662 was the last of its class to remain in service.
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ADX667 in Cottesloe, 1973:
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Further again up the line, but on its way "down" to the City is solitary ADG614 in Mosman Park on 1 February 1976. No doubt in anticipation of the hot day ahead, the doors are wide open - all part the fun of riding AEC railcars & recalling a time when people took responsibility for their own actions & safety. It was particularly wonderful to ride over the Fremantle railway bridge in an ADH or ADX with their double doors wide open overlooking the Harbour.
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Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:06 pm
by UQB709
Fantastic photos, not only of some much missed old railcars (but not I imagine by the general public!), but also long gone infrastructure and scenes. The photo of Subiaco showing a glimpse of the old yard and signalling was particularly interesting. Riding on these old units with their distinctive noise, conductors, the ding of the right away bell, breeze through the open doors - all great fun!

Just a comment on the last photo - it would appear that the destination blind has not been set correctly, as the train appears to be heading towards Fremantle, not Perth. That looks like Stirling Hwy in the background, but the real giveaway are the tracks in the foreground, which was the independent goods line between Leighton yard and Cottesloe. I'm sure that there was a loop on this line on the Fremantle side of the Jarrad Street level crossing - I'm guessing that the points in the photo are at the southern end of that loop.

I'd love to see some more photos of Perth's suburban diesels and old rail infrastructure - some ADK/ADB photos would bring back some memories.......

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 4:40 pm
by Herbert
You may well be right about the last photo - which would make it an evening view, rather than AM. If it had been coupled to an ADA we would know for certain since the ADAs always led on the down.

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:12 pm
by panther998
I agree with UQB709 - the last shot is definitely taken from the Curtin Av side of the line looking towards Stirling Hwy, just north of Mosman Park station, with the train heading south. Between the Victoria St and Salvado St level crossings, and especially around Mosman Park station, Curtin Av is at varying heights above the railway tracks while Stirling Hwy is mostly below (as in the image) or level with them.

With regard to the dedicated freight line mentioned by UQB709 and clearly visible in the foreground of the pic, this was disrupted / lifted during the electrification of the Fremantle line in 1989-90 or thereabouts. Strangely, the 2005 edition of the well detailed StreetSmart road directory, issued by the WA Government's DOLA, still showed the freight line as being present! Presumably, someone in the WAGRC 'forgot' to tell DOLA about the change 15 years earlier!

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:18 pm
by The Inspector
More great pics of a very nice looking railcar, wish I could have gotten to Perth when they were in service but my 1st visit was to late.

I hope oneday to be able to ride a set in preservation with doors open much like my beloved Red Hens of SA.

Truly classic railcars built to last.

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:51 am
by Fleabag
Have to be honest here and say I hated these things. Too many stinking hot Sunday afternoons spent listening to these ancient asthmatics heave their way out of every station on the Fremantle line did my head in.

I always opted for the quieter trailer car if I could.

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:55 am
by adx666
Great shots, particularly the shot of ADX667 near the Napier st pedestrian crossing in Cottesloe. I spent many hours as a boy watching trains go past from this spot. Wish I had thought to take photos, they really make the memories stronger.

Thanks for sharing these great photos, I appreciate it!!

Cheers

Joe

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 11:50 pm
by wayfarer
Hi there
I hate to be a pain, or tread back through past memories
but is it possible to repost these pictures at all?
I would really love to see these beloved railcars at these much changed locations
u can even send the pictures to me if you don't wish to dredge up this topic

Kind Regards,

wayfarer

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 1:08 am
by Herbert
Sure; photo links have now been corrected so the shots display.

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 7:51 am
by wayfarer
there is a god! if you ever cross paths with me (maybe at BPSWA sometime) make yourself known, I would love to shout you a beer or ten!
I would be absolutely wrapt if ever (on the slim chance) that somebody had made a video recording of these diesel railcars with sound and it found the light of day on the interweb!

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 2:30 pm
by adx666
wayfarer wrote: I would be absolutely wrapt if ever (on the slim chance) that somebody had made a video recording of these diesel railcars with sound and it found the light of day on the interweb!
I agree, I would love to see vids of this era of railcars, I have loads from other states but nothing at all from WA, bar the stuff I have shot myself of the electrics!

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:32 pm
by Mr OC Benz
Great shots! Its interesting to see how things have changed alot in places, and other places where things are almost the same... I love that shot in Maylands. And by memory I believe there is still an Advertising board in that very location!

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 12:12 am
by Australind720
Great Shot, they brought back some great memorys.

Re: WAGR's diesel-mechanical AEC rail cars II

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:53 pm
by adx666
:shock: Now I know where my missing 1000 posts are, they have disappeared like the first 8 posts in this thread, including the original photos!