New South Wales C set
| C set | |
|---|---|
 C3 at Campsie in September 2007 | |
 Upper deck after Citydecker refurbishment | |
| In service | 1986–2021 |
| Manufacturer | A Goninan & Co |
| Built at | Broadmeadow |
| Constructed | 1986–1987 |
| Entered service | 1986–1987 |
| Refurbished | late 1990s |
| Scrapped | 2021 |
| Number built | 56 carriages |
| Number preserved | 6 carriages (1+1⁄2 sets) |
| Number scrapped | 50 carriages |
| Successor | B sets |
| Formation | 4-car sets |
| Fleet numbers | C3581-C3608, T4247-T4274 |
| Capacity | 104 in control motors, 115 in trailer cars |
| Operator(s) | State Rail Authority CityRail Sydney Trains |
| Depot(s) | Flemington |
| Line(s) served | T2 Inner West & Leppington Line T3 Bankstown Line T8 Airport & South Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Stainless steel |
| Car length | 20.39 m (66 ft 10+3⁄4 in) |
| Width | 3,036 mm (9 ft 11+1⁄2 in) |
| Height | 4,370 mm (14 ft 4 in) |
| Maximum speed | 115 km/h (71 mph) |
| Weight | 52 t (51 long tons; 57 short tons) |
| Traction system | 4-quadrant GTO chopper control (Mitsubishi Electric) |
| Traction motors | 2-phase DC shunt-wound motor (Mitsubishi Electric) |
| Power output | 4 × 170 kW (230 hp) |
| Electric system(s) | 1,500 V DC catenary |
| Current collection method | Pantograph |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The C sets were a class of electric multiple unit train that operated on Sydney's suburban rail network from 1986 up until 2021. Introduced by the State Rail Authority, they also operated under CityRail and Sydney Trains. The last sets were withdrawn from service in February 2021.
Design & construction[]
The C sets were a follow-on from the K sets. They were built as an interim measure due to the lateness of the Tangara program. They were also used to train and familiarise staff with the new (at the time) chopper technology.[1] They were the first Sydney suburban trains to be fitted with chopper control, which gives the train smoother acceleration. Gate turn-off thyristors (GTO) were used to control power to the traction motors, hence allowing for smoother acceleration.[2] Following the success of the implementation of chopper control, these features were later installed on the Tangara and later V set carriages.
The C set carriages were also the first on the suburban network to feature fixed seating (originally covered with fabric, since replaced with vinyl).[2] This proved to be unpopular, but nevertheless, fixed seating was later used on the suburban Tangara cars.[citation needed] These cars also featured push-button doors requiring passengers to activate, to increase air-conditioning efficiency. These proved unpopular and the push-buttons on the doors were removed.
The C set was distinguished externally by a fibreglass moulding mounted on the front of the power carriage. It was originally in the State Rail Authority white with orange and red candy livery stripes on the lower portion. C3596 was the only power car to have its Candy-liveried front repainted in CityRail blue and yellow prior to its Citydecker refurbishment in 1998. The chopper cars were amongst the heaviest in the suburban fleet, with the power cars weighing 52 tonnes.
- The order was for 56 cars:
| Qty | Class | Car numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Power cars | C3581-C3608 |
| 28 | Trailer cars | T4247-T4274 |
In service[]
The first set entered service in July 1986, operating out of Mortdale Maintenance Depot,[2] some were delivered to Hornsby Maintenance Depot, but by December 1988, all were operating out of Punchbowl Maintenance Depot as sets K40-K51.[3]
The chopper cars were originally targeted as K sets and for a while when they entered service, they ran together with the then-force ventilated K sets. This however caused problems in service as force-ventilated cars were fitted with camshaft control and led to jerking while accelerating. By December 1990, they had been retargeted as C42-C54.[4] In January 1991, these were reformed as 6-car sets numbered C1-C8.[4] By June 1991, all had been transferred to Hornsby Maintenance Depot.[5]
One carriage, C3596 of set C6, was painted in a livery having its fiber-glass front being painted in CityRail colours, with the L7 logo.
During the late 1990s, all were refurbished by A Goninan & Co as part of the CityDecker program. This saw the interiors refurbished with white walls and ceilings, grey floors and blue seats. Power cars received a destination indicator and had the yellow apron livery applied which includes a grey front with yellow over the bottom half.
In 2001, the C sets were once again reformed into seven 8-car sets. A 6-car C Set was re-formed in late 2006 due to car T4262 being seriously damaged by an arson attack at Villawood in October 2006, however the full 8-car set later went back in operation.
In July 2017, asbestos was found in the circuit breaker panels, which was inside the driver compartment of the C sets, with all withdrawn for inspection.[6]
Since November 2017, all C Sets operated out of Flemington Maintenance Depot.
Since then C sets have operated on the following lines:
- T2 Inner West and Leppington Line: Leppington or Parramatta to City Circle via Granville
- T3 Bankstown Line: Liverpool or Lidcombe to City Circle via Bankstown
- T8 Airport and South Line: Macarthur To City Circle via Airport or Sydenham
Retirement[]
The C sets were gradually phased out from September 2020 to February 2021, being replaced by B sets.[1] The C sets ran their final revenue timetabled service on 26 February 2021 on the Airport & South Line.[1] A farewell to the C Sets tour by the Sydney Electric Train Society took place on 6 March 2021 visiting Mount Victoria and Hawkesbury River. One C Set briefly returned to service in April 2021 to fill in for another train. The last revenue service usage of a C Set was on 30 April 2021. Another C Set tour was scheduled for 28 August 2021, but has been postponed due to COVID-19. So far, no new date has been announced.[1][7][8][9]
Two C sets (C1 and C5) remained as standby sets for emergencies from their retirement until 30 April 2021.[1] The Sydney Electric Train Society will be preserving 4 carriages for heritage. The cars are C 3584, T 4266, T 4274 and C 3608 which are from sets C5 and C9.[10]
Two carriages, C3581 and T4272 were sent to Fire and Rescue NSW on 6 May 2021 for training purposes.[11]
On 12 July 2021 3 of the 4 remaining C Sets were transferred from Flemington to Chullora for scrapping.
Notes and references[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Chopper To The Summit (Chopper Set Farewell) Tour Notes March 2021" (PDF). Sydney Electric Train Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "New Suburban Train" Railway Digest September 1986 Page 273
- ^ "EMU Review" Railway Digest March 1989 page 87
- ^ Jump up to: a b "The EMU Review" Railway Digest March 1991 Page 96
- ^ "Electric Cars" Railway Digest September 1991 page 334
- ^ Asbestos found in Sydney Trains Nova 96.9 7 July 2017
- ^ "Chopper to the Summit Tour". 123 Tix. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ A Sydney C-Set train farewells the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury River and Fairfield | 7NEWS, retrieved 6 March 2021
- ^ "SETS Tours – The Great Northern Chopper Tour". sets.org.au. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "SETS Fleet". sets.org.au. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ Sydney Trains Vlogs. "Sydney Trains Vlog 1840: Fire + Rescue Chopper C Set Road Transfer". YouTube. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
Further reading[]
- Beckhaus, John; Halgren, Stephen (2007), Sydney's Electric Trains, Australian Railway Historical Society, NSW Division, ISBN 978-0-9757870-8-3
External links[]
Media related to New South Wales C sets at Wikimedia Commons- Technical diagrams and specifications (archived) Transport for NSW
- Electric multiple units of New South Wales
- Double-decker EMUs
- Sydney Trains
- Train-related introductions in 1986