What railcar is this?

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:15 am

I person that i have helped using a scanner as kindly shown me this photo of a railcar. I have permission to scan it, for my own collection and post it on here.
It was usually used in the Queenstown area. My first thought it was the Riley railcar, before the roof was installed.

Who here knows what this railcar is?

Cheers Damien Smith
http://z1-2110gallery.fotopic.net
Updated 1st July, includes Zs on a ballast train and Burnie's resident shunter

BP4417 · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:00 pm

Damian it looks like a Riley, are you able to zoom in on your scanned image and make out what the letters are on the drivers cap?

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:18 pm

The letters on the drivers cap looks to be LOCO, of all things!. Could it mean anything else?

Cheers Damien Smith
http://z1-2110gallery.fotopic.net
Updated 1st July, includes Zs on a ballast train and Burnie's resident shunter

BP4417 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:25 am

In H.J. Kings book Tasmania Remembered there is a picture of a Riley with canopy on the North Mount Lyell Track sometime around 1919.
Page 59 of the History of the Don River Railway's Locomotives, Railcars, and Carriages has a definitive history of the Riley's in Tasmania.
The drivers cap logo is interesting as one would have thought it might have suggested the Company he worked for?

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:16 pm

I was thinking the same thing Dennis. Perhaps the logo on the hat is a company he works for. But looks to be loco.

Cheers Damien Smith
http://z1-2110gallery.fotopic.net
Updated 1st July, includes Zs on a ballast train and Burnie's resident shunter

DRR_Fireman · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:19 pm

It has similar construction to the Riley, although the radiator is different. This could be the Riley that was rebuilt to have a partially enclosed wooden cab.

Bloody good find, by the way.

Don River Railway, Tasmania - Trainee Fireman, Trainee Railcar & Trainee U/V class loco driver and Shunter extraordinaire!

trainiac · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:36 am

My initial thought was AP1, the TGR's Alldays and Onions railmotor but the radiator isn't Alldays and Onions. And it probably didn't make it to Queenstown! A veteran car enthusiast might be able to recognise it straight up.

james

trainiac · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:40 pm

[/url]http://www.srvr.wmit.net/motor/riley/12-18hp.jpg[url]
1911 Riley 12/18....looks a bit similar (assuming I got this link to work!!

James[/url]

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:31 pm

http://www.srvr.wmit.net/motor/riley/12-18hp.jpg

That link should work.

Hmm might ask around and see what i can get. I'm sort of convinced that its DRR's Riley rail car, before a canopy was built

Cheers Damien Smith
http://z1-2110gallery.fotopic.net
Updated 1st July, includes Zs on a ballast train and Burnie's resident shunter

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:11 pm

Ok, reading The History of the Don River Railway's Locomotives, Railcars and Carriages, on page 60 i read this little bit

"There is also evidence that there was a fourth Riley railcar", perhaps this is that one? It goes on to say that little is known about this one.

Cheers Damien Smith
http://z1-2110gallery.fotopic.net
Updated 1st July, includes Zs on a ballast train and Burnie's resident shunter

DRR_Fireman · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:31 pm

You could be right there Damo, maybe Dennis can post some more info from a magazine he was showing me on Saturday?

Don River Railway, Tasmania - Trainee Fireman, Trainee Railcar & Trainee U/V class loco driver and Shunter extraordinaire!

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:49 pm

Was you there on Saturday? I was, only got as far as the station.

Cheers Damien Smith
http://z1-2110gallery.fotopic.net
Updated 1st July, includes Zs on a ballast train and Burnie's resident shunter

DRR_Fireman · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:38 pm

Did you? Why's that? You could've had a look at my shiny new camera!.

Don River Railway, Tasmania - Trainee Fireman, Trainee Railcar & Trainee U/V class loco driver and Shunter extraordinaire!

Z1NorthernProgress2110 · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:43 pm

I was up there to get Tas Steam Alive's DVD, From AN to PN Vol 3 DVD. I could of had a look in the workshops but i would have to get well buy a ticket.

Cheers Damien Smith
http://z1-2110gallery.fotopic.net
Updated 1st July, includes Zs on a ballast train and Burnie's resident shunter

BP4417 · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:47 pm

In the Light Railways Magasine No 109, part 3, 1990 which has a large section about the North Mount Lyell Railway referenced is the Riley Rail Car. quote
" After the 1903 amalgamation the Mt Lyell railway workshops at Queenstown built a small motor using a Riley motor car engine placed on a home made frame. The intention was to provide a vehicle for conveyance of maintenance personnel on the North Lyell Railway. It remained on the railway until 1928 when it was placed in storage". It was transferred across to the Mt Lyell railway by truck about 1930.
On the front cover of Light Railways No 106 Part 2 of the North Mount Lyell Railway. there is a photograph of No 1 Riley siting outside Mt Lyell's Regatta Point Loco shed circa 1960.
Back issues of the Light Railways Magasine Part 1,2 & 3 are available from the following link.
http://www.lrrsa.org.au/cgi-bin/oscommerce/index.php?cPath=23&sort=1a&page=4