The RUB type carriage stock is a type of steel bodied air conditioned passenger carriage operated by the New South Wales Government Railways from September 1949 until April 2000.
History In 1943, the New South Wales Government Railways awarded a contract for twenty steel sitting carriages to Waddingtons. These were to be similar to the N type carriages that had been built in 1939 but with the addition of steam heating.
Delays in construction & redesign as Air Conditioned Carriages Construction of these cars was shelved while wartime restrictions were in place and when the project resumed in 1945, it was decided the carriages should be air-conditioned and the order increased to fifty. Work had already commenced on the underframes when it was decided to lengthen the carriages from necessitating in the reworking of those already in production. A shortage of steel meant it would not be until 1949 that the first were completed.
The initial fifty cars numbered 2240 to 2290 were eventually built by Commonwealth Engineering, Granville (the successors to Waddingtons) between 1949 and 1952. The completed carriages consisted of seventeen first class cars coded SBS, twenty-five second class cars codes SFS, four second class cars with hostess & staff compartments coded OFS & four first class cars with hostess & staff compartments coded OBS. In 1949, Commonwealth Engineering was awarded a further contract for eight buffet cars coded RS and nine power vans coded PHS. The early carriages were fitted out by Commonwealth Engineering, later examples being completed at Eveleigh Carriage Workshops.
The completed cars were formed into eight sets numbered 140–147 of seven carriages coupled to one long power/brake van, the sets were given the code RUB, with two carriages and one power van built as spares."Countrylink's 'new' Daylight Express cars" Railway Digest February 1996 page 41 In June 1965, one additional buffet carriage was built at Eveleigh Carriage Workshops."20 Years Ago: New Carriage" Railway Digest September 1985 page 278
Into service The first set operated a trial to Moss Vale on 10 August 1949 before being unveiled to the press on 13 September 1949.
The first entered service in September 1949 on the Riverina Express followed by the Northern Tablelands Express (April 1951), Central West Express (1952) and the North Coast Daylight Express (1953). In September 1956, the two off the Central West Express were reallocated to the Melbourne Daylight Express.NSWGR RUB Passenger Cars Auscision
Formation In 1951, the formation of the eight RUB sets from the Sydney end were:Department of Railways New South Wales HUB Set Diagram dated 20 March 1951 Set No.Car No.1Car No.2Non SmokingCar No.3Buffet CarCar No.4Car No.5Non SmokingCar No.6Power Van140SBS 2240SBS 2248OFS 2257RS 2306SFS 2265SFS 2273SFS 2282PHS 2290141SBS 2241SBS 2249OFS 2258RS 2304SFS 2266SFS 2274SFS 2283PHS 2291142SBS 2242SBS 2250OFS 2259RS 2299SFS 2267SFS 2275SFS 2284PHS 2292143SBS 2243SBS 2251OFS 2260RS 2305SFS 2268SFS 2276SFS 2285PHS 2293144SBS 2244SBS 2252OBS 2261RS 2303SFS 2269SFS 2277SFS 2286PHS 2294145SBS 2245SBS 2253OBS 2262RS 2302SFS 2270SFS 2278SFS 2287PHS 2295146SBS 2246SBS 2254OBS 2263RS 2301SFS 2271SFS 2279SFS 2288PHS 2296147SBS 2247SBS 2245OBS 2264RS 2300SFS 2272SFS 2280SFS 2289PHS 2297Spare-SBS 2256---SFS 2281-PHS 2298 The formation of the sets were soon altered as by early 1952 RUB set 143 was recorded as consisting of.Department of Railways New South Wales drawing 68630 dated 22/2/1952 RUB Train Set 143 as on 30-1-52 Set No.Car No.1Car No.2Non SmokingBuffet CarCar No.3Non SmokingCar No.4Car No.5Car No.6Power Van143SBS 2243SBS 2251RS 2305OFS 2260SFS 2268SFS 2276SFS 2285PHS 2293
Breaking up of fixed RUB Sets From the 1970s, they ceased to operate in fixed sets and at various times were used on the Brisbane Limited, Canberra Express, Gold Coast Motorail, Indian Pacific (to Broken Hill), North Coast Overnight Express, The Alice and Sydney/Melbourne Express in company with HUB, stainless steel sleeper and non air-conditioned stock.
Withdrawal Many were withdrawn as a number of locomotive hauled services ceased in the early 1990s. Those remaining were used on CountryLink's Canberra Express and Grafton Express and CityRail services to Bomaderry and Goulburn before being replaced by Endeavour railcars from 1994.
Most were auctioned in August 1994 with the State Rail Authority retaining nine."Rolling Stock - Carriage Auction Results" Railway Digest October 1994 page 38
In late 1993 or early 1994, before the cessation of the locomotive-hauled Sydney Express and its replacement with XPT trains, the Victorian operator V/Line purchased vans PHS2294 and PHS2296, because the generator sets were very similar to those in use in their PH head end power vans.
Four were returned to service in March 1996 services to operate new services to Broken Hill and Griffith."First Broken Hill Passenger Blocked by Freight Derailment" Railway Digest May 1996 These were replaced by Xplorers in April 2000."CountryLink Loco-Hauled Services Cancelled" Railway Digest May 2000 page 7 Some have been placed on RailCorp's heritage register.Ofs 2259 - Second class 'Daylight' sitting car Department of Environment & HeritageNds 2268 - Coaching Stock - Sitting Carriage Department of Environment & HeritageNds 2282 - Coaching Stock - Sitting Carriage Department of Environment & HeritageNds 2285 - Coaching Stock - Sitting Carriage Department of Environment & HeritageNds 2286 - Coaching Stock - Sitting Carriage Department of Environment & Heritage
Carriage types SBS, TBS TDS, SDS & SBZ First Class Cars & SBH First Class with Luggage Compartment As built, the first 16 carriages (2240–2256) were given the code SBS and could seat 31 passengers in 2 and 1 rotating and inclining seats. A further 6 could be seated in a compartment next to the ladies toilet. During the 1960s ten cars were converted to 2 and 2 seats which increased the seating to 48. In 1979 to differentiate between the different seating capacities the remaining lower capacity SBS carriages were recoded TBS. During the mid-1980s, these TBS carriages were converted to day-night seating which altered the seating capacity to 48, these cars were then recoded TDS.
Four SBS carriages were converted to day-night cars (2245, 2252, 2255 & 2256) and recoded SDS.
During the early 1980s, 3 SBS cars (2241, 2248 & 2249) had their compartment section altered to a storeroom for the dining cars on the Gold Coast Motorail. This reduced the seating capacity to 42, with these cars recoded SBZ. These three cars were further rebuilt between 1987 and 1989 and had new toilets fitted at one end, with the other end being rebuilt into a large luggage area with a guard's compartment, these cars then had a seating capacity of 36 and were given the code SBH.
OFS, OBS, ODS & ODL Staff & Sitting Cars & RDS Buffet/Sitting Car Four second class sitting cars coded OFS with a seating capacity of 41 with 2 and 2 seating and a staff and a hostess compartment were originally constructed & numbered 2257 to 2260. Four first class sitting cars were also constructed and coded OBS numbered 2261 to 2264 and had a seating capacity of 28 with 2 and 1 seating and a staff and a hostess compartment.
During the late 1970s, 2257, 2260, 2261 & 2263 were converted to day-night seating with a passenger capacity of 42. As part of this conversion the toilets at the men's end were removed & replaced by four small cubicles, two for each sex. The ladies toilet, staff & hostess compartments were removed to allow for the main saloon to be lengthened. A new staff compartment was installed in the remaining space. These converted cars were recoded ODS. Second class sitting car SFS 2267 was also converted to an ODS car as well during 1977.
In 1985, 2262 & 2264 were rebuilt with day-night seating with a capacity of 34 passengers and recoded ODL."Rolling Stock" Railway Digest January 1986 page 22"Rolling Stock" Railway Digest June 1985 page 174
In 1989, ODS 2263 was rebuilt with a buffet & serving counter and a capacity of 30 passengers, being recoded RDS."Rolling Stock Alterations" Railway Digest September 1989 page 315
SFS & SFE Second Class Cars, SFR Second Class/Buffet Storage & SDS, BDS, NDS & SDZ Day-Nighter Cars Twenty five second class cars numbered 2265 to 2289 were originally constructed and coded SFS, these cars had a seating capacity of 49 in the main saloon & 8 in a compartment.
In 1956, SFS 2267 & 2268 had their eight-seat compartment stripped and rebuilt for beverage storage and were recoded SFR. In 1960 these two cars had their storage compartments removed and their saloons lengthened, which gave them a capacity of 57 passengers in the main saloon, they were also recoded back to SFS. In 1963, the eight seat compartment of SFS 2279 & 2281 was altered and the cars were recoded SFR and had a capacity of 49 passengers. These cars were coupled next to the RS buffet cars on the Intercapital Daylight to give increased space for food preparation & take away snacks. In 1981, these 2 cars were taken out of service, with 2279 being converted to an SDS and 2281 was later condemned in 1983.
During the mid-1970s to early 1980s, 10 SFS cars were converted to day-night cars (Nos. 2271, 2272, 2273, 2276, 2278, 2280, 2284, 2287, 2288 & 2289). This conversion involved the removal of the 8 seat compartment which increased the seating capacity to 60, these cars were recoded SDS. In 1985 Nos.2287 and 2289 were converted by fitting of an interior partition to provide separate smoking & non-smoking sections, these 2 cars were recoded SDZ.
In 1985–86, five SFS cars (Nos. 2269, 2282, 2283, 2285 & 2286) were refurbished, as part of this refurbishment the old saloon seating and the compartment were removed and replaced by new day-night seating. The new seating arrangements had a capacity of 48 and these cars were recoded BDS. These 5 cars were refurbished again in 1988-89 with the removal of the toilets at one end and were fitted with additional day-night seating which then gave them a capacity of 64 passengers. These 5 cars were then recoded to NDS.
In 1988–89, SFS 2265 & 2274 were refurbished, this involved the stripping of the saloon & the toilets at one end, economy turnover seating was retained with a capacity of 72 passengers, these cars were recoded SFE.
RS & ABS Buffet Diner Cars Eight buffet cars coded RS were originally constructed by Commonwealth Engineering and numbered 2299 to 2306. A ninth car numbered 1962 was constructed at Eveleigh Carriage Workshops in 1965. The interior design of these buffet cars was based on the buffet cars built by Victorian Railways in 1938-39. Instead of tables and chairs with a centre aisle, they were fitted with a long counter and 27 stools that ran the length of most of the car. Food preparation was mostly carried out behind the counter, along with a small kitchen at one end of the car.