The Commonwealth Railways stainless steel carriage stock is a type of carriage stock built for various special passenger services across Australia.

History In July 1965, Commonwealth Railways placed an order with Commonwealth Engineering, Granville for eight air-conditioned stainless steel sleeping carriages and one dining carriage for use on the Trans Australian.BRG Class Second Class Sleeping Car Chris' Commonwealth Railways PagesDE Dining Car Chris Commonwealth Railways Pages The first was delivered in July 1966.

The carriages were built to a slightly narrower loading gauge than existing stock to allow their operation on other systems as a precursor to the commencement of transcontinental services. In May 1967, Commonwealth Railways placed an order for a further 59 carriages in various configurations for use on the Indian Pacific. Further orders saw the fleet total 124."Carriage Review" Railway Digest November 1986 page 351

Of these, 60 were jointly owned by the New South Wales Government Railways, Commonwealth Railways and the Western Australian Government Railways for the Indian Pacific and the balance by the Commonwealth Railways for the Trans-Australian. In practice, they were used interchangeably.

Since 1980, the stock has been used on The Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs. From November 1983 until November 1987, they were used on The Alice from Sydney to Alice Springs. More recently they have been used on The Overland from Adelaide to Melbourne and The Southern Spirit.

In July 1975, all were included in the transfer of Commonwealth Railways to Australian National and in October 1997 to Great Southern Rail.

Construction Between 1966 and 1975, the following carriages were built by Commonwealth Engineering at Granville for the Indian Pacific, Trans Australian and Ghan services: 13x ARJ First Class Roomette sleeping cars (20 berths in 20 compartments) numbered 240 to 245, 272 to 273 and 282 to 286. 23x ARL First Class Twinette sleeping cars (18 berths in 9 compartments + conductor's compartment) numbered 246 to 250, 261 to 263, 289 to 293, 308 to 310 and 320 to 326. 6x ARM First Class Deluxe Twinette sleeping cars numbered 251 to 254 and 287 to 288. 22x BRJ Second Class Twin berth sleeping cars (36 berths in 18 compartments) numbered 212 to 223, 267 to 271 and 299 to 303. 8x BRG Second Class Twin berth sleeping cars (36 berths in 18 compartments) numbered 168 to 175. 7x AFC First Class Lounge cars numbered 236 to 239 and 305 to 307. 11x DF First Class Dining cars (48 seats) numbered 230 to 235, 264, 294 to 295, 304 and 327. 8x CDF Second Class Club/Dining cars numbered 224 to 229 and 265 to 266. 1x DE Dining car (48 seats) numbered 176. 7x ER Dormitory staff cars numbered 206 to 211 and 313. 9x HGM Power and guards vans numbered 202 to 205, 296 to 298, 316 and 317. 9x HM Baggage and mail vans numbered 255 to 259, 311 to 312 and 318 to 319. 1x SSA Governor General's special car numbered 260.

Fleet details Individual carriage details Key:In ServiceWithdrawnPreservedScrappedUnknown

CodeNumberEntered serviceWithdrawnCurrent ownerCurrent locationNotesBRG1681966-11-08N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalInterior stripped In February 2006 for conversion to a deluxe sleeping car. It was sent to South Dynon on 16 August 2006. In August 2008, the carriage reentered service as a Platinum Service deluxe sleeping car.BRG969 (originally 169)1966-11-08N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalRenumbered 969 in 1977 for Joint Stock accounting purposes.BRG1701966-11-16N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalInterior stripped In February 2006 for conversion to a deluxe sleeping car. It was sent to South Dynon on 16 August 2006. In August 2008, the carriage reentered service as a Platinum Service deluxe sleeping car.BRG1711966-11-16N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalIn 1989, the Ghan sunset-coloured stripes were applied to the exterior. Interior stripped In February 2006 for conversion to a deluxe sleeping car. It was sent to South Dynon on 16 August 2006. In August 2008, the carriage reentered service as a Platinum Service deluxe sleeping car.BRG972 (originally 172)1966-11-23N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalRenumbered 972 in 1977 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. Interior stripped In February 2006 for conversion to a deluxe sleeping car. It was sent to South Dynon on 16 August 2006. In August 2008, the carriage reentered service as a Platinum Service deluxe sleeping car.BRG1731966-11-23N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalIn 1989, the Ghan sunset-coloured stripes were applied to the exterior. Interior stripped In February 2006 for conversion to a deluxe sleeping car. It was sent to South Dynon on 16 August 2006. In August 2008, the carriage reentered service as a Platinum Service deluxe sleeping car.BRG974 (originally 174)1966-11-30N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalRenumbered 974 in 1977 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. Interior stripped In February 2006 for conversion to a deluxe sleeping car. It was sent to South Dynon on 16 August 2006. In August 2008, the carriage reentered service as a Platinum Service deluxe sleeping car.BRG1751966-11-11N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalInterior stripped In February 2006 for conversion to a deluxe sleeping car. It was sent to South Dynon on 16 August 2006. In August 2008, the carriage reentered service as a Platinum Service deluxe sleeping car.DE1761966-11-23UnknownSteve MoritzTailem Bend, South AustraliaIn 1980, the carriage was transferred to Broad gauge from Standard Gauge for use on an Australian National inspection tour of the Murray Lands lines. After the privatisation of Australian National, the carriage was sold to Australian Rail Track Corporation in 1998. The carriage was sold at an auction in March 2011 and DE 176 was purchased by Steve Moritz, who moved the carriage to Tailem Bend in September 2012.HGM902 (originally 202)1969-5-28N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalRenumbered 902 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. HGM903 (originally 203)1969-2-21N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalRenumbered 903 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. This carriage featured on the first Ghan to Darwin on 1 February 2004.HGM904 (originally 204)1969-5-1N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalRenumbered 904 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes.HGM2051969-3-71999-12-2*scrapped*HGM205 was leased to Victorian Railways as a replacement power carriage for PHN2370 which was destroyed in the Violet Town rail accident. The carriage then entered service with Commonwealth Railways in December 1970 when replacement power carriage PHN2381 was built. The carriage was accident-damaged after Glenbrook rail accident and has since been scrapped.ER906 (originally 206)1969-5-1N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalRenumbered 906 in 1977 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. Internally refurbished in 1994 for use on the Indian Pacific.ER2071969-5-1N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalIn 1989, the Ghan sunset-coloured stripes were applied to the exterior. RZBY (originally ER)2081969-6-19 (as a passenger car), 1997 (as a crew car)1997 (as a passenger car) N/A (as a crew car)Pacific NationalIn 1989, the Ghan sunset-coloured stripes were applied to the exterior. In 1997, it was withdrawn from passenger service and sold to National Rail and converted to a crew car, recoded RZBY.ER909 (originally 209)1969-6-4N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick TerminalRenumbered 909 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes.RZBY (originally ER)910 (originally 210)1969-5-15 (as a passenger car), 1997 (as a crew car)1997 (as a passenger car) N/A (as a crew car)Pacific NationalRenumbered 910 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. In 1997, it was withdrawn from passenger service and sold to National Rail and converted to a crew car, recoded RZBY.RZBY (originally ER)911 (originally 211)1969-6-2 (as a passenger car), 1997 (as a crew car)1997 (as a passenger car) N/A (as a crew car)Pacific NationalRenumbered 911 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. In 1997, it was withdrawn from passenger service and sold to National Rail and converted to a crew car, recoded RZBY.BRJ912 (originally 212)1968-7-9N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal May have initially been coded BRH212 by mistake, but the mistake was corrected before entering service. Renumbered 912 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes.

In November 1987, the carriage was trialled with sunset-coloured stripes applied to the exterior of one side for the Ghan.

Internally refurbished in 1994 for use on the Indian Pacific.AFC (originally BRJ)2131968-6-28N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal In October 1994, the carriage was converted from a BRJ 2nd class sleeping car to an AFC 1st class lounge car. After the conversion, AFC213 was named the Blue Mountains Lounge. In 2008, the carriage was then refurbished as the Ernest Giles Outback Explorer Lounge. BRJ914 (originally 214)1968-7-161998-6-12Journey Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal Renumbered 914 in 1975 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. In June 1998, this carriage was burnt out and has not been repaired.BRJ915 (originally 215)1968-8-14N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal Renumbered 915 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. In 1988, this carriage was used on the Brisbane Expo Express.

Internally refurbished in 1995 for use on the Indian Pacific.

This carriage featured on the first Ghan to Darwin on 1 February 2004.BRJ916 (originally 216)1968-7-24N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal Renumbered 916 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. BRG (originally BRJ)917 (originally 217)1968-8-28N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal Renumbered 915 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. Rebuilt in 2019 as a Platinum Service deluxe sleeping carBRJ918 (originally 218)1968-8-14N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal Renumbered 918 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. Internally refurbished in 1995 for use on the Indian Pacific.BRJ919 (originally 219)1968-8-20N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal Renumbered 919 in 1974 for Joint Stock accounting purposes. Internally refurbished in 1995 for use on the Indian Pacific.

The carriage is now a crew car, with a small kitchen dining area added to replace some of the sleeping compartments.ECA (originally BRJ)2201969-2-211997*scrapped* In 1989, the carriage was converted into an ECA crew car for use by Australian National. The carriage was destroyed in an accident at Mt Christie.BRG (originally BRJ)2211969-3-28N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal BRJ221 was leased to Victorian Railways as a replacement carriage for a LAN roomette sleeping carriage that was destroyed in the Violet Town rail accident. It entered service on the Commonwealth Railways on 28 March 1969. Rebuilt in 2019 as a Platinum Service deluxe sleeping carAEC (originally BRJ)2221969-3-21N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal BRJ222 was leased to Victorian Railways as a replacement carriage for a LAN roomette sleeping carriage that was destroyed in the Violet Town rail accident. It entered service on the Commonwealth Railways on 28 March 1969. In November 1986, the carriage was converted into a First Class Entertainment Car & was coded AEC.

In 1989, the Ghan sunset-coloured stripes were applied to the exterior.

Rebuilt in 2010 as the Sir John and Alexander Forrest Outback Explorer lounge car.ACC (originally BRJ)2231969-3-21N/AJourney Beyond Rail ExpeditionsKeswick Terminal BRJ223 was leased to Victorian Railways as a replacement carriage for a LAN roomette sleeping carriage that was destroyed in the Violet Town rail accident. It entered service on the Commonwealth Railways on 28 March 1969.