The S sets are a type of double-decker electric multiple units (EMU) that formerly operated on Sydney's suburban rail network in New South Wales, Australia from 1972 up until 2019. Originally entering service under the Public Transport Commission, the sets also operated under the State Rail Authority, CityRail and Sydney Trains in later years.
The S sets were originally designated into three classes, two-car L sets (originally T sets), four-car S sets, and six-car R sets. Some received other designations when they were employed on local services on the South Coast and around Newcastle, becoming two-car PK sets and three-car NC sets respectively.
Prior to their retirement, the S sets were the last class in the Sydney Trains fleet to not be air-conditioned, earning them the nicknames "tin cans" and "sweat sets".
They were also nicknamed "Ridgys" because of their fluted ("ridged") stainless steel panelling; they shared this nickname with similar looking K sets and C sets. Their stainless steel appearance is shared with the intercity V sets and U sets. All remaining sets were withdrawn from service in June 2019.
Delivery
Two manufacturers built 509 carriages, based on a largely common design. They were based on the Tulloch Double deck power cars (C3801–C3804) and the numbers of the Comeng built motor cars would follow on from this.
359 carriages were built by Comeng between 1972 and 1980.L, R and S Set (Comeng type) control motor – CityRail (Internet Archive) They were externally distinguished by the peaked front of driving cars and a prominent line across each side of its carriages above the upper deck windows. They also had thin flutings at the top and upper half of the sides of the carriages. The Series 1 Comeng power cars featured no fluting on the lower half of the carriage and one peaked front and rear end. The Series 2/3 Comeng power cars featured fluting on the lower half of the carriage and one peaked front end. These two types were identical aesthetically. The Series 4 Comeng power cars were identical to the Series 2/3 cars with minor improvements to the design. Cars D4011–D4020 were built without cab doors. Because of this, they were banned from use as driving cars by the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Engineer men (AFULE), who claimed that there was no suitable exit for the driver. This led to the controls being stripped and the cars being used as normal trailers. Cars D4021–D4095 addressed the AFULE's concerns and were built with cab doors, thus they were near identical to the motor cars, the only difference being the absence of electrical equipment and pantographs. Despite these improvements, the AFULE banned these cars as well, this time due to driver complaints about being punched in the back when the control motors shoved the driving trailers forward. This also led to all but the last 10 cars being converted to normal trailers as well. All 85 driving trailers were eventually converted into trailer cars with the driving compartment, cab and guard instruments removed with head and tail lights plated over.
QtySeriesClassCar numbers207Mk1Power carC3805–C3857Mk2C3858–C3911Mk3C3912–C3986Mk4C3741–C376567Mk1Trailer carT4921–T4962Mk2T4963–T498785Mk3Driving trailerD4011–D4020Mk4D4021–D4095
150 carriages built by A Goninan & Co between 1978 & 1980.R and S Set (Goninan type) control motor – CityRail (Internet Archive) They were externally distinguished by the flat front of driving cars and lower windows on the upper deck. They also had larger windows at the end between carriages. They also had thicker flutings at the top and around the top of the carriages and lacked the line around the top of the sides of the carriages unlike the Comeng carriages.
Carriage numbersClass C3001–C3080Power cars T4101–T4170Trailer cars
History In service
Following the successful trial of four double-deck power cars built by Tulloch in 1969, 53 Series 1 power cars were ordered from Comeng and delivered in 1972–73.
They were paired with 1964–66 Tulloch-built trailer carriages that had previously operated in company with single deck power cars. The first 39 were painted tuscan to match the trailer cars while the last 14 were painted in the newly introduced Public Transport Commission blue and white livery, although this livery was applied differently on some carriages with the Riviera white stripe being painted on higher up on some carriages than others.Notes on Double Deckers Sydney Electric Traction Society In response to distance visibility complaints from trackside workers, four motor cars were painted with a chrome yellow front.
From 1976, the blue and white livery was replaced by an Indian red livery. In 1979, painted Series 1 cars began to have their paint removed to match the Series 2 cars. Only seven were completed, and it was not until August 1988 that the program recommenced with the last carriage treated in 1990."EMU Review" Railway Digest March 1989 page 86"Rolling Stock – The EMU Review" Railway Digest March 1991 page 96
Subsequent orders saw another 154 power cars, 67 trailer cars and 85 driving trailer cars built by Comeng. These were all built to the Series 2 design with Budd type polished inserts on the carriage sides, flat rather than tapered number 2 ends, throw-over rather than sliding reversible seats, upgraded interior lights and a natural stainless steel finish. As noted above, the driving trailers could not be used to their full extent due to Union bans due to the lack of cab doors (on older D cars) and the uncomfortable kicking (on most D cars).A further order saw 80 power cars and 70 trailer cars constructed by A Goninan & Co in 1978–80. These cars differed in having a squarer type of fluting and flat fronts on the power cars.
All were formed into either four-car S sets or two-car T sets. In practice, there were only a few diagrams requiring two carriage sets. For this reason, and because of the Union ban on driving trailer cars, most T sets were used to form six and eight-car sets. By the early 1980s, some permanent six-car sets had been formed and targeted as R sets. In December 1983 there were 60 T sets, 12 months later this was down to 19."Deployment of the Electric Train Fleet as at 31 December 1983" Railway Digest March 1984 page 88"EMU Review" Railway Digest March 1985 page 61
In April 1982, ten driving trailers were introduced on local services between Scarborough and Port Kembla. They were targeted as PK sets, and operated in two-car sets. These PK sets ran until the line was electrified in December 1985."1982/83 SRA Annual Report" Railway Digest June 1984 page 212 They were hauled by 48 class diesels but because of incompatibility between the electrical systems, the guard operated doors were disconnected.
From June 1984, four three-car sets of Goninan stock operated suburban services from Newcastle to Fassifern and Morisset as NC sets."Rostering Electrics to Newcastle" Railway Digest August 1984 page 250 This stock was allocated to Mortdale and periodically rotated. In August 1989, this was reduced to two sets."Electric Cars" Railway Digest August 1989 page 281 In September 1989, the remaining NC sets were replaced by two carriage L sets from Hornsby."Electric Cars" Railway Digest December 1989 page 414 These were replaced in January 1992."The New Timetable" Railway Digest December 1991 page 454
In May 1987, the ten newest driving trailers based at Hornsby were renumbered D4001–D4010 and were permanently coupled to their accompanying motor cars to address the Union's issue of uncomfortable kicks. The remainder began to have their control equipment removed and revert to ordinary trailers."The Thirty-First of May" Railway Digest July 1987 page 210 To allow the Tangaras to be targeted as T sets, the remaining two-car sets became L sets in April 1988."EMU Review" Railway Digest March 1988 page 77"L Sets" Railway Digest June 1988 page 219
To operate services on the newly electrified Riverstone to Richmond line from August 1991, all 10 driving trailers and a number of Series 1 power cars were fitted with headlights."Rolling Stock – The EMU Review" Railway Digest March 1992 page 113
From October 1996, two-car L sets replaced U sets on suburban services between Thirroul, Port Kembla and Kiama."EMU Review" Railway Digest March 1997 page 38 These were later extended to three cars before being replaced by Tangaras in October 2011.
During the 1990s, all carriages were refurbished 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 yellow applied to the lower half of their fronts. Sliding Beclawat windows were replaced with hopper windows and doors painted yellow.
Accidents and early withdrawals +Car (s)incidentManufacturerTypeC3825Burned by arsonists at Liverpool on 25 August 1973ComengPower carD4017Burned by arsonists at Redfern on 15 June 1976ComengDriving trailerC3877Burned by arsonists at Villawood on 14 December 1976ComengPower carC3070Damaged beyond repair in a shunting accident at Hornsby on 8 February 1980GoninanPower carT4928Burned by arsonists at Artarmon on 5 January 1983ComengTrailer carC3866Damaged beyond repair in a collision at Hornsby on 16 June 1990 ComengPower carC3827, C3849Damaged beyond repair in a collision at Waterfall on 20 December 1994ComengPower carC3905, D4047Burned by fire at Mortdale on 23 July 1995 (D4047 written off after 1994 Waterfall collsion)ComengPower car Driving trailerD4020Damaged beyond repair in a collision at Bondi Junction ComengDriving trailer
Replacement
After nearly 40 years of service, the Tulloch trailers were deemed life expired and the last withdrawn in March 2004. This resulted in a disproportionate number of power cars. To address the balance, 23 Comeng power cars were converted into trailers. 16 conversions were Series 1 cars, however 7 conversions involved Series 2 cars. +ConversionsCarExSeriesConvertedOriginally builtT4701C38642July 2003January 1974T4702C38461August 2003February 1973T4703C39072August 2003January 1976T4704C38862August 2003March 1975T4705C38341August 2003November 1972T4706C38441August 2003February 1973 T4707C38952September 2003June 1975T4708C38241March 2005September 1972T4709C38331March 2005November 1972T4710C38151November 2004June 1972T4711C38381November 2004December 1972T4712C39092December 2004February 1976T4713C38411December 2004January 1973T4714C38541January 2005May 1973T4715C38702January 2005July 1974T4716C38191January 2005July 1972T4717C38221May 2005September 1972T4718C38521March 2005March 1973T4719C38351February 2005December 1972T4720C38161April 2005June 1972T4721C38592March 2005November 1973T4722C38201April 2005July 1972T4723C38391April 2005December 1972 This involved the removal of the yellow painted front (on some cars), pantograph and opening up of the driving compartment for passengers. Some cars had their external lights removed and plated over, and their cabs removed, other retained these fittings. All retained their motors and compressors for ballast purposes.
The destination indicators were also retained as it would have cost too much to have them removed; they were painted over instead. These cars were renumbered T4701–T4723 and were easy to recognise as they have an open space were the pantograph once was.
During their history, S sets operated on all Sydney lines. The last six car R sets were deemed life expired in August 2012, with all carriages formed into four car S sets (which were typically operated in pairs).
The last sets were transferred from Mortdale to Flemington in March 2013 bringing an end to their operation on Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra services. However, one set remained operational through parts of March and April on the line. In May 2014, all Hornsby sets were transferred to Flemington.