Walker railmotor

The family of Walker railmotors were a type of diesel railcar operated by the Victorian Railways in Australia.

After the Second World War, the Victorian Railways undertook a major rebuilding program known as "Operation Phoenix". One of the first tasks was the upgrading of passenger services on country branch lines, through the replacement of 23 wooden bodied railmotors built in the 1920s, and the withdrawal of steam locomotive hauled mixed trains.

An initial order of twelve 102 hp (80 kW) railcars, six 153 hp (110 kW) railcars and twelve 280 hp (210 kW) railcars from Walker Brothers in Wigan, England was placed, and this was extended to include a further 102 hp railmotor and nine additional 153 hp railmotors. The first was delivered in 1948, with new additions to the fleet running through to 1955.

The power units and controls were shipped out from England and the car bodies built locally by Martin & King in Malvern, with the finished units assembled at Newport Workshops.

The intended life of the Walker railmotors was only 10 years. However, most remained in service for up to 30 years.

102hp and 153hp Railmotors

The final fleet included 13x 102 hp engine/driving units 1-13RM and 16x 153 hp engine/driving units 20-35RM which looked similar; these shared 27x trailing units each mounted on only one bogie, and attached semi-permanently to the associated motor unit, leaving one motor unit of each type spare. The trailing units were not identified directly, but some correspondence notes individual identities No.100 to No.111 and No.220 to No.234.

The trailing units were all identical with room for 18 1st class and 22 2nd class seated passengers plus 2 tons luggage, except those originally attached to 1RM, 5RM and 20RM which had 18+27 seats and room for only 1.27 tons of luggage.

102hp motor units

102hp Walker Railmotor

102hp Walker railmotor soon after delivery

Type and origin Power type Diesel Designer Walker Bros. Builder Walker Bros. (Power Unit), Martin & King (Body), Victorian Railways (Assemble). Build date 1948-55 Total produced 13

Specifications Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Length 8.5625 ft (2.6 m) Loco weight 18.00t Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 182 l

Performance figures Maximum speed 70 km/h Power output 102 horsepower (76 kW)

Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 12 Numbers 1RM-13RM First run 15 March 1948

Status (102hp)

Railmotor	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Current Status	Notes
1RM	Thursday, 4 March 1948	1971	Sunday, 19 November 1972	Scrapped.
2RM	Sunday, 14 March 1948	1977
3RM	Friday, 6 August 1948	1978
4RM	Tuesday, 15 February 1949	1978
5RM	Wednesday, 1 June 1949	1973	Sunday, 24 February 1974	Scrapped
6RM	Thursday, 23 June 1949	1978
7RM	Friday, 22 July 1949	Monday, 3 April 1978	N/A	Stored at Daylesford Spa Country Railway
8RM	Monday, 26 September 1949	1978
9RM	Monday, 10 October 1949	1976	Tuesday, 1 June 1976	Scrapped
10RM	Friday, 4 November 1949	1978
11RM	Tuesday, 20 December 1949	1978
12RM	Friday, 10 February 1950	1981		Scrapped
13RM	Wednesday, 26 January 1955	1978			Original spare power unit

153hp motor units

153hp Walker Railmotor

Type and origin Power type Diesel Designer Walker Bros. Builder Walker Bros. (Power Unit), Martin & King (Body), Victorian Railways (Assemble). Build date 1948-55 Total produced 16 (153hp)

Specifications Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Length 10.55 ft (3.2 m) Loco weight 20.00t – 153hp Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 182 l

Performance figures Maximum speed 80 km/h (153hp) Power output 153 horsepower (114 kW)

Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 12 Numbers 20RM-35RM First run 16 July 1948 (153hp)

Status (153hp)

Railmotor	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Current Status	Notes
20RM	Friday, 16 July 1948	Monday, 20 February 1978	Wednesday, 30 April 1980	Scrapped	Damaged in a derailment after hitting sheep. Accident occurred between Traralgon and Maffra.
21RM	Thursday, 16 September 1948	Monday, 3 April 1978	N/A		Offered for sale on 21 June 1978.
22RM	Monday, 15 November 1948	Tuesday, 1 April 1980	N/A	Now at Yarra Valley Tourist Railway.	Operational – Restored
23RM	Friday, 5 November 1948	Friday, 8 April 1977	Thursday, 5 May 1977	Scrapped
24RM	Wednesday, 23 March 1949			Stored at Huon on the former Cudgewa line.	Owned by former Tallangatta Valley Steam Preservation Society.
25RM	Thursday, 19 May 1949	Friday, 26 November 1971	Friday, 16 June 1972	Scrapped
26RM	Wednesday, 2 July 1952	Friday, 8 April 1977	Thursday, 5 May 1977	Scrapped
27RM	Thursday, 31 July 1952	Monday, 1 May 1978	N/A		Offered for sale on 21 June 1978.
28RM	Wednesday, 10 September 1952	Monday, 1 May 1978	Friday, 25 July 1980	Scrapped
29RM	Monday, 6 October 1952	Tuesday, 4 September 1979	Tuesday, 1 July 1980	Scrapped
30RM	Thursday, 20 November 1952	Wednesday, 3 October 1973	Thursday, 22 June 1978	Scrapped
31RM	Monday, 9 February 1953	Wednesday, 21 December 1977	Tuesday, 1 July 1980	Scrapped	Derailed between Lilydale and Coldstream on 19 February 1962.
32RM	Tuesday, 24 March 1953	Tuesday, 13 January 1981	N/A	Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Being fully restored to running order. Will appear in mid 1950's blue and gold livery.
33RM	Friday, 7 August 1953	Tuesday, 4 September 1979
34RM	Wednesday, 23 September 1953	Monday, 1 May 1978
35RM	Friday, 3 September 1954	Thursday, 15 October 1970		Scrapped	Original spare power unit.

102hp & 153hp Walker Railmotor – Passenger unit

Type and origin Designer Walker Bros. Builder Martin & King (Body), Victorian Railways (Assemble). Build date 1948-53 Total produced 27

Specifications Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Length 44.5 ft (10 m)

Performance figures Maximum speed 80 km/h

Career Operators Victorian Railways First run 15 March 1948

Status (Passenger units for 102hp & 153hp)

Railmotor	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Current Status	Notes
No.100	Thursday, 4 March 1948				45 seats, reduced luggage capacity
No.101	Sunday, 14 March 1948	1978
'No.102	Friday, 6 August 1948
No.103	Tuesday, 15 February 1949	1978
No.104	Wednesday, 1 June 1949	1978			45 seats, reduced luggage capacity
No.105	Thursday, 23 June 1949
No.106	Friday, 22 July 1949	1978
No.107	Monday, 26 September 1949
No.108	Monday, 10 October 1949	1978
No.109	Friday, 4 November 1949	1978
No.110	Tuesday, 20 December 1949	1978
No.111	Friday, 10 February 1950	1971
No.220	Friday, 16 July 1948	1978			45 seats, reduced luggage capacity
No.221	Thursday, 16 September 1948	1978
Mo.222	Monday, 15 November 1948	1978
No.223	Friday, 5 November 1948	1978
No.224	Wednesday, 23 March 1949	1970
No.225	Thursday, 19 May 1949	1980
No.226	Wednesday, 2 July 1952	1977
No.227	Thursday, 31 July 1952	1978
No.228	Wednesday, 10 September 1952	1979
No.229	Monday, 6 October 1952	1981
No.230	Thursday, 20 November 1952	1978
No.231	Monday, 9 February 1953	1977
No.232	Tuesday, 24 March 1953	1981
No.233	Friday, 7 August 1953	1979
No.234	Wednesday, 23 September 1953	1979

280hp units

280hp Walker Railmotor

Type and origin Power type Diesel Designer Walker Bros. Builder Walker Bros. (Power Unit), Martin & King (Body), Victorian Railways (Assemble). Build date 1950-54 Total produced 12 + spare power unit

Specifications Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Length 37 m (121 ft 5 in) Loco weight 47.00t Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 182 l Engine type 2 x Gardner 8LW 140 hp engines

Performance figures Maximum speed 95 km/h Power output 280 horsepower (210 kW)

Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 12 Numbers RM 80 – RM 91, RM 92 (Power unit) First run 6 June 1950

Separate to the paired units, railmotors 80-92RM consisted of two driving/sitting units, one either side of the power unit that gave its identity to the full consist. Typically, 80-91RM would be in service and 92RM would be spare without attached driving/passenger units.

One unit in each pair was fitted with seating for 38 1st class passengers, and the other had 56 2nd class passengers, for a total of 94 seats. Each was also capable of holding a single ton of luggage, and it was possible to walk through the centre motor unit via an offset corridor

In Service

The first of the 280 hp (210 kW) Walkers entered service on 6 June 1950, with 80RM departing Spencer Street for Daylesford. The railcars soon saw use on the Bendigo-Deniliquin and Ararat-Portland services, and by the time the 91RM was delivered, Mansfield, Wonthaggi, Woomelang and Wangaratta were also being served by the units. The long Glenrowan – Wangaratta section often saw the railcars exceed the 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) speed limit.

Unlike the 120 hp and 153 hp variants, the driving/passenger units of the 280 hp series were classed A880-A891 for the 1st class units, and B880-B891 for the 2nd class units. While possible, there's no reason to assume that the sets were broken up or shuffled around, besides the central motor section.

In later years the railcars' already poor riding qualities had deteriorated, especially due to their light construction. By the late 1970s the Walkers had reached the end of their lives, with a number of railcars being withdrawn from service during 1978 and 1979. By 1980 only 82RM, 85RM and 91RM remained in service. The last 280 hp Walker railmotor ran on 17 September 1980, with 82RM operating the 08.00 am service from Melbourne to Woodend and return. The intended life of the Walker railmotors was only 10 years. However, most were in service for up to 30 years.

In 1981 the Central Highlands Tourist Railway (now the Daylesford Spa Country Railway) acquired 91RM, 32RM and 56MT with the transfer being carried out in March 1982. Restoration of 91RM began in January 1987, and was certified for traffic in March 1990.

Status (280hp)

Railmotor	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Current Status	Notes
80RM	Tuesday, 6 June 1950
81RM	Monday, 21 August 1950
82RM	Tuesday, 12 December 1950		N/A	Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Stored pending restoration.
83RM	Friday, 2 February 1951
84RM	Wednesday, 21 March 1951
85RM	Wednesday, 23 May 1951			Mornington Railway	Stored pending restoration
86RM	Tuesday, 17 July 1951
87RM	Friday, 3 August 1951
88RM	Friday, 7 September 1951
89RM	Thursday, 25 October 1951		1980	Scrapped
90RM	Thursday, 13 December 1951
91RM	Sunday, 30 December 1951		N/A	Now at Daylesford Spa Country Railway	Operational
92RM		N/A			Original spare power unit only

Trailers

Walker Railmotor Trailer

Type and origin Designer Walker Bros. Builder Martin & King (Body), Victorian Railways (Assemble).

Specifications Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Length 44.15 ft (10 m)

Career Operators Victorian Railways Number in class 16 Numbers 50MT-64MT First run 18 October 1948

To go with the Walker railmotors, sixteen trailer cars were built. The first were delivered as class RMT, numbers 50 and 51; they were reclassed to MT in 1949, and further deliveres brought the class up to 64MT.

Each was mounted on two bogies with no driving stands, so they required a runaround at terminal stations. Stylistically, they matched the 102 hp and 153 hp railcars, and were a little shorter than the 280 hp type.

Each trailer had capacity for 16 1st, 22 ^2nd seated passengers and 2 tons of luggage.

Like the motors, these trailers were not fitted with standard couplings so special arrangements had to be made when it was necessary to move one of the trailers with a normal locomotive.

Status

Trailer	Entered service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Current Status	Notes
50MT	18 October 1948
51MT	7 December 1948
52MT	25 February 1949
53MT	24 June 1949
54MT	9 July 1949
55MT	30 July 1949		1979
56MT	5 February 1952
57MT	11 August 1952		30 June 1977
58MT	17 September 1952				27 April 1983 – Sold to Tallangatta
59MT	24 October 1952		1982
60MT	4 December 1952
61MT	17 February 1953
62MT	25 November 1953
63MT	23 December 1953
64MT	18 June 1954				13 October 1983 – Sold to Tallangatta

Preservation

In 1981, two railmotors and a trailer – 32RM, 91RM and 56MT – were scheduled to be transferred to Victor Harbor, the current site of the Steamranger line. 91RM failed on the Ingliston bank and they ended up stored at Ballarat East; at a later point, the three units were purchased by the Central Highlands Tourist Railway (now the Daylesford Spa Country Railway).

Units existing to date are:

• 7RM with Unit X – stored Daylesford
• 22RM with Unit X – Owned by VicTrack, allocated to ARHS Newport Museum, sub-allocated to Yarra Valley Tourist Railway, in service
• 24RM with Unit X – Stored in Huon
• 32RM with Unit X – Under restoration at Daylesford
• 82RM with Units X, Y – Stored at Daylesford
• 85RM with Units X, Y – Stored at Moorooduc
• 91RM with Units X, Y – In service at Daylesford
• 56MT – stored Daylesford
• 58MT – stored at Huon
• 64MT – stored at Huon

Model railways

HO scale

Weico has produced whitemetal kits for the 102 hp and 153 hp Walker Railmotors and trailers.

In 2011, Precision Scale Models released a range of Walker 102 hp and 153 hp railmotors in brass, styled for eras 1950-1955 in blue and silver, 1955-1965 in blue and gold with gold roof, and 1965-1980 in blue and gold with blue roof. The models were priced at around $1,095 each, and fitted with fully lit, populated interiors and DCC. Trailers were available in packs with 153 hp railmotors, for a total of $1,695. It is known that the series included 102 hp Motor 4RM in blue/gold with gold roof.

Trainbuilder announced a series of brass 102 hp and 153 hp Walker railmotors, to retail at $1175 per Railmotor, or $1695 each for Railmotor plus trailer. Numbers include 1RM or 21RM+50MT with silver roof; 4RM, 7RM, 22RM+52MT, 25RM, 29RM, 31RM, 32RM+56MT with yellow roof, and 6RM, 10RM, 11RM, 23RM+61MT, 27RM, 30RM, 30RM+62MT, 32RM, 33RM, 34RM with blue roof. The range does not include motors 20, 24, 26, 28, 35RM or trailers 51, 53-55, 57-60, 63 or 64MT.

Auscision Models released plastic ready-to-run models of the 280 hp Walker in August 2013., retailing for $395.00 each. Models included 86RM in blue and silver; 84RM in blue and gold with gold roof, and 82RM, 88RM and 91RM in era-appropriate variants of blue and yellow with blue roof.

External links

• The Great Victorian Train Website Project – 102hp Walker
• The Great Victorian Train Website Project – 153hp Walker
• The Great Victorian Train Website Project – 280hp Walker