S.A.R. 500 Class Steel CarsComrails Logo

S.A.R. 500 Class Steel Cars

500 to 503

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500 501 502 503
Interior of 500 class car

Built at Islington workshops 1936-37 and classified by the South Australian Railways as "First class Main line corridor passenger cars". Weight 45 tonnes, 42 passengers, fitted with plain bearing.

Members of the 500 class were also known as: AK 1, Burrumbeet, Oxley, Terra Australis, Weeroona.

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500 -- AK 1 -- AK 500

First class Main line corridor passenger car.

5.12.1936Entered service. [rrc]
12.1968Converted to standard gauge.
16.1.1969Used on the first standard gauge passenger train Broken Hill to Peterborough.
4.1974Returned to broad gauge.
16.9.1983Hired to V/LINE.
17.10.1983Recoded as "AK 1".
17.12.1986TIMS/WMS: passenger car "AK 1 J" alteration: "apply check letter to class & number of approximately 443 locomotives, passenger cars and rail cars. Classify Overland sleeping cars. (RS4173)".
13.7.1992Returned to Australian National.
22.4.1993Issued to service in The Explorer colour scheme.
-Put into storage.
30.5.1997TIMS/WMS: shows passenger car "AK 1 J" in AN "Mainland Division".
Owner:"AN"
Operator:"C"
Length Over Headstocks:"21.2m"
Tare Weight:"41.5tonne"
Current Gauge:"Broad"
Gauge Restrictions:"B"
Bogie Configuration:"2X2"
Original Cost:"$14810"
Diagram Book Page No.:"CB P-16"
Date Built:"01.01.1935"
Operating System:"AN"
Intended Use:"Passengers"
Remarks:"EX HIRE TO V/LINE;EX 500"
BSG Code:"PBIE"
1.11.1997Sold to Great Southern Railway.
6.1998Sold to SteamRail.
6.3.1999Sent to Melbourne.
1999Recoded AK 500.
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28.10.1994,Keswick - TA501 Terra Australis - ex SAR

501 -- Weeroona -- TA 501 -- Terra Australis -- Terror Australis

First class Main line corridor passenger car.

19.12.1936Entered service. [rrc]
12.1968Converted to standard gauge.
25.7.1974Returned to broad gauge.
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
12.1981Sold to Steamage Australia (Victoria).
-Refurbished and named Weeroona.
11.12.1987Entered service on the standard gauge "Southern Cross Express".
24.10.1989Sold to a Sydney owner for private rail use.
12.1989Sold to Boyd Munro and transfered to NSW.
1993End deck fitted, all but three compartment removed, kitchen and dining saloon fitted, named Terra Australis and coded "TA 501".
-Repainted blue and gold. Re-lettered Terror Australis rather than orginal spelling. [rpf]
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4.11.2009,Lithgow - compartment of 502 4.11.2009,Lithgow - side corridor of 502

502 -- Burrumbeet -- Oxley Sitting Car -- AK 502

First class Main line corridor passenger car.

17.2.1937Entered service. [rrc]
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
12.1981Sold to Steamage Australia (Victoria).
-Refurbished and named Burrumbeet.
11.12.1987Entered service on the standard gauge "Southern Cross Express".
29.12.1989To Northern Rivers Railway.
1999Entered service on Northern Rivers Railway "Ritz Rail" Train. Given the name Oxley Sitting Car.
7.5.2004Arrived Lithgow for long term storage.
3.2010Railcorp & ARTC have released a TOC waiver for South Spur to move the Ritz Rail Carriages from Lithgow to Parkes. [ausrollingstock Brad Coulter]
10.11.2011Offered for sale by auction at "Slattery Auctions" [Advert].
11.2011Handed in at Auction - subsequently sold to SteamRail Victoria. [rpf].
2012Sent to Islington Workshops for repainting.
22.2.1013Refurbishment completed - railed to Melbourne. Coded "AK 502"
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19.4.1986 503 steel car Dry Creek

503

First class Main line corridor passenger car.

23.12.1937Entered service. [rrc]
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
1981Sold to SteamRanger (Australian Railway Historical Society South Australia Division).
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