S.A.R. 700 Class Steel CarsComrails Logo
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S.A.R. 700 Class Steel Cars

700 to 715

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700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707
708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715
Interior of 700 class car

Built between 1940 and 1942 at Islington workshops by the South Australian Railways and classified as "second class end loading vestibule country cars", with seating for 56 passengers. They were fitted with roller bearing bogies.

A centre aisle with twin passenger seats either side and toilets in centre of carriage dividing it into smoking and non-smoking compartments.

Members of the 700 class were also known as: BK 1, BK 2, Cape Byron, Eppalock, Johnnie Walker club car, Waterford, Wellington.

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BK 700

700 -- BK 700

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

9.7.1940Entered service. [rrc]
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
12.1981Sold to Steamage Australia (Victoria).
1987To Australian Vintage Travel.
1992Held at SteamRail depot in a derelict condition.
8.7.1994Delivered to West Coast Rail depot at Ballarat East.
23.2.1998Car restored to service and coded "BK 700". Painted in West Coast blue white and grey livery.
3.2004Offered for Sale by Tender along with a large number of vehicles owned by West Coast Railway.
2004Purchased by Steamrail.[sf]
2005Painted into blue and gold. [sf]
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701

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

9.7.1940Entered service.
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
1981Sold to SteamRanger (Australian Railway Historical Society South Australia Division).
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BK 702 at Newport 6.2.2002

702 -- BK 1 -- BK 702

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

13.8.1940Entered service. [rrc]
8.3.1983Hired to V/LINE.
20.4.1983Officially withdrawn from Australian National service.
3.6.1983Recoded as "BK 1".
17.12.1986TIMS/WMS: passenger car "BK 1 K" alteration: "apply check letter to class & number of approximately 443 locomotives, passenger cars and rail cars. Classify Overland sleeping cars. (RS4173)".
17.4.1991One toliet replaced by a conductors work station.
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 "BK 1 K" in AN "Mainland Division".
Owner:"AN"
Operator:"C"
Length Over Headstocks:"18.5m"
Tare Weight:"36.2tonne"
Current Gauge:"Broad"
Gauge Restrictions:"B"
Bogie Configuration:"2X2"
Original Cost:"$15430"
Diagram Book Page No.:"CB P-13"
Date Built:"13.08.1940"
Operating System:"AN"
Intended Use:"Passengers"
Remarks:"EX HIRE TO V/LINE;EX 702"
BSG Code:"PBIE"
1.11.1997Sold to Great Southern Railway.
6.1998Sold to SteamRail.
19.12.1998Transferred from Adelaide to Melbourne.
1999Recoded BK 702.
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BK 2 in bogie shop at Islington on 1.7.1998

703 -- BK 2 -- BK 703

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

28.8.1940Entered service. [rrc]
8.3.1983Hired to V/LINE.
20.4.1983Officially withdrawn from Australian National service.
28.7.1983Recoded as "BK 2".
17.12.1986TIMS/WMS: passenger car "BK 2 T" 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.
04.04.1993TIMS/WMS: shows passenger car "BK 2 T"as having repair "coupler knuckle pin".
04.04.1993TIMS/WMS: shows passenger car "BK 2 T"as having repair "coupler knuckle".
22.4.1993Issued to service in "The Explorer" colour scheme.
-Put into storage.
30.5.1997TIMS/WMS: shows passenger car "BK 2 T" in AN "Mainland Division".
Owner:"AN"
Operator:"C"
Length Over Headstocks:"18.5m"
Tare Weight:"36.2tonne"
Current Gauge:"Broad"
Gauge Restrictions:"B"
Bogie Configuration:"2X2"
Original Cost:"$15430"
Diagram Book Page No.:"CB P-13"
Date Built:"13.08.1940"
Operating System:"AN"
Intended Use:"Passengers"
Remarks:"EX HIRE TO V/LINE;EX 703"
BSG Code:"PBIE"
1.11.1997Sold to Great Southern Railway.
6.1998Sold to SteamRail.
19.12.1998Transferred from Adelaide to Melbourne.
1999Recoded BK 703.
8.8.2015Badly damaged by fire.
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704

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

23.10.1940Entered service. [rrc]
20.4.1983Withdrawn from Australian National service.
1981Sold to SteamRanger (Australian Railway Historical Society South Australia Division).
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705

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

23.10.1940Entered service. [rrc]
11.1962Damaged by fire.
1.1963Condemned due to fire damage.
9.4.1986 706 steel car Dry Creek

706

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

21.12.1940Entered service. [rrc]
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
1981Sold to SteamRanger (Australian Railway Historical Society South Australia Division).
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707 -- Johnnie Walker club car -- Waterford -- ABM 707 -- Crux Australis

Second class main line corridor passenger car.

21.12.1940Entered service. [rrc]
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
12.1981Sold to Steamage Australia (Victoria).
-Converted to the Johnnie Walker Club car.
11.12.1987Entered service on the standard gauge "Southern Cross Express" as club car Waterford.
24.10.1989Sold to Boyd Munro for private rail use.
12.1989Transfered to NSW.
1992Rebuilt as observation car at Rail Transport Museum Thirlmere. Recoded "ABM 707".
-Named "Crux Australis". [rpf]
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4.11.2009,Lithgow - club car 708 interior 8.4.1994,Goulburn roundhouse - SAR 708 + 607

708 -- Wellington -- Cape Byron Club Car

Second class main line corridor passenger car.

24.6.1941Entered service. [rrc]
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
12.1981Sold to Steamage Australia (Victoria).
1988Interior stripped for conversion to club car named Wellington for use on "Southern Cross Express". Only exterior finished, stored at Steamrail depot on broad gauge awaiting disposal.
29.12.1989To Northern Rivers Railway.
1999Entered service on Northern Rivers Railway "Ritz Rail" Train. Given the name Cape Byron Club Car.
May 2004Transferred from Murwillumbah to Lithgow. [rpf].
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" on bealf of Australian Rail Holdings) [Advert].
11.2011Handed in at Auction - subsequently sold to private party based in Victoria. [rpf].
3.2012Stored in Newport Workshops west block, after being road hauled from Parkes to Newport by Australian Train Movers. It was placed on broad gauge boies ex carriage 709. No modifications to the layout or appearance or livery of carriage are planned, it is intended to operate the car in it's present guise. The name Cape Byron Club car will disappear [jg].
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BK 709 sitting at WCR Ballarat East in 2003

709 -- BK 709

Second class end loading vestibule country car. This car had pressure ventilation air conditioning fitted, but it was unsuccessful and removed.

7.9.1941Entered service. [rrc]
10.1948Converted from second class to first class.
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
12.1981Sold to Steamage Australia (Victoria).
1987To Australian Vintage Travel.
1992Held at SteamRail depot in a derlict condition.
8.7.1994Delivered to West Coast Rail depot at Ballarat East.
-Car coded "BK 709" in preparation for restoration.
3.2004Offered for Sale by Tender along with a large number of vehicles owned by West Coast Railway.
2004Purchased by Steamrail.[sf]
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710

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

27.6.1941Entered service. [rrc]
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
1981Sold to SteamRanger (Australian Railway Historical Society South Australia Division).
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BK 711

711 -- BK 711

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

19.7.1941Entered service. [rrc]
12.1947Converted from second class to first class.
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
12.1981Sold to Steamage Australia (Victoria).
1987To Australian Vintage Travel.
1992Held at SteamRail depot in a derlict condition.
8.7.1994Delivered to West Coast Rail depot at Ballarat East.
23.3.1995Car restored to service and coded "BK 700". Painted in West Coast blue white and grey livery.
3.2004Offered for Sale by Tender along with a large number of vehicles owned by West Coast Railway.
2004Purchased by Steamrail.[sf]
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9.11.2002,Tailem Bend - 712 steel car

712

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

20.8.1941Entered service. [rrc]
20.4.1983Withdrawn from Australian National service.
1981Sold to SteamRanger (Australian Railway Historical Society South Australia Division).
2000Sold to Steve Moritz for the MurrayLander service.
1.2001Transferred by road to Tailem Bend.
8.2010"Expressions of Interest" called by Australian Locomotive and Railway Carriage Co for sale.[sm]
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4.11.2009,Lithgow - 713 power car 31.7.1989,Southern Cross Express Sunshine 713 car

713 -- Eppalock -- Power Car -- PCK 713

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

11.9.1941Entered service. [rrc]
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
12.1981Sold to Steamage Australia (Victoria).
Converted to a Power car and named Eppalock.
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 Power Car.
May 2004Transferred from Murwillumbah to Lithgow. [rpf].
3.2010Railcorp & ARTC have released a TOC waiver for South Spur to move the Ritz Rail Carriages from Lithgow to Parkes. [ausrollingstock Brad Coulter]
11.2011to SteamRail Victoria.
2012Sent to Islington Workshops for repainting.
22.2.1013Refurbishment completed - railed to Melbourne. Coded "PCK713"
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714 -- BK 714

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

30.9.1941Entered service. [rrc]
12.1947Converted from second class to first class.
13.10.1981Withdrawn from Australian National service.
12.1981Sold to Steamage Australia (Victoria).
1987To Australian Vintage Travel.
1992Held at SteamRail depot in a derlict condition.
8.7.1994Delivered to West Coast Rail depot at Ballarat East.
26.3.1996Car restored to service and coded "BK 700". Painted in West Coast blue white and grey livery.
3.2004Offered for Sale by Tender along with a large number of vehicles owned by West Coast Railway.
2004Purchased by Steamrail.[sf]
-Sold to Australian Locomotive and Railway Carriage Co Pty Ltd.[sm]
8.2010"Expressions of Interest" called by Australian Locomotive and Railway Carriage Co for sale.[sm]
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2.11.1985,Steel car 715 Dry creek interior

715

Second class end loading vestibule country car.

24.10.1941Entered service. [rrc]
12.1947Converted from second class to first class.
8.3.1983Delivered to V/LINE.
3.5.1983Returned to Australian National due to the poor condition of car.
-Sold to Hotel at Balaklava.
-Sold to SteamRanger (Australian Railway Historical Society South Australia Division).
1999Sold to Steve Moritz for the MurrayLander service.
1.2001Transferred by road to Tailem Bend.
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