Victorian Railways "ABE" Type CarriagesComrails Logo

Victorian Railways "ABE" Type Carriages

ABE type - 1 to 16

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1 ABE 2 ABE 3 ABE 4 ABE 5 ABE 6 ABE 7 ABE 8 ABE
9 ABE 10 ABE 11 ABE 12 ABE 13 ABE 14 ABE 15 ABE 16 ABE
28.10.2007,Seymour Railway Heritage Centre - Interior of <i>ABE</i> class car

External dimensions of the "ABE" are the same as for "AE" and "BE" class cars. Internally each car had 8 compartments, 1 smoking, 2 non-smoking and 1 ladies in each class. The ladies compartments are situated in the centre with the ladies lavatories between them. Access was via the first and second class ladies compartments which reduced seating to five and seven respectively. The ladies toilet compartments were 3 feet 10¼ inch long and 3 feet 1¼ inch wide with a dividing wall between.

three swing doors were located in the corridor. One was between each smoking/non-smoking and the other mid-way along the corridor dividing the two classes. Until the mid 50's this door was kept locked. The first class compartments are 6 foot 10 inch long while the second class are 1 inch shorter. Original weight was 35 tons 2 cwt, increased to 35 tons 11 cwt.

An "ABE" car was operated on The Overland for a number of years prior to the Second World War between Melbourne and Serviceton in each direction for local traffic. These were replaced by South Australian Railways centre aisle cars, which worked right through from Adelaide to Melbourne, until reinstated early in 1953.

A longitudinal seat for two passengers was located at each end opposite the mens lavatories.

Sixteen members of the class built at Newport 1906 and 1910, and numbered ABE 1 to 16.



4.10.1986 Spotswood 53BES

ABE 1 -- BE/BES 53

28.8.1906Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop.
2.3.1981 or 2.4.1981Recoded 53 BE.
6.5.1982Recoded 53 BES.
25.10.1983Withdrawn.
18.10.1983Sold to a buyer from Dandenong.

ABE 2 -- BE 61

30.10.1906Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop.
6.1973Still in service
30.7.1981Recoded 61 BE.
2.12.1983Withdrawn.
2.12.1983Sold to a buyer from Stawell.
13.6.1986 3ABE Maryborough station

ABE 3

15.8.1908Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop.
4.10.1981Still in service V/LINE.
1983Withdrawn.
13.7.1983Transferred to History register.
5.1986In posession of Steamrail Victoria, and in use.

ABE 4 -- BE 54

3.8.1908Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop.
15.5.1981Recoded 54 BE.
3.3.1983Withdrawn.
10.3.1983Sold to a buyer from Redesdale.

ABE 5 -- BE/BES 55

26.8.1908Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop.
15.4.1981Recoded 55 BE.
6.5.1982Recoded 55 BES.
13.10.1984Transferred to History register.
3.1.1985Withdrawn.
5.1986In posession of The Seymour Loco Group.
12.3.1987Recoded 5 ABE.

ABE 6

28.8.1908Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop.
8.1981Withdrawn from service and stored at Newport.
28.6.1982Officially withdrawn.

ABE 7

30.6.1909Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop.
4.10.1981Still in service V/LINE.
1983Withdrawn.
13.7.1983Transferred to History register.
5.1986In posession of Steamrail Victoria.

ABE 8 -- BE 56

16.7.1909Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop by contractor Scott and party.
1981Allocated number 56 BE, but it appears to not have been actually placed onto vehicle.
28.5.1981Withdrawn.
15.5.1984Sold to a buyer from Heathcote.

ABE 9

2.9.1909Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop by contractor Scott and party.
28.8.1970Withdrawn.
8.10.1970Scrapped. First of class to be scrapped.
31.3.1986 57BE Spotswood

ABE 10 -- BE/BES 57

2.9.1909Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop.
4.6.1981Recoded 57 BE.
1982Recoded 57 BES.
-Transferred to History register.
13.5.1985Withdrawn.
-Allocated to Plan R.
by 1987Reallocated to Mornington Railway Preservation Society.
31.3.1986 58BE Spotswood

ABE 11 -- BE/BES 58

28.7.1910Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop by contractor Bell and party.
2.6.1981Recoded 58 BE.
-Transferred to History register.
1982Recoded 58 BES.
21.11.1984Withdrawn.
-Allocated to Plan R.
by 1987Reallocated to Mornington Railway Preservation Society.
12<sup>th</sup> June 1986,Steamrail Newport 12ABE

ABE 12

28.7.1910Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop by contractor Bell and party.
4.10.1981Still in service V/LINE.
1983Withdrawn.
13.7.1983Transferred to History register.
5.1986In posession of Steamrail Victoria.

ABE 13

7.10.1910Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop by contractor Scott and party.
12.6.1975Withdrawn.
10.11.1975Reissued to traffic.
20.11.1975Recorded as scrapped.

ABE 14

7.10.1910Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop by contractor Scott and party.
2.2.1973Still in service
10.7.1976Severly damaged in Laverton Derailment.
9.12.1977Withdrawn.
9.5.1978Scrapped Newport Workshops.

ABE 15 -- BE/BES 59

9.10.1910Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop by contractor Scott and party.
13.12.1952Severly damaged in the Dudley Street car sidings fire.
9.7.1981Recoded 59 BE.
14.5.1982Recoded 59 BES.
29.3.1984Withdrawn.
18.6.1984Sold to a buyer from Sale.

ABE 16 -- BE 60

3.12.1910Issued to service after being built by the Victorian Railways Newport workshop by contractor Herbert and party.
21.5.1981Recoded 60 BE.
-Transferred to History register.
22.11.1984Withdrawn.
-Allocated to Seymour Loco Group.
-Recoded 16 ABE.