NZR RM class (Vulcan)
| NZR RM class Vulcan |
|
|---|---|
The Plains Railway Vulcan RM 50.
|
|
| In service | 1940–1978 |
| Manufacturer | Vulcan Foundry |
| Constructed | 1938–1942 |
| Entered service | 1940–1942 |
| Number built | 10 (9 entered service; 1 lost at sea) |
| Number in service | None |
| Number preserved | 4 |
| Number scrapped | 5 (1972–1978) |
| Fleet numbers | RM 50–RM 58 |
| Capacity | 50 passengers |
| Operator(s) | New Zealand Government Railways |
| Line(s) served | Midland Line, Hokitika Branch, Stillwater–Westport Line, Otago Central Line, Main South Line, Main North Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 66 ft 3 in (20.19 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m) |
| Height | 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) |
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
| Weight | Ready for service: 36 long tons (37 tonnes or 40 short tons) |
| Prime mover(s) | Vulcan-Frichs 6-cylinder diesel engine |
| Power output | 250 hp (190 kW) |
| Transmission | Vulcan-Sinclair fluid coupling & 5-speed Wilson epicyclic gearbox |
| UIC classification | A1A-2 |
| Bogies | Two |
| Multiple working | Yes |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
The NZR RM class Vulcan railcars were operated by the New Zealand Government Railways (NZR) in the South Island of New Zealand. All New Zealand railcars were classified as RM (Rail Motor), and this class derived their nomenclature from the name of the manufacturer, the Vulcan Foundry of Britain.
On 9 May 1938, the Minister of Railways announced an order for ten railcars from the Vulcan Foundry of Britain. Six railcars of the Standard type were under construction at the Hutt Workshops but delays in deliveries of materials and equipment from England meant it was impracticable to build more cars in New Zealand. The order for ten more railcars was therefore placed overseas.
The first Vulcan railcar arrived in New Zealand in September 1940. Three more arrived by April 1941, with all nine members in operation by the second half of 1942. Ten railcars were built, but only nine arrived in New Zealand as the ship carrying the tenth was sunk during World War II.
The Vulcan railcars had a driver's compartment at each end, so they did not need to be turned at the terminus for the return journey. They originally had 28 and 22 seats in the two passenger compartments. In the mid-1950s the smaller compartment in each vehicle was reduced by 2 seats and replaced with a small guard's compartment, thus reducing the total number of passengers from 50 to 48. A luggage compartment had space for about 1 ton of luggage, and an onboard toilet was provided.
The original livery was plain Midland red with a grey roof and black undergear. From 1951 onwards, as they came in for overhauls, they were repainted Carnation red with silver or off-white stripes on the sides and ends, and silver or white roofs.
They had a low axle loading to allow them to operate on the light track and bridges on the Stillwater–Westport Line to provide a proposed new Greymouth–Westport service, once the building of the line was completed. Hence the power bogie was built with three axles with an intermediate carrying axle instead of two axles as originally proposed. They were designed to operate at speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph), though in service they were restricted to a maximum speed of 88 km/h (55 mph), which was still fast for rural New Zealand railway lines at the time.
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