Electric multiple unit (Queensland Rail)

The Electric multiple unit (EMU) is a class of electric multiple units manufactured by Walkers, Maryborough for Queensland Rail between 1979 and 1986. They were the first EMUs in Queensland and some remain in service on the Queensland Rail City network.

Electric multiple unit
EMU42 at Wacol station in September 2018
Interior of an EMU
ManufacturerWalkers
Built atMaryborough
ReplacedSX carriages
Constructed1979-1986
Entered service17 November 1979
Number built264 carriages
SuccessorNew Generation Rollingstock
Formation3 carriage sets
Fleet numbers01-88
Capacity248 per 3-carriage set
Operator(s)Queensland Rail
Line(s) servedAll City network lines except Airport, Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast
Specifications
Train length72.4 m (237 ft 6 in)
DoorsAir operated
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Weight117.8 t (115.9 long tons; 129.9 short tons)
Electric system(s)25 kV AC overhead lines
Current collection methodPantograph
Braking system(s)Blended Regenerative electric and electro-pneumatic
Multiple workingWithin type and with ICE
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

History

To provide rolling stock for the electrification of the Ferny Grove and Darra section of the Brisbane rail network, in 1976 Queensland Rail issued a tender for 13 three-carriage electric multiple units.[1] Bids were received from Clyde Engineering, Comeng, General Electric, Goninans and Walkers, with the latter awarded the contract with electrical equipment to be supplied by ASEA.[2][3][4] The first was delivered in May 1979, entering service on 17 November 1979 with all in service by October 1980.[5][6][7]

Before the first had been delivered, a further 11 sets were ordered for the electrification of the Shorncliffe to Kingston section.[8][9][10] The first was delivered in November 1980.[11] These differed from the first order by having longitudinal ribs in the panels above the windows.[12][13]

In February 1981, a further 36 three-carriage sets were ordered to provide rolling stock for electrification of services to Petrie and Lota.[14][15] The last 20 were built with one cab, requiring them to operate as six-carriage sets. The fibreglass cab moulds were still fitted at the non-driving end, but not fitted out.[16] These had only six powered axles, versus eight when two of the dual cab sets operated in six-car formation.[17]

Further orders for 16, eight and four sets were made in 1983, 1984 and 1985, bringing the total ordered to 88 with the last delivered in December 1986.[18][19][20][21]

In September 1986, sets 84, 85, 86 and 88 were hauled to Gladstone to operate a VIP train to Rockhampton in connection with the completion of an electrification project, before operating some special services to Bajool and Mount Larcom.[22][23]

Sets 81–88 were fitted with VHF radios to allow them to operate Sunshine Coast line services from Caboolture to Nambour from 29 April 1988, pending the delivery of the InterCity Express fleet.[24][25][26] Others did appear on Sunshine Coast services with hand held radios, while 84 and 68 ran through to Gympie North in August 1990.[27][28] After the InterCity Express sets entered service in September 1988, EMUs operated in multiple with them for a period.[29]

In 1996, some appeared on Gold Coast line services, although they were only used sparingly, not being geared to operate at the 140km/h line speed.[30]

Following the introduction of the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) fleet in 2017, withdrawals began in 2018 with EMU06 the first taken to North Ipswich Railway Workshops for stripping.[31] By January 2019, 30 were in store.[32] Originally it was envisaged all would be withdrawn once all of the NGRs had been delivered, however as these will be undergoing a modification program, a small fleet of EMUs will remain in service until 2022.[33][34]

In August 2019, Queensland Rail operated a farewell tour with sets 01 and 04 over two days covering all Brisbane suburban lines including a reenactment of the first electric train service in Brisbane from Ferny Grove to Darra.[35][36][37] Upon being retired, both are to be preserved.[34]

Accidents

On 23 March 1985, two EMUs collided head-on near Trinder Park.[38] A train driver and passenger were killed, and 31 others were injured. The units involved, EMU11 and EMU27, were both were repaired by Walkers and returned to service in December 1985.[39]

On 14 March 1996, EMU28 derailed after hitting a freight train near the former Mayne Junction station. EMU28 was later repaired and returned to service.[40]

On 21 September 2001, a freight train hauled by 3906 derailed near Petrie and collided with two empty EMUs, EMU05 and EMU60.[41] Two carriages from EMU05 and one carriage from EMU60 were condemned and scrapped, with the remaining car from EMU05 (EM305) replacing EM160. In 2020 EMU60 was scrapped as part of the EMU retirement and recycling program.

Fleet details
EMU01 at Ferny Grove station for the opening of the Ferny Grove–Darra rail electrification in November 1979
Year
ordered		 Number
built		 Fleet
numbers		 Notes
1977 13 01-13
1979 11 14-24
1980 16 25-40
1980 20 60-79 single cab units, 60 originally numbered 80[42]
1983 16 41-56
1984 8 81-88
1985 4 57-59, 80

Disposition

When a unit is condemned to being disposed, EMU units are often sent to the Port of Brisbane where they will be earthed until being transferred to the Ipswich Railway Workshops. Upon arrival, Workshop staff will begin taking away the units wires and electrical components in a process known as stripping. When stripping is complete, the units are then flattened to be placed into metal bins where they will be loaded onto a truck and taken away.

EMU 75 Car 1 (EM175) during the scrapping process
The remainder of EMU unit number 16

References
  1. EMU Contract Sunshine Express September 1976 p. 113
  2. Tenders Close for Electric Rail Cars Sunshine Express February 1977 p. 18
  3. Electrics for Brisbane Rails April 1977 p. 8
  4. Walkers-ASEA to build Brisbane thyristor EMUs Railway Gazette International August 1977 p. 288
  5. Delivery of First Electric Train Electric Traction August 1979 p. 137
  6. Brisbane Electrification Opened Trolley Wire issue 185 December 1979 p. 22
  7. New Deliveries Sunshine Express November 1980 p. 131
  8. Brisbane Electrification Trolley Wire issue 183 August 1979 pp. 17–18
  9. Brisbane's First Electric Trains Network September 1979 p. 14
  10. Brisbane suburban electrification Continental Railway Journal issue 42 June 1980 p. 137
  11. New Deliveries Sunshine Express December 1980 p. 140
  12. Delivery of Sets Electric Traction December 1980 p. 196
  13. EMU Notes Sunshine Express January 1981 p. 9
  14. $67m order for rescued firm Canberra Times 18 February 1981 p. 30
  15. In Brief Railway Gazette International April 1981 p. 264
  16. New Orders Sunshine Express March 1981 p. 32
  17. Other News Electric Traction April 1983 p. 67
  18. Additional Electric Sets ordered Electric Traction June 1983 p. 97
  19. Supply of emu stock Electric Traction September 1984 p. 172
  20. EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 233 August 1985 p. 106
  21. Brisbane electric fleet completed Transit Australia March 1987 p. 56
  22. Electrification Opening Sunshine Express issue 247 October 1986 p. 190
  23. Special Trains for Gladstone Opening Sunshine Express issue 248 November 1986 p. 225
  24. EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 267 June 1988 p. 46
  25. Nambour electrification opened Transit Australia June 1988 p. 117
  26. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 610 August 1988 p. 69
  27. EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 281 August 1989 p. 109
  28. Suburban EMUs Sunshine Express issue 296 November 1990 p. 209
  29. ICE EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 272 November 1988 p. 217
  30. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 703 May 1996 p. 159
  31. Queensland Railway Digest October 2018 p. 22
  32. QR EMU withdrawals under way and ICE sets' demise commences Railway Digest March 2019 page 18
  33. First NGR set travels to Maryborugh for disabled person's access modifications Railway Digest March 2019 p. 20
  34. QR farewells its first electric train Railway Digest September 2019 pp. 20–21
  35. Caboolture gets a chance to ride on history with final service of Queensland's first electric train on Saturday 105.1FM 9 August 2019
  36. EMU01 Farewell Tour Saturday 10 August Queensland Rail
  37. EMU01 Farewell Tour Sunday 11 August Queensland Rail
  38. Brisbane's rail smash cover-up The Courier-Mail 30 September 2009
  39. Deliveries of sets Sunshine Express May 1986 p. 72
  40. Citytrain News Railway Digest December 1996 p. 16
  41. Cattle Train Derailment Damages Citytrain Cars Railway Digest November 2001 p. 5
  42. EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 245 August 1986 p. 118

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