| BPH38 | |
|---|---|
 Creamy Kate inJunee | |
| Manufacturer | New South Wales Government Railways |
| Built at | Eveleigh Carriage Workshops |
| Constructed | 1934 |
| Entered service | 1934–1983 |
| Number built | 1 |
| Fleet numbers | 38 |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 16.76 m (54 ft11+7⁄8 in) |
| Width | 2,920 mm (9 ft 7 in) |
| Height | 3,920 mm (12 ft10+3⁄8 in) |
| Prime mover(s) | Leyland 1934-58) GM 6/71 diesel (1958-80) |
| Engine type | Petrol 1934-58) Diesel (1958-80) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge |
Creamy Kate is a formerNew South Wales Government Railwaysrailmotor, numbered 38. It is an evolution of theCPH rail motor class.
Between 1923 and 1930, theNew South Wales Government Railways took delivery of 37 of the 42-Foot (CPH) rail motors and 5 similar 42-Foot trailers to replace locomotive-hauled passenger trains on lightly trafficked lines with a low patronage. With their popularity, patronage had increased beyond their normal operating capabilities and it had become clear that a larger and more powerful rail motor was needed.
The main problem standing in the way of development was finding a suitably sized internal combustion engine to power this larger vehicle. A larger engine with enough power would lower thepower-to-weight ratio and consequently defeat the purpose of the Rail Motor. This meant that existing steam trains and Rail Motors would have to be alternated to meet service requirements.[1]
A solution was found in building a rail motor with two engines in the form of a 150 hp (110 kW)6-cylinderLeylandpetrol engine andLysholm-Smithhydraulic transmission. A similar vehicle had been built in 1933 by theNorthern Counties Committee (Northern Ireland) division of theLondon Midland and Scottish Railway and proved successful.[2]
The Rail and Road Motor Engineer, NE Stafford supervised the building of these new vehicles in theEveleigh Carriage Workshops and rail motor CHP 38 emerged from the workshops in June 1934. Externally it was similar to the 42-foot (12.80 m) rail motors, but was considerably longer at 55-foot (16.76 m).[1]
It was nicknamedCreamy Kate after being released in a livery of cream with blue lining. A matching trailer carriage, CT 81, was built to the same size and design as No.38 on the underframe of passenger carriage BX 1048 that had been damaged in an accident atBowning.[1]
The pair were allocated toDubbo for use on services toOrange,Molong andCoonamble. In 1938, the second class seating was removed and the area converted to accommodate 7.5 tons of luggage and the vehicle was recoded BPH. In 1949, BPH 38 was reallocated toNarrandera where it operated with400 class rail motors on services toHay andTocumwal connecting with theRiverina Express. In 1958 the Leyland petrol engines were replaced withGM 6/71 diesel engines.[1]
The vehicle was again converted in 1967 when the first class area was recoded to second class and the toilet that was located adjacent to the driver at the front of the car was moved into the passenger compartment, removing a significant blind spot and the vehicle was recoded FPH. In the 1970s, FPH 38 was reallocated toWerris Creek to operate services on theBarraba line fromTamworth connecting with theNorthern Mail andNorthern Tablelands Express. It returned to Narrandera, back to Werris Creek, back to Narrandera and finally toCowra where it operated services toHarden to connect with theRiverina Express andSouth Mail.[1]
With the replacement of many branch line services by road coaches, CHP 38 became surplus to requirements and was condemned in April 1983 and sold to theDorrigo Steam Railway & Museum.[1][3]
Meanwhile, trailer CT 81 was renumbered 551 in 1945. It was sent toSutherland in 1958 and modified to operate with CPH rail motors on the Sutherland toHelensburgh services on theIllawarra railway line. Following the electrification of the line toWaterfall in July 1980, it was stored, then condemned in April 1983 and sold to theDorrigo Steam Railway & Museum.[1][3]