Thread: First Class Passenger Carriage (Early 1900's)

Originally Posted by Handyjack

Keith at the end of the day you are the designer and builder, so have the final say. Just wanted to point out real world situation.

Are you able to supply any details of the carriage at Bellarine, original operator, year built, class or type?

Look forward to more images of your build. At 3.2 metres long, that is big.

Hello Kevin and everyone else,

Working on the real full size carriages at Queenscliff today. Both Woodwork and metal work. Task next week to make up mild steel bolts on the lathe.
These carriages were purchased from Queensland Rail. They operated on the narrow gauge Suburban Brisbane network. They were known as "Brisbane Suburban Open Cars". They were manufactured in the 1930's.

Regards

Keith

Queenscliff carriage.jpg

Originally Posted by Keith_1

Hello Kevin and everyone else,

Working on the real full size carriages at Queenscliff today. Both Woodwork and metal work. Task next week to make up mild steel bolts on the lathe.
These carriages were purchased from Queensland Rail. They operated on the narrow gauge Suburban Brisbane network. They were known as "Brisbane Suburban Open Cars". They were manufactured in the 1930's.

Regards

Keith

Queenscliff carriage.jpg

We still had similar carriages to that in Brisbane in the 1960's and hauled by stream engines...
I think they were all brown in colour...the door was the same both sides with 2 long benches across the carriage....the windows were often either stuck up or down....

Originally Posted by crowie

.....the windows were often either stuck up or down....

I did not have to ride on trains very often but when I did the above statement brings back a wry smile. (I know not the best represented smiley)

Some more fantastic work since I last posted Keith the lights look great and when installed will look the business. It is grear that you are helping restore some of the railway past otherwise it will disappear so quickly. As well as helping I am certain it give you some very close up research material for you fantastic builds

Hey Charlie Boy you remember we where talking about things that you'd call First Class back in the day.
These photos are from the interior of an early Renault limousine.
I know their a little left field of your carriage, but they really do show what First Class was all about (or at least I think so anyway).

first class 1.jpg first class 2.jpg

first class 3.jpg

I'm not saying you should build the Orient Express.
But I am saying why not "you've got the skill and the talent mate".

Cheers
Trev.

Thanks Trevor,

As we were talking about - the First Class interior I want to build is not the first class for the "average" rich person , but more the "upper class".

The photos you have sent me coupled with some existing extreme first class (as attached and by the way - pun intended) and the photos I took of the First Class carriage in Maldon will give me fantastic resource material.

Thanks Mate

Regards

Charlie

first3.jpg first2.jpg first1.jpg

Hi All,

A bit of a suggestion to anyone building any large models - try to avoid using any MDF as any load bearing section.

Today I noticed that there was a 3mm drop in one corner of the carriage base structure. It has been sitting on the bogies for a week and a bit.

The corner of the bogie had dropped and I have no doubt it was the MDF I used - it had sagged and warped.

Fortunately I also used 19mm thick pine for the cross member of the bogies and also had made up pine supports for the wheel bearings. After a fair bit of thought - decided to make up jacking screws out of 1/4" threaded bar - using the pine as my two main supports. The jacking screws go through some 3/16'' mild steel flat bar. This doesn't flex. Made up aluminium feet so the threaded bar weight is spread where it jacks onto the pine cross member. Jacked up the bogies to the same height all around and now the carriage will have a solid support base. The carriage base is level. Both bogies have been done even though one had not sagged. If anyone is worried about the phillips head screws - don't - I will fill up with bodyfiller.

It's a bit strange that a muck up can make you feel pretty good when it's fixed

Regards

Keith

main support screws.jpg

Unfortunately MDF does sag if exposed to weight over a period of time. It is worse than solid wood.
Good fix though. Good to see you going back to your roots and using steel

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Unfortunately MDF does sag if exposed to weight over a period of time. It is worse than solid wood.
Good fix though. Good to see you going back to your roots and using steel

Dallas,

Someone has got to try and keep OneSteel going

Thanks

Regards

Keith

And to think that apart from the underframe you have not really started the carriage proper yet. There could be more problems (as in full size) that the longer the car, the more sag.
Good save. Hope you don't have more problems.

Originally Posted by Handyjack

And to think that apart from the underframe you have not really started the carriage proper yet. There could be more problems (as in full size) that the longer the car, the more sag.
Good save. Hope you don't have more problems.

Thanks Kevin,

Have put in side stiffeners along the length of the carriage which should eliminate any sag along the length. Didn't foresee the issue with the bogies , but reckon that should be all fixed now. The good thing is I can jack up the bogies if anything more happens (but I am sure it won't)

Regards

Keith

Hi All,

Have been working on both ends of the carriage (at the buffer plate). I have assembled and fitted the coupling disengagement levers. The coupler has the disengagement pin fitted.
Have also made up the brake air hose assemblies and couplings. Fitted in line air valves.

I have also been doing some trials on the best way of fitting the opening widows on the passenger compartment side of the carriage (the corridor side windows don't open). I have played around and come up with this rough design. I have decided to use tenon joints for all my noggins and window bases. I reckon they look a better join (although won't be seen after cladding) but also gives me a lot more flexibility on assembly of the components. The tenon joints will add extra time to the build - but really don't care. The slides have been cut to depth with the table to correct depth and then the centre piece of timber chiselled out and then smoothed. The window will slide up into the cavity at the top of the carriage. Can you tell me if you reckon this is the way to go or should I take another approach.
In all there will be 12 sliding windows and the carriage will have a total in excess of 50 windows.

Thanks

Best Regards

Keith

buffer end.jpg window 1.jpg window trial1.jpg window trial2.jpg

With all those windows you will soon be in mass production.
My thought is that having lift up windows is ok, but they normally have catches on the inside. How will they stay up on your build, or will they be fixed in an open position?

Look forward to your next post.

Hi Kevin,

All the windows will have handles and catches on them. I will get a bit more close up detail on the catches I will use when at the Railway tomorrow. We are still working on carriages and then back onto the Garratt.
Yes it is a full production run. The glass cutting is going to be a real challenge

All the Best

Keith