An agreement between a rail infrastructure owner and a rail operator that defines the operator's access rights to the infrastructure owner's network.

The form of certification granted to an organisation under the Rail Safety Act that permits that organisation to operate a railway.

A brake or system of brakes operated by the action of air under pressure.

A pump powered either mechanically or electrically that compresses air to a pressure higher than the atmosphere. Compressed air from the compressor is stored in an air reservoir and is used to operate pneumatic systems.

An air or water-cooled device that cools air that has been compressed by a turbocharger or supercharger before entering the cylinders of an engine. Air that is compressed is heated in the process and by cooling the compressed air the aftercooler has the effect of increasing the density of the air in the cylinder, improving combustion and horsepower. Often used interchangeably with intercooler. See also intercooler.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation Ltd (ARTC) was created after the Commonwealth and State Governments agreed in 1997 to the formation of a "one-stop" shop for all operators seeking access to the National interstate rail network. ARTC currently has responsibility for the management of more than 4,500 route kilometres of standard gauge interstate track, mainly in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. ARTC took control of the interstate and country networks from the Rail Infrastructure Corporation within NSW on 4 September 2004. In late 2009, ARTC also took control of the standard gauge line between the NSW border and Acacia Ridge in Queensland.
www.artc.com.au

A device that permits vehicles to be coupled together with minimal operator intervention. This type of coupler also acts as a buffer between vehicles that are not fitted with standard buffers or buffing diaphragms.

A supplementary storage for compressed air that is used to operate the brakes in an emergency situation.

A device for arresting the motion of a mechanism usually by means of friction. Some later hydraulic transmissions also incorporate a hydro-dynamic brake (qv) to assist braking effort.

The part of the brake system that presses against the wheel to cause retardation. The brake blocks are made of either cast iron or composite material and are expendable items.

An apparatus, such as one of the two at each end of a railway carriage, for absorbing the concussion between a moving body and something against which it strikes.

An apparatus where the buffers on either side of the end of a vehicle are joined together by a fixed beam or plate. Buffing diaphragms may be the full width (of standard buffer spacing) or narrow.

The Callender truss, or more correctly Callender-Hamilton truss, was designed by New Zealand engineer A. M. Hamilton and patented in 1935. It was primarily intended for military applications and was manufactured by Callender's Cable & Construction Company Limited (UK). The design uses Warren Trusses and is centred on a series of gusset plates that allow the direct attachment of the longitudinal, diagonal, vertical, and cross framing members.

Callender-Hamilton Truss

A shaft capable of transmitting rotary movement in a plane at a different angle to that of the input. Named after 16th Century mathematician Geralamo Cardano.

A passenger carrying vehicle.

Air, under a higher than atmospheric pressure, the expansion force of which is used to operate pneumatic systems on a rail vehicle, such as brakes, throttle and direction and transmission controls.

The division of the State Rail Authority and later RailCorp responsible for operating the long-distance passenger rail services within NSW and the three interstate services to Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne. From 1 July 2013 Countrylink became part of NSW Trainlink.

The state owned corporation responsible for management of the Country Regional Network (q.v.). The control of the CRN was subcontracted by CRIA to John Holland Rail from 15 January 2012. CRIA was abolished and its functions absorbed into Transport NSW on 1 July 2012.

The portion of the NSW rail network that does not form part of the defined interstate network. Management of the CRN was taken over by ARTC on 4 September 2004. While managed by ARTC, the CRN continued to be funded by the NSW Government. Following a competitive tender, management of the CRN was transferred from ARTC to John Holland Rail on 15 January, 2012.

To join two vehicles together.

When two or more vehicles that have been joined together.

A device used in joining railway vehicles together.

Abbreviation for a hundredweight (q.v.) - imperial unit of measure.

The Rail Motor Society's Headquarters located on the old Paterson Goods Yard.

A braking system where the braking forces are applied to the face or faces of a disc rotating in the same plane as the wheels. Disc brake types include a separate disc attached to the axle (Budd cars) or disc surfaces fitted into the faces of the wheel (XPT, Endeavour and Xplorer cars)

A compression-ignition type of internal-combustion engine in which fuel is sprayed into the cylinder after the air in it has been compressed to about 550^oC, thus causing the ignition of the fuel, at substantially constant pressure. Designed by French engineer Rudolph Diesel.

A generic term used to describe rail motors and rail cars.

An optional component of the straight air brake system that permits rapid application and release of brakes in long trains. The EP brake uses the action of electrical signals and magnet valves to apply and release the brakes.

A feature fitted to the 600 Class vehicles to provide rapid application of the pneumatic throttle in long trains. It works on a similar principle to the EP Brake system.

A machine designed to convert energy into mechanical work such as the internal-combustion engine. The Rail motors initially used petrol and eventually diesel engines as their power source.

A system of gears (usually a crown wheel and pinion) that transfers the longitudinal rotary motion of the Cardan shaft to transverse rotation of the driving axle. The final drive also features reduction gearing and may be of either the fixed type or reversing type. In the fixed type, the reversing function is carried out in a reversing gearbox attached to the drive train or in the transmission itself, while the reversing type features two crown wheels, one of which is engaged by a sliding dog clutch arrangement to determine the vehicle direction. Selection of the direction in the reversing type is performed pneumatically.

A device for transmitting torque from one shaft to another. It provides a smooth coupling between the engine and the final drive. It consists of two vaned rotors in a sealed casing filled with fluid. The driven rotor imparts its torque (or energy) to the coupling fluid that in turn causes the second rotor to rotate. Fluid couplings are used in high-speed hydraulic transmissions such as the Voith type, as an alternative to the friction clutch direct drive component of the "twin disc" type transmissions. Modern fluid couplings provide performance very close to the direct drive type, however, their real advantage is that they possess a very low wear factor.

The NSW state owned corporation responsible for the operation freight services. Also known as FreightCorp. FreightCorp was purchased by Toll-Patrick and is now merged with the National Rail Corporation to form Pacific National (PN). PN was subsequently acquired by Asciano.

The connection or engagement of toothed wheels with each other.

A casing in which gears are enclosed.

Total weight of the vehicle without any deduction. The gross weight is made up of the tare weight plus the payload.

A mechanically operated brake, independent of the air brake system, applied to the wheels operated by a hand wheel or lever.

Unit of measurement of power, or rate of doing work, in the Imperial system, defined as 550 pounds-force per second (approx 745 watts).

Abbreviation for horsepower. 1 hp = 0.745 kW approximately.

A seven-car set of locomotive hauled air-conditioned carriages. The HUB set was self-contained with power for lighting, air-conditioning and the buffets being provided by diesel alternators located in the PFH terminal car.

A unit of weight in the Imperial system equal to 112 lb (approx 50.8 kg). Symbol is cwt. There are 20 cwt to the (Imperial) ton.

The hydraulic transmission consists of two or three "gears". The starting gear uses a torque converter to get the vehicle under way, while the higher gear(s) may be provided by either a mechanical direct drive clutch (in the "twin disc" type) or a fluid coupling. The efficiency of the torque converter drops as the road speed of the vehicle increases and the transition to the higher gears (known as "lockup") usually occurs between 50 and 60 kmph. The transition between the two modes can be either manual (in the early types) or automatically controlled by a governor from the road speed of the vehicle. Transmissions for modern high speed rail cars, such as the Voith T312 model, have two fluid couplings in addition to the torque converter. Some hydraulic transmissions have an integrated reversing gear train, while others use an external reversing gearbox or a reversing final drive.

A facility provided in some hydraulic transmissions where the torque converter or fluid coupling acts as a retarder. Braking energy heats the hydraulic fluid, and the heat is dissipated (via a heat exchanger) by the engine cooling radiator. The engine will be idling (and producing little heat) during braking, so the radiator is not overloaded. Hydro-dynamic braking reduces the wear of friction-based braking components.

A system of weights and measures conforming to the standards legally established in Great Britain. Lengths are measured in feet and inches, while weights are measured in tons, hundredweights, quarters and pounds.

An air or water-cooled device that cools air that has been compressed by a turbo or supercharger before entering another turbo or supercharger (inter ~ between) in a multi-stage turbo or supercharged engine. Intercooler and aftercooler are often used interchangeably, however for a single-stage engine the correct term is aftercooler.

An engine of one or more working cylinders in which the process of combustion takes place within the cylinder itself rather than in an external source such as a furnace or boiler.

Formed on 1 January 2004 to oversee the regulation of all public transport services in NSW (includes rail, buses, ferries, taxis and hire cars). When formed, the body was know as the Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator (ITSRR) and took the current name in 2010. ITSR became part of the National Rail Safety Regulator on 20 January 2013 (q.v.).

The organisation responsible for the management and control of the Country Regional Network (q.v.) from 15 January 2012. John Holland Rail's control centre is located at Mayfield (Newcastle), NSW.

A removable cable that provides electrical connections between cars in a train consist. Jumpers are used in rail cars primarily to facilitate the operation of electro-pneumatic control circuits that provide the multiple unit control function.

Abbreviation for kilogram, the metric unit of mass. 1 kg = 2.2 lb approximately.

Abbreviation for kiloWatt, the metric unit of power. 1 kW = 1.341 hp approximately.

Symbol for pound, the imperial unit of mass. 1 lb = 0.454 kg approximately.

The term used to describe the transition between converter mode and direct drive mode in a hydraulic torque converter transmission.

See twin disc transmission.

A valve that is actuated electrically and permits compressed air to be either admitted or exhausted from a pneumatically operated device or component. Magnet valves are used on rail motors to activate such items as the direction and transmission functions and electro-pneumatic brakes.

The primary storage for compressed air that is used for operating pneumatic systems such as brakes and controls.

See Warren Truss.

A system of electric and/or pneumatic controls that permit one or more powered and non-powered vehicles to be operated remotely from a single driving station. Multiple unit control is a principal component in the operation of rail motors. Usually abbreviated as MU.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator was established in 2012 to oversee the regulation of all rail services on a national basis. The Rail Safety National Law was enacted in South Australia in 2012 and enabling legislation was passed in other states to transfer their rail safety regulatory responsibility to the new organisation. On 20 January 2013 the national regulator assumed responsibility for rail safety regulation in NSW, SA, NT and Tasmania. Victoria came under the National Regulator on 19 May 2014. The ACT followed on 20 November 2014, Western Australia on 17 September 2015 and Queensland on 1 July 2017.
www.onrsr.com.au

A form of paint or sealer used to waterproof the canvas roof covering on carriages. The main ingredients included linseed oil, turpentine and white lead. The navy dressing used in NSW was generally a mustard colour. The use of navy dressing has been discontinued due to the lead content.

Formed on 1 July 2013 by splitting RailCorp into two operating organisations - NSW Trainlink provides interurban rail services outside of Sydney, Hunter Valley rail services out of Newcastle and the former Countrylink long-distance rail services. The new body is also responsible for the maintenance of the metropolitan rail network. Sydney suburban services are operated by Sydney Trains.

Abbreviation for New South Wales Government Railways. The department responsible for operating the government railways in New South Wales. NSWGR became the Public Transport Commission (PTC) on 20 October 1972.

Formed on 1 January 2004 as part of the Ministry of Transport to investigate transport safety incidents in NSW. OTSI is now part of Transport NSW (q.v.).

is located about 15 kilometres north of Maitland with a population of about 300 located on the Paterson River. Paterson is the base for the Rail Motor Society's operations.

the weight of the cargo, passengers and parcels that can be carried in the vehicle. The payload plus the tare weight equals the gross weight.

A form of truss commonly used for bridges patented by in 1844 by brothers Thomas and Caleb Pratt. The Pratt Truss consists of parallel top and bottom chords with diagonal struts in tension and vertical struts in compression.

Pratt Truss

A unit of weight in the Imperial system equal to 16 ounces (approx 0.454 kg). Symbol is lb.

Abbreviation for Public Transport Commission of New South Wales. The authority responsible for operating the government railways in New South Wales from 20 October 1972. The PTC also assumed the responsibility for State-run bus and ferry services. The rail division of the PTC became the State Rail Authority (SRA) on 1 July 1980.

symbol for quarter - imperial unit of weight.

A unit of weight in the Imperial system equal to 28 lbs or one quarter of a hundredweight (approx 12.7 kg). Symbol is qtr.

The NSW state owned corporation responsible for the management of the network infrastructure. Amalgamated with Rail Services Australia on 1 January 2001 to form the Rail Infrastructure Corporation.

A form of light rail vehicle that is similar in concept to a rail motor or rail car, although smaller in size. Rail buses are generally designed to operate as single car and are generally constructed on a fixed (or rigid) 4-wheel chassis rather than using bogies.

An alternate name for a rail motor (q.v.).

Formed by amalgamating the State Rail Authority and the Rail Infrastructure Corporation on 1 January 2004. RailCorp was formed in anticipation of the handover of the NSW country rail network to ARTC. RailCorp is responsible for operating the CityRail and Countrylink passenger services and maintaining the Sydney metropolitan rail network. From 1 July 2013, RailCorp was split into two operating groups, Sydney Trains, responsible for Sydney metropolitan rail services and NSW Trainlink, responsible for interurban services outside of Sydney, long-distance rail services and the maintenance of the metropolitan rail network.

The NSW state owned corporation responsible for the management of the railway network infrastructure. Formed as the amalgamation of the Rail Access Corporation and Rail Services Australia from 1 January 2001. RIC was amalgamated with the SRA on 1 January 2004 to form the Rail Corporation of NSW. RIC continued to manage the Country Regional Network (CRN) and was renamed the Country Rail Infrastructure Authority (q.v.) in 2011.

A self propelled railway carriage of light weight construction. These vehicles are generally powered by diesel engines although petrol engines were sometimes used.

The 1993 legislation for the safe operation of railways in NSW. This was the first Act of its type in Australia and has been subsequently replaced by new Rail Safety Acts in 2002 and 2008. The 2008 Act brings the NSW legislation into line with those in use in other Australian States and now provides consistency of rail safety regulation nationally. This Act has been subsequently superceded by the Rail Safety National Law.

The 2012 South Australian legislation for the safe operation of railways. This legislation has been been applied nationally by each State passing enabling legislation to make is applicable in that jurisdiction. This Act is administered nationally by the Office of the National Safety Regulator (q.v.).

The NSW state owned corporation responsible for the maintenance of the railway network infrastructure created on 1 July 1996. Known as Rail Services Australia from 1 July 1998, RSA was amalgamated with the Rail Access Corporation on 1 January 2001 to form the Rail Infrastructure Corporation.

A rotary positive displacement blower invented by American brothers Francis and Philander Roots in 1854 and patented in 1860. The Roots blower is a type of supercharger and consists of two interlocking rotors that moves air into the cylinders of an engine. Unlike other supercharger types, the Roots type blower does not compress the air and is used to create the scavenging action in the cylinders of 2-stroke diesel engines. The Roots blower is either gear or belt driven from the engine. It is often misspelt as Rootes blower.

A seven or eight-car set of locomotive hauled air-conditioned carriages. The RUB set was self-contained with power for lighting, air-conditioning and the buffet being provided by diesel alternators located in a PHS combined luggage and power car forming part of the set.

A coupling device that permits one person coupling and uncoupling of trains. This coupler provides connection for both electrical and pneumatic services between cars in addition to the coupling. Scharfenberg couplers are very common in light rail applications and are becoming increasingly used on heavy rail vehicles.

This coupling device is two "D" shaped links with an adjustable screw fitted between them. When the vehicles are coupled the screw is tightened and this makes the carriages hold firmly on the buffers to ensure smooth running.

Abbreviation for Societe d'Electricite et de Mechanique of Belgium. designer of the SEM electro-penumatic (EP) brake system deployed in many NSW rail car classes from the 400 Class onwards. The SEM system provides rapid application and release of the brakes.

Abbreviation for State Rail Authority of New South Wales. The authority was responsible for operating the government railways in New South Wales. This authority came into being on 1 July 1980 succeeding the PTC. Following a government decision to open up the NSW rail network to other operators, the SRA was broken up into four separate operating corporations from 1 July 1996:

• Rail Access Corporation
• Railway Services Authority
• State Rail Authority
• Freight Rail Corporation

The SRA then comprised only the CityRail and Countrylink passenger operations. From 1 January 2004 the SRA was amalgamated with the Rail Infrastructure Corporation to form the Rail Corporation of NSW (RailCorp).

A train braking system based on the Westinghouse Brake that uses an increase in air pressure in the brake pipe to apply the train brake. The Straight air brake provides for rapid application and release in short trains such as rail motors. In the event of a train parting, the straight air brake is not automatic in operation. In rail motor applications the system incorporates an emergency feature that applies the brakes in the event of a train becoming separated. In later applications of the straight air brake, an electro-pneumatic (EP) feature (q.v.) is fitted to improve the braking performance in longer trains.

The supercharger is a rotary positive displacement blower that consists of either a centrifugal impeller (patented by Louis Renault in the early 1900's), or a twin screw arrangement that was developed by Swede Alf Lysholm in 1935, that compresses air before entering the cylinders of an engine. This has the effect of increasing the engine horsepower by providing more air in the cylinders for combustion purposes. The supercharger is either gear or belt driven from the engine. Modern machining, milling and cutting techniques and computer aided design have greatly advanced the development of the original Lysholm twin screw design.

The weight of the vehicle without any passengers or parcels. The tare weight plus the payload equals the gross weight.

Unit of weight in the Imperial system equal to 2,240 lb or approximately 1.016 tonnes.

The metric ton, equivalent to 1000 kilograms or approximately 2,200 lb.

A turning or twisting force. The measure of a force's tendency to produce torsion and rotation about an axis. Units of torque are units of force multiplied by units of distance. Torque is usually measured in foot-pounds (imperial system) or in Newton-metres (metric system).

A device for transmitting torque from one shaft to another. It provides a smooth coupling between the engine and the final drive. It consists of two vaned rotors in a sealed casing filled with fluid (a special transmission fluid or sometimes the vehicle's diesel fuel). The driven rotor imparts its torque (or energy) to the transmission fluid that in turn causes the second rotor to rotate. The torque converter is also fitted with a stator (a freewheeling set of vanes located between the two rotors) that has the effect of amplifying the power by redirecting the flow of the transmission fluid. Also known as the Hydraulic Torque Converter.

A non-powered carriage specially designed to be towed by a Rail Motor and is used to carry passengers and/or parcels.

A device for transmitting the power of an engine to the final drive. The rail motor transmission may take the form of a manually operated gearbox, as used in the early vehicles, or the hydraulic type such as those used in the more modern vehicles.

The State Government Department which is the lead agency of the NSW transport portfolio. Agencies under the control on Transport NSW include:

• Sydney Trains
• NSW Trains
• Sydney Ferries
• Roads and Maritime Services
• Asset Standards Authority
• Transport Heritage NSW

www.transport.nsw.gov.au

The Rail Motor Society

A rotary air compressor (or type of supercharger) that is driven by engine exhaust gases passing through a turbine. This device was invented by Swiss engineer Alfred Buchi and patented in 1905. The turbocharger operates at very high speed and is used to compress air before entering the cylinders of an engine. This has the effect of increasing the engine horsepower by providing more air in the cylinders for combustion purposes.

A form of hydraulic transmission originally designed by Swede Alf Lysholm in the late 1920's and built in the UK as the Lysholm-Smith type. The twin disc type consisted of a torque converter and a mechanical direct drive. The type gained much popularity in the USA and was further developed by the Twin Disc Corporation. Other manufacturers of the type were Allison Transmission, while both Rolls-Royce and Niigata built Twin Disc designed transmissions under licence.

A trailer specially designed to be towed by a Rail Motor and is used to carry parcels.

A form of truss commonly used for bridges patented by British engineers James Warren and Willoughby Monzoni in 1848. The Warren Truss consists of longitudinal members joined only by angled cross-members, forming alternately inverted equilateral triangle-shaped spaces along its length which handle both compressive and tensile loads. This configuration combines strength with economy of materials and can therefore be of relatively light construction.

Warren Truss

The modified Warren Truss was a variation of the standard design truss using vertical struts for additional support.

Modified Warren Truss

A variation of the Westinghouse automatic brake system used on XPT trains giving a seven stage brake application.

An automatic train braking system developed by George Westinghouse that uses a reduction in air pressure in the brake pipe to apply the train brake. Brake application is made from air pressure stored in an auxiliary reservoir on each vehicle.

A train braking system that uses compressed air in the brake system to apply the train brake. Developed in 1869, it was one of the 361 patents granted to George Westinghouse Jnr (1846-1914). This is the basic straight air brake system.

The wheel arrangements shown in the Technical Pages of this web site utilise the European notation normally used for diesel locomotives. Non-powered axles are indicated by numbers (1 or 2), while powered axles are indicated by letters (A for 1 axle or B for 2 axles). Where all the axles on a bogie are powered by separate traction motors then the letter code is suffixed by the lowercase letter "o". The wheel arrangements, reading left to right, are given from the No.1 end to the No.2 end. Examples: