Thanks Brian,

Your mention of the 600-700 class NSWR railcars gave me a cue to post my
first colour picture of such vehicles at Gwabegar, terminus of the line from
Binnaway in NW NSW. In their early years, these railcars were used on
country branch lines. I had made the trip to Gwabegar via Dubbo and
Binnaway with return via Werris Creek and stayed overnight at the Gwabegar
Pub. There was then no mains electricity but the Pub had a petrol generator
set which was shut down late at night to leave batteries for any remaining
power needs till morning. The light in my room at the pub could only produce
a weak glow when I woke before dawn to rejoin the railcar for the return
journey.

The reversing problem was, I believe, that these railcars as well as the
original 900 class had the Forward / Reverse gearing on the axle mounted
final drive gearbox. Any attempt to select reverse with the engine running
would release the tail shaft to commence rotating. The result would be a
damaging crrrrunch as the dog clutch in the gearbox tried to engage.

At the Down end of Gwabegar station there was a level crossing for the never
built railway through the Pilliga Scrub to Burren Junction on the Walgett
line. The late Roger Jefferies whom some will have known once said to me
that he hoped the line could be built sometime soon so he could travel to
the "Scrub Platform".

Noel Reed. Who often had conversations on railway curiosities with Roger.

_____

From:TramsDownUnder@... [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Brian Blunt
Sent: Sunday, 20 June 2010 9:23 PM
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Subject: RE: [TramsDownUnder] YouTube - McKeen Motor Car Rides Again

IIRC, the 600 class (or is it type) suburban DMUs also had this feature, but
not the subsequent 620 class.

Brian.

At 09:08 PM 20/06/2010, you wrote:

Hello Mal and others,

Your mention of the early petrol engines on the McKeen Motor Cars reminded
me that the engine had to be stopped and then restarted to operate the car
backwards in shunting.

In my more recent experience, this had to be done on the NSW Railways air
conditioned 900 class diesel trains when first introduced. The train from
Sydney divided at Queanbeyan into Canberra and Cooma sections. There was
much engine stopping and restarting when the sections were detached or
attached. again on the return journey.

Noel Reed. (This is not completely 'Off Topic' as the railcars could
operate in MU like some trams and also had air brakes like some trams).