In 1981 Commonwealth (Comeng) delivered to the State Rail Authority (SRA) the first of an order of 10 power cars and 20 passenger carriages which would form the start of the XPT (eXpress Passenger Train) fleet, serving passenger travel from Sydney to Brisbane, Canberra, Dubbo, Grafton, Murwillumbah and Melbourne. They were largely an Australian redesigned version of the successful British Intercity 125 High Speed Train, utilising the same Paxman V12 Valenta RP200L diesel engine (adjusted to 2000HP/1491KW), brush alternators and traction motors but with reduced gearing to cater for the lower speed, poorer condition and steeper gradient track. They also incorporated larger radiators and improved air filtration to cope with Australian weather and country conditions. Their normal operating configuration was with a power car at each end and up to 7 passenger cars (first, economy, sleeper and/or buffet), although there have been times when the Dubbo train has operated with a single power car and four passenger cars. Despite the withdrawal of the Canberra XPT due to poor patronage (it was replaced with a smaller capacity Endeavour 3 car set), XPT passenger services were expanded to other destinations and additional XPT equipment was delivered by Comeng in 1984. Then in 1989 XPTs passed to the newly formed entity of CountryLink. In the mid 1980s Comeng folded, and when CountryLink required more power and passenger cars in 1992, these were sourced from ASEA Brown Boveri (ABB) in Victoria. In 2000 a major upgrade program was commenced, including the re-engining of the power cars with the newer Paxman V12 VP185 diesel engine, still set at 2000HP/1491KW, addition of remote engine monitoring equipment and improved passenger carriage interiors. This program was carried out by A. Goninan. In this presentation we will look at the inside and outside of the XPT power cars and see the XPTs in service. Approximate run time: 105 minutes.
