V32 & V22 at Eskbank NSW, Mon 23rd May 2022

The humble and yet, well loved NSW TrainLink “V” sets continue to faithfully serve their communities as V32 & V22 pass through the Eskbank precinct in western NSW.

A prolonged and drawn out union dispute has seen the brand new South Korean built intercity sets sidelined and placed in storage in Lithgow and Kang Angy NSW. By the time they are eventually introduced some of the new sets will already be one year old.

In the background, to the right, a very grubby and coal dust covered Southern Shorthaul Railroad EMD locomotive C507 receives attention from Lithgow Railway Workshops fitters. The former Victorian Railways “C” class, now owned by SSR, are regular visitors to Lithgow NSW.

V32 & V22 are heading “empty set” to the electric train storage sidings just up the line at Coal Stage, in the Oakey Park yard area. The set is travelling via the Down Main (wrong line running) via “bi-directional” working in order to cross over into the sidings.

In recent years Lithgow has seen an explosion in population as people cannot afford house and unit prices in Sydney and thus many have moved across to mountain to purchase much cheaper homes. The result of more people has meant more people are commuting to western Sydney from Lithgow to work.

The “V” sets were built in four orders placed with Comeng at Granville NSW with the first order placed in July 1968, at a convenient time for Comeng as they were nearing the end of the order for the Indian Pacific cars being built for Commonwealth Railways. Subsequent orders were placed in 1977, 1981 and 1989 totalling 246 carriages in all.

Powered by Mitsubishi Electrics of Japan traction, the power cars ranged from 719hp to 910hp (latter series) running off the 1,500v DC overhead system. The traction motors were also from Mitsubishi Electric Co of Japan. The wheel bearings were also from Japan, supplied by Koyo Industries, from either their Tokushima or Hamura plants, Koyo is now part of the JTEKT Corporation of Japan.

The first four car set ran on the 22nd of June 1970 between Sydney Central and Gosford NSW to high acclaim. They were nicknamed “Blue Gooses” due to the external colour scheme at the time. Initially, the carriages were divided into First Class and Second Class, this was dropped in favour of just one class travel in September 1974.

Also in those times, there was a Smoking and Non Smoking cars. as well as numbered seating which were “reserved seats” held by regular commuters holding what was called back then “Season Tickets” also referred to as “Periodical Tickets” which were purchased for one years travel.

The original set that ran to Gosford had a target plate of F111 and then later they became “U” sets and then “V” , the original single deck “U” electric sets nicknamed “U Boats” were gradually withdrawn and scrapped as more V sets entered service.

Over the years numerous modifications were made to the fleet, power cars were converted to trailer cars and some trailer cars were converted to non driving power cars. Linoleum floors were replaced with carpet and the gold tint on the windows was also changed during overhaul.

A. Goninan & Co at Newcastle NSW were awarded the contract to overhaul the V sets commencing in May 1985 and in 2013/14 their last overhaul took place, it was mainly internal with a total fit out of seating and new carpets, all in the love it or hate it “Bush Plumb” colour scheme. The external features were upgraded into the NSW TrainLink orange and yellow livery.

Withdrawl of the V sets started back in 2015 with 15 of the original carriages found to have severe corrosion in the underframe and between the stainless steel side panels. So far, 42 carriages have met the scrappers torch after being first stripped for spare parts. Some have also been written off resulting from serious accident collision damage over the years.

Reliability issues have plagued the V sets in recent years, often due to parts being no longer available from Mitsubishi in Japan, they were kept running using parts from sets to be scrapped.

During their life the V sets have been based at Flemington NSW electric Car Sheds in western Sydney. The new South Korean replacements will be based at a new facility especially built for them at Kangy Angy on the NSW central coast. The V sets are the oldest rolling stock in the NSW TrainLink fleet.

Hopefully, a four car V set will be preserved for heritage charters, meanwhile the brand new sets sit idle with the RTBU dispute dragging into its second year.

Did you know? The V sets are 14 feet 14 and a half inches in height and before they could run to Lithgow NSW the track in the 10 tunnels between Clarence and Zig Zag had to be lowered in 1978 to safely accommodate them.

1120hrs on Monday 23rd of May 2022

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