Monday, 22 June 2026

Davidson Cars.

Between 1908 and 1913 saw the entry into service the greatest number of country wooden passenger cars of one design. These end platform cars were similar to other country cars in service only longer and wider. Some cars also were differed in the passenger compartment steps, instead of running board type steps that we see on Guards Vans that required great strength to climb, the steps were like a stair case that were one above the other. When built the carriages had two saloons separated by toilets with the seating along the windows. One saloon on one end was smaller, about one third of the carriage, then two toilets (one for each saloon), the other end had larger saloon.


The carriages were of two types, Composite (1st and 2nd class) “CL” class, the smaller saloon being the 1st class. The other carriages were all 2nd class lavatory “BL” class, the smaller saloon was for smokers.  The carriages were 52 ft 11 in over buffers, 50 ft 6 ins over platforms, the main body was 45 ft long by 8 ft wide.    


This photo shows the similar seating arrangement in the early cars. (Is not a Davidson car)
 
Looking through the carriage plan book, there is 11 different plans for the carriages. At the same time, the same style of carriage was being built as composite Guard’s Vans classed CLV, over 30 vans were built. Guards compartment, toilets, dog box in the centre with passenger saloons on each end. Once again, there more than one plan for them too. The running numbers are mainly in two blocks in no particular order across the three classes.
 
Towards the end of Commissioner Davidson term (1918 – 1938) most carriages were modified between 1935/37, the seating was altered to across the carriage, somewhat reduced the carrying capacity, some had the toilets moved to the ends of the saloons and were fitted with inter car gangways. I feel this where the cars got their name Davidson Cars.  

Shunting Mixed Good at Blackall. 1975.
Davidson CLV and CL being added to the train with a shunt tractor. 

In later years the carriages were used mainly on Mixed trains (Goods trains with passenger accommodation attached), excursion trains, Cairns - Kuranda tourist trains and in pick periods add to mail trains. Some Goods Tains in the timetable required passenger accommodation, mostly a van with passenger accommodation was used, however at times these vans were not available and a van without seating was used. The passenger accommodation on the train could be a Davidson carriage. Locations with rail motor services always had a few in the yard to run engine and cars as a replace service when the railway motor needed a day off. In 1984 there were 26 carriages (mostly Davidson type) and 4 vans (not Davidson type) allocated to Cairns for the Kuranda trains. Four cars, 522, 572, 575 and 749 were transferred from Rockhampton so two 15 car trains could operate in peak periods.    

Replacement Rail Motor service, Netherdale Branch.

I worked this train as a fireman during the 1967 Mackay sugar season. It was a catch job, the “Red Fred” rail motor had broken down and was not available for the afternoon run to Netherdale. Firing for a Rail Motor driver always required the next level of skills. Most of them had two speeds, stop or flat out. After this bridge I learnt the term “Air Mail”, the railways were doing it long before aero planes were flying.  In short it was delivering parcels/newspapers without stopping, or in other words on the fly. The next morning returning to Mackay I may have set a cane field on fire, there was a lot of smoke behind us when we pulled up at Finch Hatton. We had run from Netherdale in angle gear, someone didn’t have enough steam to drive the pump for brakes, it was a push start out of the siding, the ash pan was open from the night before from dropping the fire. In the 6½ miles from Netherdale to Finch Hatton the elevation drops from 546 ft above sea level to 303ft. The tender hand brake did get a bit of a work out along with some help from the guard and the van brake. All up it was a great trip both ways and even a better story, that was just a part of the trip. I think I could write a book just on that trip alone, the things we did in the 60’s???.   For the record, both trains arrived at their destination on time.      

This QR photo shows a Davidson car of the front of the Sunshine Express, two other Davidson Cars can be seen in the Carriage Shed behind the loco. 

Two Davidson Cars that had been used on a west bound Mixed Train the day before are being returned to Rockhampton on this Goods Train. 

Early 1970’s a number of carriages were modified into 2nd class lavatory “BLV” Guards Vans, one saloon (mostly the 1st class section) was retained as 2nd class passenger accommodation, the rest of the carriage was made into a guard’s compartment and baggage area. Many of the Davidson CLV’s were similarly modified around the same time. 

By the mid 1980’s, the need for the carriages was largely gone and many were written off.  A number of the carriages did find new home and are still running today. Some remained as Tourist cars on the Kuranda Scenic Railway (Cairns – Kuranda) running for many years as “BLH” class until replaced with Sunshine cars. Some were sold to private members in the community and taken off rail, others did find their way to Historical / Heritage groups, including QR Heritage fleet, Pioneer Steam Railway, Mary Vally Rattler, Southern Downs Steam Railway (Downs Explorer).   Downs Explorer website shows four (4) carriages, I think they have more than that.       

 
Plans.
AL  First Class Lavatory
BL  Second Class Lavatory
CL Composite (1st & 2nd class) Lavatory

Plan No.

Class

Numbers

P89

CL
474, 498, 499, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 568, 569, 570, 571, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 745, 746, 747, 748, 749, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 820, 821, 822.   Centre Toilet, Side seats. Capacity 18 - 1st class & 40 - 2nd class

P89A

CL

570 (1934)  Centre Toilet.  Capacity 10 - 1st class & 30 - 2nd class

P92

CL
745, 576, 754, 526, 746, (1936)  Centre ToiletCapacity 10 - 1st class & 22 - 2nd class

P93

CL
751, 571, 498 (1936) Centre ToiletCapacity 10 - 1st class & 29 - 2nd class

P 94

CL
578, 747, 499, 753, 474 (1935/6) Centre Toilets
Capacity 10 - 1st class & 29 - 2nd class
578 destroyed by fire Tve July 37.

P95

CL
822, 522, 752, 820, 574, 575, 579, 520, 750, 568, 749, 519, 521, 572. 569 (1936)   End Toilets
Capacity 10 - 1st class & 18 - 2nd class

P58

AL
760, 773, 755, 573 (1936)  End Toilets
Capacity 30 - 1st class.

P59

AL
748, 577, 573 (1936) Centre Toilets Capacity 30 - 1st class One end was smoking

P162

BL
186, 524, 525, 526, 527, 755, 756, 757, 758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774.Centre Toilets, side seats, 
Capacity 2nd class 60 passengers.  
Plan shows Goondiwindi & Cloncurry Railway
Goondiwindi Car had Fox Bogies 3ft wheels.
Cloncurry Cars had 2ft 2in wheels.  ???

P162A

BL

769, 771, 763, 186, 759, 765, 527, 770, 773, 760, 755, 573. (1935/7) End Toilets Capacity 2nd class 30 passengers. 

P157

BL
525, 767, 757, 768, 821, 766, 762, 523, 758, 774, 761, 764, 524, 756, 772 (1935/6) Centre toilet Capacity 2nd class 42 passengers.One end was smoking
Note. There are two sets of plans numbered P162. Cars 125, 775, 777, 126 2nd sitters converted from Pullman Sleepers is the other plan. 

I have two books of carriage plans, the same plan in one book has different running numbers as to the other book. One plan is in one book, but not the other. Most have number crossed out making it difficult to follow.     
Car 186 looks like a ring in, so I checked the history car. The carriage is a little shorter by a couple of inches, over buffers 52ft 8ins as to 52ft 11inchs. The width was 7ft 6ins as to 8ft. The cards showed a Composite car built in 1888 for the S&C railway. It was smashed at Gayndah in 1909 and rebuilt as a 2nd class Lavatory car and fitted with electric light in 1910. February 1913 it was back at Ipswich Workshops for a makeover and transferred to Mackay in March. The Mackay railway was linked to the S&C Div. in 1921. The car was modified in July 1937 and fitted with gang ways. NZ bogies were replaced with Pressed Steel bogies from an CLC wagon in Sep 1958. In 1983 the car was converted to EWT 17.  (Electrification Work Train)     
 

474

In service Feb 1908 built by Ipswich Workshops   CL class  Fox bogies

Aug 44

Badly smashed ND (telescoped)                                 (36in wheels)

Sep 44

Written off.
 

498

In service April 1908 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class NZ Bogies

May 1908
Shipped to Townsville                                                    26in wheels

Oct 19

Fitted with ice water tanks.

Apr 22

Coupling modified to take emergency couplings

Mar 25

Spring catch for securing gates.

Oct 37

Modified Tve 

1973

Convert to Economy Lav Van (BLV)

Nov 84

Written Off

 

499

In service April 1908 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class NZ Bogies

Jun 36

Modified Tve                                                                     26in wheels

Jul 37

Written Off
 

519

In service July 1909 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Dec 25

Electric light fitted.

Jun 37

Modified R’ton

1984

Reclassed BL for Cairns – Kuranda Tourist trains

Feb 94

Reclassed BLH
 

520

In service July 1909 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Mar 13

Transferred to Mackay Railway. Cost £196.5.9½.

Jul 30

Electric light fitted R’ton.

Apr 37

Modified Ips

Feb 61

Modified R’ton

May 82

Converted to Kuranda car End gangs removed. Classed BL

 

521
In service July 1909 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Nov 1912

Overhauled Ipswich

Jun 37

Modified Ipswich

Jan 55

Neild’s Automatic Train Stop removed R’ton

Feb 77

Headstock modified, Cast steel self-contained buffers (CSSC) fitted

May 82

Converted to Kuranda cas reclassed BL

Feb 94

Reclassed BLH
 

522

In service July 1909 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Oct 85

Cast steel self-contained buffers (CSSC) fitted T’ve

Aug 89

Reclassed BL   (Warwick – Downs Explorer)

 

523

In service July 1909 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

May 36

Modified and reclassed to BL class Ipswich

Sep 63

Lavatory floors painted “Pave-ol green. Ips.

Oct 63

Notice to non use of toilets at stations fitted. Mayne

Oct 86

Written Off
 

524

In service July 1909 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Jul 36

Modified Ipswich

Mar 45

Total destroyed by fire Gladstone area. Short circuit in electric light. CD Frame loaded in SR 15840, bogies in FG 11586 Frame used for skeleton car.

Mar 49

Written Off
 

525

In service July 1909 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Novl 35

Modified Ipswich

Jun 84

Written Off
 

526

In service July 1909 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Jun 36

Modified Ipswich converted to CL class

Feb 72

Water canteen removed and replaced with water bottle holders.

Mar 84

Written Off

 

Sold to Cooroy resident.

 

527

In service July 1909 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

May 37

Modified Ipswich

Dec 78

Fitted with handbrake

Sep 83

Fitted with CSSC Buffers.
 

568

In service Jun 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

May 37

Modified Ipswich

Nov 61

Reclassed BL for Kuranda.

May 82

Converted to Kuranda car. Middle partition, end gangs removed

 

569

In service Jun 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Jul 37

Modified R’ton

May 82

Overhauled and Paint T’ve

Aug 89

Reclassed BL.

Feb 94

Converted to Kuranda car. BLH
 

570

In service Jun 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Dec 34

Modified Ipswich

Sep 86

Given to Cardwell Chamber of Commerce

Mar 87

Written Off


571

In service Jun 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Oct 12

Trabsferred to Townsville

Apr 36

Modified T’ve

Jun 64

Written Off        Converted to CW 72
 

572

In service Jun 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Jul 37

Modified Ipswich

Aug 89

Reclassed BL

 

573

In service Jun 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Apr 36

Modified to AL Ipswich

Mar 55

Modified to 1st class Corridor Lavatory Ips.

May 63

Reclassed BL

Aug 81

Modified for Kuranda

 

 

574

In service Aug 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Mar 37

Modified R’ton

Aug 89

Reclassed BL  (Warwick – Downs Explorer)



575

In service Aug 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Mar 37

Modified Ips

Aug 89

Reclassed BL 



576

In service Jul 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Sep 36

Modified R’ton

Dec 76

Derailed ND

Mar 87

Written Off
 

577

In service Aug 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Mar 37

Modified to first class, reclassed AL.  Ips

May 73

Converted to BLV Ips

Jan 84

Written Off
 

578

In service Aug 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Mar 36

Modified to first class, reclassed AL.  Tve.

Jul 37

Written Off
 

579

In service Aug 1911 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Apr 37

Modified Ips

Jan 75

Reclassed BL 

Nov 78

Fitted with windlass handbrake Tve

Feb 92

Reclassed BLH
 

745

In service Oct 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Aug 36

Modified R’ton

Feb 89

Written Off CD



746

In service Oct 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Jul 37

Modified Ips

Feb 89

Written Off  CD

Apr 95

Purchased by QR Museum



747

In service Oct 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Jun 36

Modified Tve

Jan 72

Written Off Ips converted to ML 25554
 

748

In service Oct 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Nov 38

Modified to first class, reclassed AL Ips.

Jun 73

Convert to BLV Guard’s van. Ips

Oct 89

Written Off CD


749

In service Nov 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

 

Shipped to Mackay  Nov 13

Jun 37

Modified to BL Ips

Feb 89

Written Off      (Warwick – Downs Explorer)
 

750

In service Oct 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Dec 13

Shipped to Tve per SS ‘Kooua”

Apr 37

Modified Tve.

Nov 78

Fitted with handbrake

Apr 81

Derailed Kuranda – Stoney Cr Section

Aug 89

Converted to BL

 

751

In service Oct 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Oct 13

Transferred to Tve

Nov 37

Modified Tve

Nov 69

To be converted to Brake Van TV ???

Mar 79

Written Off  ND
 

752

In service Oct 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Jul 16

Repainted & varnished. Fitted with Intercommunication gear.  Ips Shops

Dec 36

Modified Ips.

Feb 56

Derailed ND

May 82

Converted to Kuranda car

Oct 85

Fitted with Cast Steel Self-contained Buffers (CSSC)


753
In service Dec 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Jul 36

Modified Ips.

Aug 52

½” steam piping fitted for passenger intercommunion gear. Twba

Feb 55

Neild’s auto train stop removed Twba

Jun 72

Converted to BLV Guard’s van. Ips. Small end being the passenger end.

Sep 77

Gas ring & Heater fitted.

Oct 89

Written Off


754

In service Dec 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

       Mar 37

Modified Ips.

Mar 89

Written Off


755

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Dec 36

Modified to first class, reclassed AL Ips.

Jun 63

Reclassed BL Twba

82?

Converted to Kuranda car Ips.

Oct 85

Fitted with CSSC Buffers Tve.


756

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Aug 36

Modified Ips.

May 73

Converted to BLV Guard’s van Ips.

May 89

Written Off
                 

756

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Aug 36

Modified Ips.

May 73

Converted to BLV Guard’s van Ips.

May 89

Written Off


757

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Apr 36

Modified Ips.

Mar 84

Written Off. Sold to a resident of Cooroy. 

 

758

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Jun 36

Modified Ips.

May 73

Converted to BLV Guard’s van. Ips

Mar 77

Fitted with CSSC Buffers.

Feb 88

Written Off. . 

 

759

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Mar 37

Modified Ips.

Oct 64

Notice re non-use of toilets at stations fitted Maryborough.

 

760

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Aug 36

Modified to first class reclassed AL. Ips.

Mar 47

Transferred CD to SD.

May 54

AZ train lighting replaced by DBIR Ips.

May 63

Reclassed to BL



761

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Jun 36

Modified. R’ton.

Nov 85

Derailed Jula Creek.

Jan 89

Written Off. ND
 

762

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

May 36

Modified Ips.

Nov 88

Written Off. ND
 

763

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Oct 36

Modified Ips. Gangways fitted.

Oct 64

Notice re non-use of toilets at stations fitted Maryborough.

Dec 81

Converted to Kuranda car Ips

Oct 85

CSSC Buffers fitted Tve.
 

764

In service Jun 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Jul 36

Modified Ips.

Jan 42

Smashed in derailment near Maryborough and Written off Feb 42.

 

765

In service Jul 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Feb 37

Modified Ips.

May 79

Derailed Richmond section

Jan 84

Written Off and sold to a Cooroy Resident.

 

766

In service Jul 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

May 36

Modified Ips.

Jul 42

Roof re-canvassed. Ips

Feb 72

Converted to BLV Guard’s van. Ips

Apr 87

Written Off   Gympie Hist Society Jun 87
 

767

In service Aug 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Feb 36

Modified Ips.

Jul 42

Roof re-canvassed. Ips

Aug 89

Written Off  



768

In service Aug 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Apr 36

Modified R’ton.

Jul 42

Roof re-canvassed. Ips

Jul 82

Derailed Ilfracombe

May 90

Written Off   Purchased by QR Museum Apr 95.



769

In service Sep 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Sep 35

Modified Ips.

Nov 78

Fitted with windless handbrake. Tve

May 82

Overhauled and painted. Tve.


770

In service Aug 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Jun 37

Modified Ips.

Nov 78

Fitted with windlass handbrake. Tv



771

In service Sep 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Aug 36

Modified Ips.


772

In service Sep 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Jul 36

Modified Ips.

Sep 87

Written Off.  Donated to Eidsvold Historic Society

 

773

In service Sep 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Aug 36

Modified to first class, reclassed AL.  Ips.

Apr 63

Reclassed BL

Aug 64

Converted to Prison Car “Bars across windows” Tve. Jan 65

Dec 76

Additional security added to the car. 

Apr 80

Gas fitted

Feb 87

Written Off.  Pioneer Steam Railway.







774

In service Sep 1913 built by Ipswich Workshops BL class Fox Bogies

Jun 36

Modified Ips.

Mar 78

Collision with Falcon during shunting Bluff

Feb 89

Written Off. CD. Purchased by QR Museum



820

In service May 14 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

 

Carriage freighted to Townsville, cost £175

Feb 37

Modified

Nov 80

Reclassed BL as a Kuranda Car

Feb 94

Reclassed BLH  (Warwick – Downs Explorer)


821

In service May 14 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Mar 36

Modified

Dec 49

New flooring in Lavatories & recovered malthoid. New floor platforms

Jul 73

Converted to BLV Guards van

Mar 89

Written Off

 

822

In service May 14 built by Ipswich Workshops CL class Fox Bogies

Sep 36

Modified

Feb 76

Written off, underframe used for EWT 7.



Other cars built around the same time (1909/10), to much the same design, just a little shorted were 506 and 543 – 2nd class lavatory, and 507 and 533 – 1st class lavatory. 

There is a number of plans for these cars and they too were modified around the same time and called Tourist Cars, two rows of bench seats along one side of the car, somewhat different to the grandstand car 454 converted from a 2nd class suburban fitted with single seats.   



506

507 Note the modified QR 4 freight bogie

533   New Zealand bogie.


Model – Davidson “BL” Carriage.  

From the above photos, one has a choice which one to model. I picked on a “BL” with end toilets. PGC Scale Models shows a CL Composite Carriage as a part of their kit range on their website.    


 In my “one day” draw I have a bag of bits that someone has given me, not sure who was the manufacture of the kit. A strip of glass in the casting provides the windows.   


The first carriage I scratch built back around 1975 was a CLV Davidson Guard’s van, that was before there was Evergreen scribed styrene, 12mm bogie, decals etc. A silicon rubber mold was made of the parts to make it a kit for other modeler. The van still has a spin on the layout from time to time and reminds me of the early days of modelling QR. The plan is one day it will be replaced with a newly built one using the materials available today. It’s been on the floor a few times, made of “Plastic Bond” it didn’t bounce all that well, thus has a few war wounds.  


The “BL” was scratch built using styrene sheet for the underframe.
Evergreen scribed sheet and strip for the sides and end.
Caintode Flats bogies, buffers, brake cylinder, dynamo.
Kadee couplings.   

Section of the underframe was cut out for the wheels, the carriage has 3ft dia. Wheels with a floor height of 3ft 3ins. This may work for the prototype, but so good for modellers.  

As an experiment, I used super glue on a pin to form the underframe rivets.  A bit more practice is required. Obtaining rivet decals of late has been hard. The late time I tried to purchase Micro-Mark 3D rivet decals the postage was $125.00 for one pack of two A4 sheets.  Sorry, that’s just out of the question. The last time I look they were out of stock. 


Kadee # 158 couplings were used, K&S ⅛” brass tube cut to size was used a pivot for the coupling to swing on, all held together with a 2mm nylon screw and brass washer. The nylon screw can be easily be cut off flush on the platform side. Once painted it is not noticeable. 


A gig made from styrene sheet and strip was used to form the trust rods 


 Plumber lead sheet was used to add some weight to the carriage.


The sides were built up using a gig made from Perspex sheet and brass bar was added for a straight edge to keep everything straight.  A small square or the end of a steel rules was used to keep the windows square. A piece of styrene was cut to the window size and was used to keep the windows uniform. Only use small amounts of solvent in adding the windows frames, otherwise the solvent will flow through the joint taking with it a small amount of liquid styrene which will stick your job to the Perspex. I working in from each end to a location on the side where there was boarding between the windows, I feel it more important to keep the window uniform, if the boarding is a bit out it will not look as bad as a wrong size window.    





The curved supports for the roof were cut using a “Gravox” can lid. The carriage has a double roof for air circulation, one over the passenger compartment and the other covering the whole carriage, the top roof seats an inch or so above. 


Styrene sheet is cut to size and is fixed a piece of iron water pipe with masking tape.

The pipe is placed into a baking dish and filled with hot water from the tap. The jug is boiled and the tap water is replaced with boiling water. After a few minutes the boiling water is replaced with cold water. Once cool, remove the mashing tape. I find you may need to do the process a couple of time to have a uniform curve with straight edges. 




Used tea bags are used for the canvas, usually I wash the tea bag after making a cuppa.  The tea is removed and the bag is allowed to dry. The bag is cut into strips, about 3 scale feet. The strip is stretched across the roof and super glue add to fit into place. The excess came be cut off for a uniform finish.  The roof was made removable and is fix into place using supports on each end which are screw to the underframe using 2mm screws. 

The carriage was painted using the same paints as form the Dental Cars in the previous blog posting. The window frames were hand painted dark brown, some windows are in the up position with glass, other are in the down position with just the frame on the bottom.  The toilet windows were made to be open an inch or two. Timber blinds were made from scribed styrene and air brushed.   

The end veranda detail is a brass etch I don’t use from a Caintode Flats carriage kit that was modified into a VIP carriage.  


The inside of the carriage was painted first and masked off before painting the outside. Once the carriage was lightly weathered the window glass was add using clear styrene sheet. The toilet windows were hand painted from the inside a light gray for a frosted appearance. Seats and passengers were added to complete the model. 


A Conductor was added to the end veranda making the carriage more suitable for mail train operation. Once you finish a model and take a few photos you always find something you missed, the inter-car walkway gang will need to be added. What about the toilet pipe, the toilet pedestal is near the centre of the carriage and the pipe comes down within the bogie frames



54A Mixed Train leaving Westgate. The train is worked with a CLV van, BL car and a CJFP box wagon for roadside. A common end of train arrangement for a mixed train. Some did have sleeping cars instead of the BL seating car and in holiday periods they would have had both.  Guard’s vans allocated to these trains were usually the 53ft CLV vans with 4/5 compartments. In some locations, the carriage and van were added to a lead of a passenger train. By having this type of arrangement, QR was able to provide passenger service on days that Mail Trains didn’t run and in more remote areas of the state.       



The new and the old.

Coming up quickly on the July 4th and 5th of July is the Brisbane Model Train Show, to be held at the Northside Indoor Sports Centre, 20 Cambewarra Street, Zillmere. Check out the AMRA Qld website for more details. I hope to drop over on the Saturday, there could a few new kits available and maybe some announcements.


hobby and have fun. 

Arthur H. 

Acknowledgements.

QR Plan

QR Historical Photos
QR Weekly Notices
Australian Model Railway Association Queensland Library
Photos from various Modelers and Historians
Queensland State Library.   

Wooden Carriages of the Queensland Railways 1864 – 1956 by John Armstrong. 

This book is still available from the ARHS Qld (on line/exhibitions) for $40.00. The book contains plans for both the Davidson CL (Centre toilet) and CLV vans. The Guards Van book has been rewritten and is shown on the website, I understand some additions have been added as well, it too, has a plan of the Davidson CLV. Both could be available at the Brisbane Model train show in a couple of weeks.    






Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)