Sydney single deck suburban electric trains - "Red Rattlers" - Chullora - 1992 to 1993

After the general withdrawal of Sydney's single deck electric suburban fleet in January 1992, a small number of sets continued operating on the Chullora and Pippita branches. The following scenes were recorded during 1992 and early 1993.

[@peejay1981]

I love how fast they used to go through points! It was quite a ride at times.

[@richardsmith8654]

Well the opening scene was a classic with the tulloch car leading and the old fashioned signals. Thanks for posting.

[@brucie-of-bangor528]

It brought back memories of the Red Rattlers I travelled on to school between Eastwood and Epping, and then work between Eastwood and Wynyard, and then St. Leonards in the late '50's and early '60's, even down to the bloke legging off at Pipitta. Legging off was widely practiced, I think, so people could be first out of the station; in fact the late Clive James talks of an incident when a schoolmate legged of at Carlton when the train wasn't even going to stop there - after they introduced "Skip Stop" trains. Then they installed doors remotely operated by the conductor - happily, the end of "Legging Off"! Sadly, Pipitta station was closed in 1995, and has now disappeared, probably demolished when the Olympic line was being constructed. Such is progress .....

[@mjr320]

somehow this brings back memories of the smell the red rattlers created which someone once told me it was from the asbestos brake pads they used to use

[@ChrisGuiver]

Terrific video & I really enjoyed watching. Thank you.

[@alanread5578]

This brings back some good memories of travel between Hornsby and Homebush for school and Hornsby to Redfern for my first job. Unfortunately there are bad memories. My father was a driver and was involved in, the family have been led to believe, 13 fatalities, 11 of which were suicides. He eventually had a nervious breakdon from which he never fully recovered. The last months of his service, after being told that if he resigned he would lose his entitlements, he continued driving under heavy medication until he could take early retirement. Attempts to obtain his complete driving records have been unsuccessful.

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

Sad mate. I witnessed the Bold Street bridge collapse as a 21 year old Electrical Mechanic apprentice. Was walking to Granville Box from Clyde when it collapsed.

[@alanread5578]

@@carmenandthedevil2804 I remember that day well. My wife and I had spent the night before with her sister and husband. They usually caught that train to work, but missed it that morning. We could not contact them. We drove to my parents' place to find Dad on a real downer. He was literally rembering every time he drove under that bridge.

[@doctorbohr1585]

92-93 was right at the end of the rattlers run. I always loved the howl of the donk, and those carriages with no doors that school boys used to stand in for the rush. I think one reason for their demise was people throwing projectiles out of those doors onto platforms. Someone was killed as I recall.

[@astapic]

Interesting video scenes from a passenger rail service which is rarely seen.

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

I was an Apprentice at Chullora's new workshops back in the early to mid 70's. Had to catch four trains to get there by 7am from Berowra.

[@alanread5578]

My first job was as an apprentice plumber at Everleigh workshop. It involved catching the first bus of the morning from Mt Colah to Hornsby and a train, either down the North Shore through Central, or the Norther Line through Strathfield. To get home, I caught a Gosford train from Redfern to Hornsby, it only stopped at Strathfield, and bus from there.

[@jimclarke1108]

Back in my day🥸

[@doctorbohr1585]

3:50 and there is a bonus u set passing!

[@bruce_just_]

14:15 What’s the station or platform shown here? Is it one of the workers platforms near Chullora Workshops?

[@kehldendavid4779]

When these unit first enter service?

[@doctorbohr1585]

In the 1920s I believe.

[@davidmobbs2340]

1926