The refurbishment program gone beyond badly - Melbourne's refurbished harris trains

Asbestos yummy yummy
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[@Low760]

My father's comments as a driver back then match the vision issue they had. Makes sense to just get a newer stainless train instead of fixing old stuff from a maintenance perspective.

[@paullindberg9230]

*

[@mattaustin2128]

Thank you for making this video, great memories! I spent Saturday 25 July 1987, the day after my 16th birthday, riding these trains on the St Kilda and Port Melbourne lines, knowing that the light rail conversion was immanent. They felt like a cheaper Comeng, with less room and smaller windows. Little did I realise that they’d vanish from revenue service only days later. The 80s were great years to be a young gunzel!

[@Alexander_Dunn]

Very interesting, I didn’t know much about this previous to watching this, thanks Metro, or should I say…

[@melbournegunzel]

As for Hitachi refurbishment, an earlier program took place to the majority of sets from 1992 (although many driver cabs were untouched). A few did escape the modest interior changes and were a highlight to go hunt for ahead of the 2000s withdrawn period The Wikipedia page has a good summary of the changes done in the '90s refurbishment - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi_(Australian_train)

[@MetroManMelbourne]

ah, I thought this was only introduction of bullet-proof glass to the driver windows, thanks for correcting me.

[@PeterMilanovski]

@@MetroManMelbourne did they actually have bullet proof glass fitted? I would have never realised it but hearing it now, I kinda understand why they would fit it.... Maybe someone somewhere was thinking about terrorism long before the word became a household appliance LoL... Not that we have really had a problem with terrorism in Australia which probably explains why the small driver windows... Even if you didn't know that the glass was bullet proof as a driver, if a situation ever occurred, both driver and terrorist would be greatly surprised! Could be bad if the terrorist is the one who is behind the glass though....

[@Ollie_skate500]

The poor old Grey Ghost was just a “fake” Comeng.

[@Gaminggunzeller]

I think 903M is the only refurbished Harris train in preservation along with 794M, 795M and 797M the only non refurbished Harris trains in preservation. At least some Harris trains are still in service with V/line but rebuilt as H set coaches, it's sad that the rest of the Harris trains were scrapped.

[@MetroManMelbourne]

Yep that is completely correct. Depending on what happens with harris preservation, some v/line H cars might be converted back to harris cars.

[@Gaminggunzeller]

@@MetroManMelbourne Who knows? It would be interesting to see another Harris train restored and preserved but pretty cool at the same time.

[@frozenblazenon]

@@Gaminggunzeller im pretty sure theres a blue Harris getting restored idk by who tho

[@Gaminggunzeller]

@@frozenblazenon Which units?

[@robvegas9354]

A lot of the Harris trains that were not refurbished got stripped of any salvagable bits at Dandenong, then wrapped in plastic and buried in Clayton south near the golf course. Great video!

[@jamessinclair4961]

Not all of them got wrapped in plastic. I dont remember any getting done like that, and, I have certainly seen many photos of harris cars half submerged in quicksand without any covering whatsoever. I only remember one set, which I think was subject to arson???

[@stephenhunter70]

I thought they got used in the morning peak, driven out to Clayton and then transported to the pit and dumped. Maybe they were supposed to be rapped in plastic buuuuut!

[@robvegas9354]

@@stephenhunter70 given it was the early 90's i would dare to say a few corners were cut. if they had gumtree and ebay back then there would have been a lot of cheap rolls of legit blue plastic for sale, pick up in dandenong 100% legit LOLs

[@TheAxelay]

I had the privilege off being able to last travel on the "Grey Ghost" Harris-mengs back in 1991! Will never forget that ride from Flinders Street back to Balaclava...It's not all doom for the Harris car sets though?! I mean Newport workshops still have those 2 yellow Harris Greaser that have been kinda repainted recently though...I would also love to see an L class or a Tait postal car in action someday.....

[@aspiewithattitude3213]

Certainly took its last trip in 1991 only one week before the Double Decker train had rolled in from Sydney.

[@jamesgovett3225]

I remember seeing the prime movers hauling low loaders with the earlier Harris cars that were full of asbestos going down centre road in Oakleigh on their way to the old sand quarries in Clayton to be forever buried there in the Quicksand as that was the easiest way to dispose of them back in the early 1980’s

[@leonkernan]

I like to joke they were getting them in place for the suburban rail loop

[@itechcircle9410]

a good day... my favourite trains discussed by one of my favourite KZbinrs

[@Shitphototaker69]

The grey paint they used contained asbestos this is according to a mate of mine who worked on the program Another interesting fact is they used new electrical equipment including motor alternators and stuff like that due to the refurbishment program being stopped short there was a surplus of equipment so they used the leftovers on the disk break comengs so a part of the refurbished harris live on

[@MetroManMelbourne]

oh very interesting

[@jcitizen]

This is incorrect, paint does not contain asbestos. Asbestos was used as insulation in the walls of the Harris cars and had to be removed as part of the refurbishment program.

[@jamessinclair4961]

There was only going to be I think 45x 6-car sets of the Comeng Trains. that order was extended due to the cancellation of the Grey Ghost program. From what I remember back in the day.

[@joshrouch]

very good video metro man melbourne

[@rileycummaudo8612]

Really unfortunate for the Harris trains, great video metro

[@MetroManMelbourne]

yeah certainly, they really should've lasted much longer, if only this program actually worked as it should've

[@greenberyl]

Very interesting and informative! Well done!

[@ArrowProds]

Whose bright idea was it to order a second series of trains with less powerful motors?

[@jamessinclair4961]

Was there any way, in which they could have swapped in some first series motors so they could be more powerful?

[@johnlang4198]

It was the Victorian Railways. Apparently the first series Harris trains were making mince meat of the timetables and the board were scared of the faster trains crashing into a dear old Tait or Doggie.

[@iannosworthy1529]

Another great post. Well done!!

[@sutherlandA1]

Also known as Grey Ghosts

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

I preferred the Harris sets as they were, very bland looking externally after refurbishment, lot of tax payers money wasted as they were of limited use. Very informative and well researched, hope you do one on the Hitachi sets.

[@daleym4955]

I mean it was either be converted or buried in Clayton

[@billfreeman1516]

I never noticed these refurbished but then they weren't lines I travelled on

[@VicTransportExpeditions]

the one dislike is parkdale dave

[@johnpro2847]

1:20 Improving safety. I had never heard of any passengers falling out of open train doors. Passengers used to leave doors open on hot days and stand with part body actually hanging out.. How many fell? None that I can recall ...

[@Jmjdit]

the number isn't going to be zero.

[@jonathanj8303]

@@Jmjdit but it will probably be an integer.

[@dunxy]

I remember riding in Taits and Harris sets with doors open, even made it through the loop in a Tait, they only lasted a very short time running the loop before they got banned. I also rode the Grey Ghosts a fair bit as lived on the Sandy line.

[@user-wl3ut5xe6s]

Asbestos is just too yummy yummy

[@melbournemetrotrainsvlogs9401]

Great info! Loved this!!

[@electro_sykes]

All that money should have went to refurbishing hitachi trains to comeng level and than building new comengs to replace the remaining Harris and tait trains

[@lachlantanseytheii4412]

And to think the last ones ran into the early 90s

[@itechcircle9410]

do you happen to know when the last unrefurbished Harris ran?

[@MetroManMelbourne]

15/6/1988, allegedly the last service was the 17:16 down Upper Ferntree Gully, as a union ban was placed on the remaining sets around 17:00.

[@aviationkj3751]

What song bye Lisa wonderlick is the first one?

[@rogerthat487]

1980's Labor govt. What could go wrong? Gimme a Red Rattler - comfy seats, lots of fresh air

[@Techno-Universal]

Apparently the H cars are still currently in service in the V-Line fleet! :)

[@MetroManMelbourne]

Yep, not long left though.

[@Techno-Universal]

@@MetroManMelbourne I guess they will most likely be retired from service sometime within the next decade! :)

[@MetroManMelbourne]

@@Techno-Universal probably shortly after the '26 commonwealth games.

[@Techno-Universal]

@@MetroManMelbourne Yup though they are probably aiming to have new rolling stock built in time for the commonwealth games to boost network capacity during the games and so older rolling stock could be retired at the end of the commonwealth games! Also the Harris trains entered service in 1956 a few months before the Olympics in Melbourne that year so the Harris trains were possibly also a part of the major infrastructure projects carried out to prepare for the Olympics! :)

[@johnd8892]

Some good info in this. I expected to hear about the one flooded at Windsor station. Understood the flooding caused it to be scrapped. In use video rare but a bit at the end of this Harris vid : kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3i4o3yta7-Ye8U The channel owner may give permission to use some of his work.

[@MetroManMelbourne]

Left that out, decided it was not that important, but yes it certainly was interesting. Did not know about that footage, thanks for making me aware of it.

[@cityjetproductions]

Some of the Harris carriages were dumped in a quarry in Clayton.

[@celeb0]

Where abouts? How long ago

[@cityjetproductions]

@@celeb0 in the old Talbot quarry. They got wrapped in plastic and dumped there when they were withdrawn in the 1980s, as the asbestos was too expensive to remove.

[@Low760]

@@celeb0 next to the old cleanaway depot where the empty land is on Clayton Rd. I found one image online of them dumped. And also have spoken with people who were around at that time.

[@jamessinclair4961]

I would love somebody to show me proof that, they where in fact wrapped in plastic when they got dumped. I have seen many photos of, them being dumped without plastic at all.

[@you_mad]

melbourne is famous for having the worst transport in all of australia. infact melbourne makes ghana and bahamis look amazing. LOL

[@watfordman4639]

Great video metro

[@rameshsingh7768]

VERY GOOD VIDEO I ENJOYED MUCH !!!!

[@RakisahNew]

4:28 it would be better if you showed footage of life extended comengs

[@TazzieTransport]

Nice Vid!

[@itechcircle9410]

why did they make the second series motors less powerful?

[@MetroManMelbourne]

not sure to be honest

[@johnd8892]

The electrical supply and overhead via substations was not then was not up to supplying the amp draw needed, especially with air conditioning added. Some air con systems needed as much power as a Tait train.

[@johnlang4198]

Second series motors were less powerful to match the power of the Taits and Doggies.

[@electro_sykes]

They should have instead just built more comengs. Oh well, too late to turn back time. Way too late.

[@AussieWirraway]

Asbestos smh

[@MetroManMelbourne]

yeah its very tasty

[@desamos8196]

lovely work. Just wondering if you could help on another related issue. I recently had to get off and On at Box Hill Station . I was really surprised by how user unfriendly it is. No signs outside the Box Hill Shopping complex, to inform me as to which direction the station was. Couldn't see a timetable, informing me as to which train, which platform. I had a heavily loaded bike with me, which reduced my mobility. ( Not peak hour). I thought it looked terrible for anyone with any form of handy cap to deal with. Or is it just that I'm really stupid ?

[@MetroManMelbourne]

Box hill station is awful to get in an out of I agree. Thankfully it’s being rebuilt as part of the suburban rail loop.

[@stephenhunter70]

The station is under the southern part of BoxHill Central

[@leftovercrass5210]

Bayside

[@griffinrails]

mmm yummy death flour also i'm quite sure there was a program to refurbish the S1 Harris cars, it got as far as just repainting one set when the transport minister said he didn't like the colour. and the ENTIRE PROGRAM was canned because of that one sentence he said. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harris_%28train%29#Green_set

[@MetroManMelbourne]

yeah that was certainly a very weird thing although I agree that colour is horrible! Certainly the original plans for the refurbishment from the 70s included basically the entire (S1+S2+Extra) fleet, but obviously my favourite breakfast food asbestos stood in the way

[@griffinrails]

@@MetroManMelbourne wittenoom moment

[@cityjetproductions]

Reminds me of how the MMTB chairman knocked back Comeng's low floor tram proposal in the early 1980s.

[@joshrouch]

second i agree with zac

[@MetroManMelbourne]

ok

[@joshrouch]

ok

[@jonahsrailwaychannel8958]

ok

[@joelpackett7582]

ok

[@HazptMedia]

ok

[@u5n792]

👻🚂

[@A_couple_of_cakepies]

Just a z1

[@withinjapan2024]

such a long lifespan NOT lol they must have lost millions

[@FiveTangent4882]

😮

[@OllieWasHere]

Why is the government so worried about asbestos, its so yummy

[@MetroManMelbourne]

yeah idk either

[@joelpackett7582]

Asbestos 🥰 anyway nice video

[@MetroManMelbourne]

hmm

[@zaclennane]

first (i love asbestos)

[@MetroManMelbourne]

you do you mate

[@zaclennane]

@@MetroManMelbourne ok

[@robertaquilina3848]

these trains were not reliable to drive with the comeng master controller and harris seven step ep break when i did the electric train drivers class after being compulsory transferred from south dynon loco at the original batman ave depot we did one week on these trains practical was with seven of us we drove the train to spotswood siding now long gone and sandringham the air con units fault lights were notorious for coming on this was all in the eigthies my last drive of one was to sandringham in 1989 gone in 1992 by a special trip which went to victoria park where i crossed it on an up epping comeng the trip was organized by driver phil betram who left not long after for transfer to the loco