V Set Cab Rides, North and West, 1984 and 1993

25 Minutes

[@greeneel6518]

😥 😥 😭 😭 I'm going to miss the V set's they are the best of the fleet I wish they'd continue in service

[@tressteleg1]

I totally agree! 😢😭😭. They were nice to drive too 😋

[@Specific_XPT]

@@tressteleg1 speaking of driving V sets, do you happen to have any more cab shots of them?

[@tressteleg1]

@@Specific_XPT Unfortunately that’s all I got. Without a separate cameraman to take the video of me driving, the driver could only get those brief scenes as it was his responsibility to keep an eye on the track ahead.

[@Specific_XPT]

Ah that's unfortunate, do you remember any details about them? I know that the DCM/DCT cars had different brake levers to the others, and the later batches had different fault lights. Chopper v sets also had higher dashboards. Something that I am very curious to see is the first batch V set cab, if I remember correctly it was targeted as a U set instead of a V set.

[@tressteleg1]

I don’t recall any great differences between the batches. I remember Jack saying that some trains had ?Davies Metcalf brakes, presumably the others being Westinghouse. But they all worked much the same, what I would describe as ‘Self-lapping E.P.’ I was not in the cabs often enough to notice particular differences between one lot of instruments and the others. You may be right about the first double-deckers being designated U sets, but if so I don’t think that lasted very long.

[@richardsmith8654]

Thanks once again for posting some interesting footage. I particularly liked the scenes at Hawkesbury River and Strathfield Stations. The 422 class hauling the Canberra bound express being a standout. Of course all changed now. It is why I value your videos they are a link to the past and through them we can see the evolution in our networks. Thanks again for sharing this footage.

[@PaulinesPastimes]

What an enjoyable video. I especially liked the Scenic Railway. The last time I went on it was the late 1950's very early 1960's. It's a lot busier now!

[@tressteleg1]

Yep slightly busier 😊😊

[@NSWRailwaysVideos]

Awesome Video Mate, V set would have to be my all time favorite train, best train ever built in my opinion. Working for Sydney Trains, I get to travel up front on occasions and not much has changed inside. That V set (v30) looks very clean and it’s a chopper control set to, always liked the distinctive sound of the chopper car. They still put provide good service 30 years later. Keep the videos coming mate.

[@yerolo]

Blue Goose liveried V-sets with the gold tinted windows were the best..and none of that yellow door rubbish

[@JohnSmith-sh1cu]

These videos are fantastic tressteleg. I guess from my own experiences from those 2 periods. October 23, 1984.....wasn't quite 3 years of age yet so I don't have any memory of that period but I do have some memories from the mid/late 1980's and things were still fairly similar at that stage - a sea of red sets, stainless steel s-sets, k-sets for suburban duties and the interurban u sets and 46 class electrics still going strong. It was a very common sight during that period to see the Blue Goose and Candy V sets cross u-sets on the inner west main up and down lines as we briefly saw in the video. By July 1993, all the standard manual door reds were gone and the automatic door W sets/Sputniks were being withdrawn, with the very last to go from revenue service around November 1993, so it was a rare sight to catch one of these by this stage. Also the 46's and U sets were harder to spot as the interurban services were dominated by the V sets by that stage. Tangaras were really starting to kick off in a big way by 1993 with most/almost all in service by the end of the year. Also a number of the prominent diesel locos were winding down such as the 44's, 45's, 442's etc.

[@tressteleg1]

+John Smith It's great that this video has enhanced your memories from your youngest days. For variety of trains, if you have not already seen my video of Petersham Station in 1984 you are sure to like it. Also I have other earlier videos of the Red Sets, U Sets and Parcel Vans. Tassiebaz also has vintage Sydney videos on his video channel.

[@JohnSmith-sh1cu]

I have seen your wonderful collection of videos covering electrics in NSW as well as those posted by tassiebaz. I noticed that he must've been with you at some of the locations at the same time and you see the same scene from a slightly different perspective, as well as some different locations and scenes as well from both of you. Some of the locations, particularly around the inner west without question bring back fond memories. I did get a chance to ride all incarnations of the reds, be it the standards or sputniks although i never had a chance to ride the u-sets as my parents and I had no reason to use interurban services. Had I been old enough to know about details in connection to their impending retirement I would have made a point to catch one, but much too late for that, so I'm glad you've posted some footage with them. Hopefully some other people may post some interesting footage from inside them (the passenger saloons) while they were in service as well as in comparison to the red sets there isn't as much footage of them. I think it's fantastic that you are posting all this content and it does make you wonder what other footage people out there have....I'm pretty sure there may be quite a bit more than we think....packed away on a shelf in some boxes somewhere gathering dust.

[@tressteleg1]

+John Smith I'm happy that you have enjoyed the videos from Barry and myself. We were both on the Melbourne trams in different sections but both went to Sydney for the last day of the Red Sets. He went a few days before me but we were together for most of the last day, thus similar scenes. While you did not ride the U Sets, electrically they were virtually identical with the 'sputniks' originally labelled S Sets, later W Sets. I did not bother putting my Sydney electrics videos on KZbin as I assumed there must already be plenty, so I was shocked when someone told me there was nothing. I managed to convince Barry that he should post his also. As I said earlier, video cameras were very expensive and not much good before mine of 1984. Very few fans were taking movie or video in those days, and certainly not of electrics so I suspect not much more exists. Anyway I might as well share what I have or it will all probably go to the tip when I kick the bucket. I don't have much vintage Aussie video left to share.

[@colinwilkie2279]

+John Smith I really would love to see old film of the Gold Cost motor rail Express Brisbane LTD & the Melbourne trains if you have please post .

[@graememellor8319]

Great vision as always, remember when those old brick motorola radios were introduced wasn't that a fun time

[@tressteleg1]

As a non-railway man I only saw the drivers using them. Apparently there were dead spots here and there.

[@robertcameron2808]

Another great video thanks for the memories I liked driving on the north also spent years on the west with the v set a good 👍 train

[@tressteleg1]

Thanks. In past years I did a fair bit of unofficial train driving and did get to drive V sets occasionally, although I especially liked the U sets, particularly using their brakes. It was not often possible to get these drives on camera, but you make like to watch the video below. Sly Drives of Electric Trains. Melbourne, Sydney, London. kzbin.info/www/bejne/moObmI1vqa-Yr6s

[@hcrun]

Love the interchange between driver and "fat controller"!! :) At 7:13 it's the Canberra Express - according to the announcement. Jeeez, this video brings back great memories of when I commuted between Springwood and Central, 1976 - 1984. (Fate saw to it that I wasn't on board The Summit when it hit the stanchion at Bold Street).

[@tressteleg1]

+Bruce Kennewell A terrible day that was (Bold St).

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

Great video of the bygone days of when we actually had a real railway! U-Boats, Tulloch cars, RUB sets, Red Rattlers and the classic "meet me at "Platform-9" at Strathfield! (Whelans Strathfield Hotel)!

[@tressteleg1]

😊👍

[@dfirth_]

Fantastic. This is the only video on KZbin of a cab ride on a V Set where the cab is actually shown. It's a shame they are phasing out the V sets, there is something about them that Oscars or any other train doesn't have. Always enjoy hearing chopper in the cabin, too. The Tangaras use driving trailers so you can't hear the distinctive chopper control in the cab.

[@tressteleg1]

+Colonel Leon I would not have thought that there were no other cab videos of the V Sets. I agree with you and the previous guy that they seemed to get things right with these trains. The gear noise is appealing as well. It seems odd to me that they don't simply build more to the same standards but with minor modifications to the entry area to better permit wheelchairs etc. And of course design comfy seats for these longer rides.

[@dfirth_]

Most of the time on the Blue Mountains services, I see a few people at once having a chat or just admiring the scenery. You certainly don't see that in Waratahs or Millenniums! You didn't have to whistle for the Ten Tunnels back then?

[@tressteleg1]

+Colonel Leon Those inferior suburban trains are limited to somewhere like Springwood as the V Sets are narrower and the clearance for the wider cars is insufficient. I noted that in the video by NSW Railways Videos the driver did blow the whistle. Maybe my driver (not Jack Lawson) may have been a bit lazy.

[@dfirth_]

Yes. Most suburbans are medium however V's are narrow. On the Main West, Wide stock can't go further than Emu Plains, Medium can't go past Springwood. I'm not sure but I think wide stock includes Comeng Series 2 S sets and Red sets. Being a child railway enthusiast, I try to look in the cabin of a V set which you unfortunately can't do on the newer suburbans. At the beginning of the video, there is nothing worse than a lazy signalman taking a few years to give that service the all clear.

[@tressteleg1]

+Colonel Leon In measurements which I understand, country stock including Interurbans were 9' 6" wide while electric suburban stock stock (Red Sets) was 10' 6". I don't know where the new standard of 10' was introduced, possibly the S Sets, possibly later. On at least one occasion a wide body driver took his train to Lapstone, much to the consternation of all. It was brought back very sedately! I don't live in Sydney so I can't pop out with my tape measure.

[@OldAussieAds]

This is really fascinating. I'd love to have seen Gosford Station as that's completely different now.

[@tressteleg1]

Thanks. That is all the video I have and don’t think I have any movie film of Gosford either.

[@Woodland26]

The Zig Zag part reminds me of the steam train accident in the late 80s, where about half of Sydney University who's who end up in the ICU of Westmead hospital, plus fatality. Also there were single storey intercity stock with the gold plated windows in the late 70s, which set were they? As a teenager it was quite a treat catching it from Eastwood to Central sitting in the green padded seats.

[@tressteleg1]

That accident was probably 3801 on Cowan Bank. I don’t think any single deck Interurban U set electric trains ever had tinted windows but DD V sets did. Some still run.

[@geoffreymoore1510]

Thanks for the trip. Noticed some times mixed up on S or K sets. I forget which one was non - air conditioned "S" set I think? Then later no mention if "S" or"K". I thought the ten tunnels were n the Northern line? Then we switched to going past the Zig Zag out west. Very enjoyable thanks, as we prepare to say goodbye to the V-sets. I used to get offered free rides on the Scenic Railway as they knew I was scared to death of it. Only went on it twice coming up because I had to both times.

[@tressteleg1]

S sets were not air-conditioned and in the last year or two have all been taken out of service. K sets remain as do the C sets with chopper control and both of these have air conditioning. The ten tunnels most certainly are on the western line on the descent to Lithgow and were needed as a bypass of the old zigzag railway.

[@geoffreymoore1510]

@@tressteleg1 Ok sorry for my confusion how many tunnels on the Northern line?

[@geoffreymoore1510]

Still see that lonely set of 2 "S's" I think used for staffing purposes at Petersham, every time I go past.

[@tressteleg1]

I think a few heading down towards Hawkesbury River, each side of the Hawkesbury River Bridge, Woy Woy, and I think just one more somewhere near Kotara. I think a Wikipedia search will probably give more precise details.

[@tressteleg1]

@@geoffreymoore1510 The railways have a training college near the station at Saint Peters and those carriages would be attached to that but I can’t guess what they would actually be used for.

[@circlemate]

wish i was in this era.

[@tressteleg1]

Yes, things were more relaxed then. That will only get worse. While you missed that past, I will miss your future 😢

[@circlemate]

thank god you’re still alive with all this footage from the past. @tressteleg1

[@tressteleg1]

@@circlemate Well I am pleased to be still alive. I will have to check how long my videos will stay on KZbin after I depart.

[@vibezwithando1041]

Cool video!👍👍😊

[@tressteleg1]

Aspect1 😊

[@australiantransportvlogs5191]

Great video! This is actually Aspect1 right now but I have created a new account which I’ll be using a lot more 👍😊

[@tressteleg1]

Australian Public Transport Videos Good luck getting plenty of views and subscribers on your new site.

[@australiantransportvlogs5191]

tressteleg1 thanks! 😊

[@yerolo]

The blue & gold livery on the V-set at 6:45 is quite rare....I don't think many received that livery at the time.

[@tressteleg1]

I did not have enough contact with them to know the different varieties of V sets.

[@yerolo]

@@tressteleg1 There were 6 V-set liveries all up. That one at 6:45 is the SRA Blue, Yellow & White variant.....but I do not remember seeing alot of those around, it was mainly the candy and blue goose I recall prior to Cityrail. This page shows you all the liveries the Vset had www.auscisionmodels.com.au/V%20Set.htm

[@tressteleg1]

Thanks for that. I remember some of the colours but not others. I left New South Wales in 1987 so some of the colours could have come and gone in the meantime. From memory, the original batch of power cars had some problems so after later models appeared, those power cars were changed to trailers. Nevertheless a very successful series.

[@tressteleg1]

@sotr2243 Thanks for that interesting which I will keep on file. I suppose that with essentially pioneering the technical side of these trains, it was inevitable that some less than perfect aspects would be in the design. From what I can work out, Sydney was many years ahead of the rest of the world with double dick multiple unit trains. At the best, all contemporary double deck trains in Europe had a locomotive at one end of the train. Anyway the point is that the revised design has been very successful with those trains being phased out due to general age, not the result of bad technical designs.

[@dylanc6311]

What were the cars from the scene of V30 departing Strathfield? That colour scheme was quite rare, and I originally thought only V39 had this scheme.

[@tressteleg1]

+Dylan C Unlike today's set makeups like A and T Sets, no carriage was permanently attached to any set. If one car needed workshop attention, it was removed from a set and replaced by another similar car. The repaired car would go into the next set needing that type of car. So what used to be in set 39 could well go to set 30 for a while, then any other set some time later. Obviously records were kept up to date of which cars were in what Sets so that they could readily be located when due for attention. I never kept records of what cars were in which Sets. I was too busy with the camera.

[@dylanc6311]

Ok, thanks!

[@ceciltagg]

Hawkesbury river did you buy a bottle of oysters like we use to on the Newcastle flyer when they swarmed aboard Sydney rock oysters the best better than pacific oysters good video will see if I can buy some oysters today

[@tressteleg1]

I think it was some disease that wiped out the Hawkesbury oyster industry some years ago now. They used to be all along the banks beside the rail tracks and elsewhere.

[@SulphideJunction]

42203 would have been heading to Canberra.

[@tressteleg1]

OK

[@NullaNulla]

Tech question, why is the floor/bed of the sections in and between the tunnels concrete instead of the usual blue metal?

[@tressteleg1]

I can’t remember the exact reason but for electrification, perhaps more so with the V sets, they had to lower the tunnel floors to get the clearance required. It’s possible that the concrete helped stabilise the tunnel walls and I read that it took away the need to do ballast maintenance work from inside the tunnels. Concreting the short sections between the tunnels was probably the easiest and best long term solution.

[@Bigman11x3]

When did V-Sets get guard lights and ditch lights?

[@Bigman11x3]

After doing a bit of research I found out the first ones started appearing in 1981.

[@tressteleg1]

👍

[@volgrencr221]

3 questions did you ever film in the original 1970s double deck interurban units of the v sets with the U on the target plate next question have you filmed in the 900 class deb units and 3 will you ever release a full video of you training to be a tram driver in 1986

[@tressteleg1]

I believe not. I think the U target plates were short lived. I may have a DEB set somewhere in one of my published videos but don’t recall which it would have been. Maybe a Newcastle Trains one. This is the link to all my Melbourne driver training. Part 2 was a morning on a driving school tram in Berlin.

[@tressteleg1]

Becoming a Tram Driver Melbourne 1988, Berlin 1992. Part 1 Melbourne kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWq4gK2ci5ekodU

[@volgrencr221]

@@tressteleg1 no i ment a vido on you training at the hawthorn school not a vido on your life as a driver hust the driver training at hawthorn depot

[@tressteleg1]

Who do you think was going to take video of me as a student? I was certainly not in a position to be fooling around with a camera in the classroom! Video cameras were rather rare in those days. I know that I took some video in the Hawthorn school but that was before I worked on the job there. I can’t remember which video it may have been, but here are all my videos not taken on trams themselves. Melbourne Trams Trackside & Technical kzbin.info/aero/PLLtOIHp49XNCObsz5mWdLdTV_rtVoAklq

[@Flippy_trains]

7:41 probaly or mabye it is going to bathurst

[@PABLOHERNANDEZ-bq1gy]

THE CAMAREMAN IS VERY VERY BACK. OR ARE A CHILDREN.

[@UltimaSpark50]

...these were made in the 80s/early 90s, before all the fancy equipment we have today (I would assume he recorded them mostly for personal interest, but I might be wrong). There's some pretty clear historical value in them regardless, so just be glad these videos exist and have been released for public viewing.

[@tressteleg1]

+AquaRing Things like KZbin were unimaginable when I took these videos just for myself. And video cameras were extremely expensive, about $1,800 in 1984 money so few fans had them. I guess I was a sort of pioneer without knowing it. But the supply of old video is running low now but older home movie can now be considered for KZbin, silent of course.