Tangara
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tangara (an Australian aboriginal word meaning to go), is a class of CityRail (Sydney) rolling stock and manufactured by Goninan. It is the third-newest class in CityRail's fleet, before the Millennium train and the OSCAR.
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[edit] T sets
The Tangaras are known as "3rd generation" trains. A total of 450 carriages were ordered and commenced service in 1988 to 1994. In 1996, 5 spare driving trailers were ordered as replacements for accident-damaged carriages. The Tangara is a four-car consist equipped with air-conditioning and chopper control, with the middle two cars being non-control motor cars, and the two outer cars being driving control trailers fitted with one pantograph. Two four-car sets can be coupled to provide one eight-car set. The suburban sets were known as "T" sets, while the outer-suburban sets were known as "G" sets, but were originally nicknamed "Odyssey" when first released [citation needed]. There are occasional workings of an eight-car Tangara set made up of one "G" set and one "T" set.
[edit] G sets
The last 80 of the 450 Tangara cars were modified for use on South Coast, Blue Mountains and Central Coast peak hour services and are known as the outer-suburban "G" sets. They entered service in 1994-1995, shortly after the delivery of the last "T" set carriages.
"G" sets appear externally similar to "T" sets; however, there are a few visual clues that help identify them, such as:
- round green door buttons
- front lower corners that taper inwards
- high-backed reversible seats [may not be easy to spot from outside]
Inside, the "G" sets sport other improvements, such as onboard toilets, fresh water dispensers, and luggage racks. Set G7 was the only Tangara set fitted with an AC drive system for evaluation purposes with the existing DC stock and compatibility with signalling and communication systems on the network. G7 was scrapped in 2005 at Maintrain Auburn after the Waterfall train disaster, from damages, as all four cars were beyond repair.
Due to the withdrawal of 15 V set carriages, G set Tangaras have begun to do more off-peak Intercity runs to Port Kembla, Kiama, and Wyong. For a brief period, G sets even operated as far as Newcastle, a feat many people believed not possible because of the loading gauge past Wyong. It is expected that during periods such as the Easter Show, more Tangaras will be seen in the Newcastle area also G sets go to Springwood.
Since 2003, a number of suburban "T" sets have been refurbished to give a CityRail corporate appearance similar to the Millennium "M" sets. This involved the fitting of yellow panels on the front (like the "G" sets), yellow painted passenger doors and the end carriages receiving yellow paint surround. The blue and yellow stripes along the bottom of the carriages were replaced by a single yellow stripe and "fuzzy" CityRail logos were placed above the carriage numbers. The "T" sets originally had blue fabric upholstery that has since been replaced with blue vinyl upholstery. Although, a T set is currently in operation with new blue fabric upholstery and repadded in a softer padding (Instead of the original padding, which is more like Plywood).
[edit] Production
- Suburban Tangara Driving Trailer Cars D6101-D6285 with additional cars D6286-D6289. D6288 never entered service and is currently being used as source of spare parts.
- Suburban Tangara Motor Cars N5101-N5285
- Outer Suburban Tangara Driving Trailer Cars OD6801-OD6840 with additional driving trailer OD6841. OD6841 is currently used in Outer Suburban Tangara set G21 replacing OD6807.
- Outer Suburban Tangara Motor Cars ON5801-ON5820.
- Outer Suburban Tangara Motor Cars with Toilet ONL5851-ONL5870.
- The following Tangara carriages have been scrapped due to accident damage:
- Tangara Motor Cars: N5127, ON5816 and ONL5866
- Driving Trailer Cars: D6114, D6127, D6274, OD6831 and OD6832
[edit] 4D
A train bearing strong resemblance to a Tangara, known as the 4D, was until recently in use by Connex on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines in Melbourne Australia. It is similar in its shape only as it is of a different gauge and is built to be compatible with Melbourne's Comeng trains. It is not actually a Tangara but was a new-build of a similar design. The 4D was bought by RailCorp (in 2006) who run the Tangara, but it has since been scrapped on the 30th March 2006 at Sims Metal, Brooklyn Victoria. The Tangara compatible components and interior fittings were removed before scrapping and are rumoured to have been transferred up to Sydney to be used in Tangara trains.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- CityRail
- T set control trailer carriage
- T set motor carriage
- G set control trailer carriage
- G set motor carriage
- G set motor trailer with toilet
| CityRail fleet | |
|---|---|
| Interurban and outer suburban electric fleet | |
| Suburban electric fleet | |
|
L, R, and S sets | K set | C set | Tangara | Millennium |
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| Regional diesel fleet | |
