DRC railmotors

ABOVE: DRC 42 at Sth Dynon August 1982 (photo courtesy Rob O'Regan)

The first two, 40 & 41, were purchased new from Tulloch in 1971. (DRC 40 arrived Melbourne on SG May 18 1971) 42 & 43 were purchased second hand from the New South Wales PTC where they had run as PCH 1224 and PCH 1227, they entered VR service in August and December 1975 . They were the first railmotor to be airconditioned. D.R.C. stood for Diesel Rail Car. They tended to be used on longer distance runs such as Ararat to Portland and Ballarat to Donald where their air conditioning would have been much appreciated in summer. Unfortunately they had a reputation for being quite unreliable, during my time at Ararat they were replaced by buses or a loco hauled train more often than not.

 

ABOVE: DRC 43 (ex NSW PTC) at Newport workshops, note the different headlight housing. Sept. 11 1981 BELOW: DRC 43 at Spencer St in the V/Line colour scheme, August 1984. (photo below courtesy Rob O'Regan)

 

ABOVE: DRC 40 in the garish V/Line color scheme, April 1984 (photo courtesy Rob O'Regan)

BELOW: DRC 40 at Branxholme on its promotional tour, it has just arrived from Casterton and was about to depart for Hamilton after which it went to Coleraine, June 23 1971. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)

BELOW : A Bacchus Marsh to Spencer St. DRC arrives Melton, Oct 31 1981.

BELOW: A DRC and MT trailer arrive Werribee on a service from Newport, circa 1980.

 BELOW: The Ballarat to Donald DRC (42) docks into the platform at Ballarat behind the Spencer St. to Horsham pass. 1978