SAR 700 type carriages
SAR 700 Type Carriages
During the 1930's, the South Australian Railway's began an extensive program of upgrading passenger accommodation. Part of this program involved the construction of "all steel" first and second class passenger carriages. The first of these new carriages entered in service 1936, painted in the new South Australian Railways colors of green and gold and classified as 500 and 600 class "main line corridor passenger cars". Built completely at the Islington workshops, each car measured 21.875m (71ft.9in.) long and 2.890m (9ft.6in.) wide, with a height of 4.025m (13ft.2in.) above the rail.
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The 4 x first class cars were numbered 500-503 and had seating accommodation for 42 passengers in 7 compartments. The 8 x second class cars were numbered 600-608 and accommodated 64 passengers in 8 compartments. Toilets and vestibules were located at each end, with all compartments leading off a full length side corridor. The interior of each car was fitted out with polished timber panelling, chrome fittings. First class compartments additionally being fitted with mirrors and arm rests between each seat. Each compartment had a single external window and twin wooden sliding doors fitted with large etched glass panels. All windows were originally designed to drop down into the body of the car, but later, due to maintenance problems, these were replaced by half drop windows.
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Following excellent public reaction to the new 500 and 600 class cars, the South Australian Railways commenced construction of a modified design, which became the 700, 750 and 780 class. These cars externally were of similar appearance, except for modified window spacings and being only 19.120m in length. The interior design called for a centre aisle with an open plan of passenger seating. Toilets were located in the centre of the carriage, dividing it into a smoking and non-smoking compartment.
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The 700 class (700-715) were issued to service as second class cars seating 56 passengers, arranged in groups of 4 (twin seats facing each other). As with the earlier cars, the interiors were panelled in fine timbers with chrome fittings. During the late 1940's, several of the 700 class cars were upgraded for first class service, being fitted with carpet and higher quality seating.
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The 750 and 780 class were identical to the 700 class except that the 750 class were composite first/second class cars accommodating 46 passengers (22 first, 24 second), and the 780 class were all first class seating 38 passengers. The first-class compartments had 2 seats facing each other to one side of the aisle and 4 in two pairs on the other. The advantage of this arrangement was, a first-class passenger travelling alone, did not have to sit along side someone they did not know. At the ends of each compartment, a single seat was provided either side of the doorway, facing a twin seat one side and a single the other. The second-class seating arrangement was identical to the 700 class. The 750 class were numbered 750-753 and 780 class 780-783.
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Car 708
Car 708 is one of a batch of twenty built at the Islington Works of the South Australian Railways between 1940 and 1942. The cars were classified as "second class end loading vestibule country cars" with a total of 56 seats in pairs on either side of a central aisle. The carriage entered service in June 1941. It was transferred to Australian National Railways when they took over South Australian passenger rail services in 1978 and withdrawn from service on 13 October 1981.
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In December 1981 the carriage was sold to Steamage Australia (Victoria) and in 1987 passed to Australian Vintage Travel for conversion at the Newport Steamrail workshop to club car "Wellington" for use on the short lived "Southern Cross Express". The car was then sold to Northern Rivers Railway in NSW in December 1989. In 1999 it was named the "Cape Byron Club Car" for use on Northern Rivers "Ritz Rail" train between Murwillumbah and Byron Bay. Following the buyout of Northern Rivers by Queensland Rail the car was purchased by a private consortium that fell into receivership. The car was subsequently moved to Parkes where it was auctioned and purchased privately by a member of Secen-0-Seven Operations. It was moved to Seven-O-Seven Operations at Newport in January 2012.​
Minor remedial work has been completed and broad gauge bogies and end gangway concertinas have been fitted. The carriage was used for the first time on Seven-0-Seven Operations 2013 mainline trips on the double-diesel hauled trip to Donald on 20 April 2013.
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The lounge car's spectacular "Art Deco" interior with separate bar and food serving areas and grouped seating make this an ideal venue for private events. The car will seat up to 30 passengers with a recommended comfortable maximum of 25 passengers.
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Car 708 is a regular feature on Seven-0-Seven Operations slow rail journey weekend trains and day tours, and features a Victorian Railways red livery.
Car 783
First class end loading vestibule country car. Entered service as a similar car to the other 780 class. In 1973 it was converted to a Departmental Officers car for use with the Vice Regal car and the Commissioners car Murray. This involved fitting vehicle out with sleeping compartments and a kitchen. Also title as Commissioners Power car. Sleeps 8 passengers. The conversion work involved fitting the car with a number of sleeping compartments and a kitchen. The car was not air conditioned, but it was fitted with an under-floor alternator set to provide power to itself and one other vehicle. The bogies fitted to the car were originally used under the Cafeteria Car, but had become surplus when that vehicle was fitted with Commonwealth style cast steel bogies.
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It was a common sight in 1978 on Port Pirie passenger trains were it was usually supplying air conditioning power for an "RBJ" class buffet car, while the Cafeteria Car was undergoing a service.
In 1990, Car 783 was given the name Lowanna by SteamRanger on their south coast explorer trains, and In 2007, Lowanna moved to the Victorian Goldfields Railway in Maldon.
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Since 2002 Car 783 has formed part of the Seven-0-Seven Operations broad gauge fleet. Modifications since 2022 to Car 783 include certification for mainline operations, refit and upgrade of the kitchen area, refresh of sitting compartments, and repainting into Victorian Railways red livery.
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Car 783 features regularly on Seven-0-Seven Operations Grainlander and Riverlander slow rail journey tours, for filing the important role of breakfast kitchen and providing ground level steps for disembarking the train where station platforms are unavailable.
