New South Wales Goverment Railways Fairmont History

Overview

New South Wales Goverment Railways (NSWGR) was the first State Rail network to have the post WW2 Fairmonts on their rails. The system in NSW is standard gauge, 4' 8-1/2", throughout.

Only three models are known to have been purchased, the M19F, the MT14H ,and the ST2H...They were know on the NSWGR system as the "Small", "Medium" and "Large" Fairmonts respectively rather than referring to their model types...other state networks referred their cars by the original factory model names.

The Small Faimont - M19F

The first M19 to hit the rails was a field trial car purchased by Tutt_Bryants Pty Ltd who became the Australian licencee for Fairmont. This would have been in early 1949. It was car Factory serial No. 189443 of 1948, fitted with an 'ROC' type Engine No.82421 and ordered from Fairmont in 1948. It was sent out from Fairmonts factory to Australia on 23 August 1948. It is not known if Tutts instigated the purchase of this M19 (plus an ST2H ) then tried the hard sell to NSWGR or NSWGR approached Tutts_Bryants. I suspect the earlier and entrepreneurial skills of Tutt and Bryant who's equipment company was being expanded at the time.

The apparent success of the M19 saw more orders being placed. In November 1949 eight were shipped out, eleven in October 1950, five in July 1951 and so by the end of 1951 NSWGR appears to have had a fleet of twenty five M19's.

It would appear that the M19's were so successful that a single order of seventy was placed in 1951 and these were shipped out in January 1952. This was the single biggest order placed by NSWGR for any Fairmont model and the second largest single order for a particular model ever placed with Fairmont for Australia..Queensland Railways order for ninety MT14H 42" gauge cars in 1955 was the biggest.

Two more batches of M19's shipped out in August 1952 (twenty four) and November 1954 (twelve) would see the fleet grow to approximately one hundred and twenty. It must be noted here that the batch sent out in 1952 was a mixture of standard and narrow gauge cars though this mix is not reflected on the Fairmont company records and has come to light through local examination. It would appear some of this batch was converted by Tutt_Bryants to narrow gauge for use on other state systems. NSWGR M19 Serial No. 206 Engine No.91543 recently examined is from this 1952 batch and would be the one hundred and sixth car purchased. The exact number of standard gauge M19's NSWGR had may never been known unless NSWGR purchase/maintenance records are unearthed to compare and fill the gaps.

Another eight standard gauge M19's were assembled between 1956 and 1963...only the last one of this batch is noted in records on hand and it was sent to the NSWGR in 1964. It carried Pacific plate serial No.1020. I would assume it was ordered as a replacement. The remaining seven it is assumed found their way to NSWGR but none have been sited so far...they would carry a Tutt_Bryants name plate with serial No's 1013 to 1019 as they were assembled prior to Pacific ACE ( Tutt_Bryants newest manufacturing arm) coming on line. Although more M19's were assembled in Australia serial No.1020 was the last one sent to NSWGR.

M19 Serial Numbers

The serial numbers started at 101 for the standard gauge M19's and this allocation continued until 1952. As indicated above the records for 1952 are inconclusive so the last serial allocation is not known...it will be the very low 200's and not much above 206. In 1954 with lots of models and gauge types being assembled serial numbers were expanded to reflect this. The 1954 batch of standard gauge M19's were allocated serial 1001 onwards with serial 1020 as noted above the last one sent to NSWGR. Of interest another 15 standard gauge M19's were assembled till production ceased in 1974 with most allocated to South Australia and one to a Western Australian Mining company.

It is pleasing to note that in the year ,2006, numerous examples of the NSWGR M19's survive with many in near original condition.

I am seeking serial/car/ and engine numbers for a Helpline Data Base I am building and seek your input.

The Medium Fairmont - MT14H

under research..data will be available shortly

The Large Fairmont - ST2H

under research..data will be available shortly

Any additions/corrections/comments please feel free let me know.