Excellent work and congrats to the people who brought the idea to fruition with a bit of foresight . Pity the corrupt NSW government is more interested in giving the rest of the line to a small group of selfish push-bike riders intent on personally profiting from a fair weather bike track instead of providing an all weather passenger transport link with Bangalow byron Mullumbimby and Billinudgel for everyone like you guys have 👍👍
I can see that one of these is #726, The 720-class were the "trailers" while the power plant was in the 620-class units. Usually the pairing would be 621/721, 622/722 and so on. The diesel motor will have been in the 620-class half of the pair, which, in this case has been replaced by a powerful electric motor taking its electricity supply from the array of solar panels attached to the roofs of both halves of the rail motor pair.
Hi Floris, Technical knowledge isn't my thing. I also have no affiliation with the Byron Bay Railroad or the resort. You could try the website that I've added above, or make contact with the operators. Failing that, there will be an article in an upcoming issue of Railway Digest magazine, which is published monthly by ARHS NSW and available in newsagents. Regards,
So, this is claimed to be the "first" Solar Powered Train ,, but it is NOT ..! Maybe a hybrid,, no it's not even that..... It relies on "both" a diesel engine and additional power from the GRID,,, basically, it resources some Solar to operate.
I can tell you from the start that the rail motor class this set belongs to, the 620/720 class, dates back to the early 1960s, around 1961 to 1963 or so. Station NBN-Newcastle ran a piece on these solar-powered rail motors about a week ago and mentioned their age as well over 60 years old - WRONG! They're no older than about 56 years at the most.
some more info please. It runs only on the energy from the solar panels? how many batteries does it have? how long does it take to charge? what's the range?
In regards to this particular rail car set, it is a mismatched pair. The power car 661 (originally 601) dates back to 1949 when it entered service - it is from the 600/700 class although a few of this class were re-engined in the early 1970's (i believe) and were renumbered to the 660/760 range. 661/761 were withdrawn in about 1994 and Lithgow State Mine Railway purchased 2 retired sets - 661/761 and 668/768 in a State Rail auction of rolling stock in 1995. Unfortunately 761 was destroyed by a fire in the early 2000's which left 661 with no partner driving trailer. They managed to purchase 726 (a 620/720 class formerly 626/726, which was retired in 2007) and restored it and made it the new partner to 661. 726 dates back to the early 1960's. The first of the 620/720 - 621/721 entered service in 1961. So you have a situation where the power car is quite a lot older than the driving trailer. Of the 600/700 class rail cars - there were 10 sets (601/701 to 610/710), although some of these were renumbered +60 due to engine updates which included likes of 661/761, 665/765, 668/768, 669/769 and 670/770). The others remained in their original numbers, eg 602/702, 603/703, 604/704, etc. 661 is the only operational car (power or driving trailer) of the 600/700 class. Of the 620/720 class rail cars - there were 18 sets built (621/721 to 638/738). Of these 621/721 and 623/723 are part of the state collection and 621/721 is with the Rail Motor Society Paterson and has been beautifully restored and operational. 623/723 has just been sent to Goulburn CFCLA to be restored and will be with Lithgow State Mine to be used on heritage runs in the greater Lithgow area and to Kandos/Rylstone probably by mid/late this year. Goodwin Alco were in the middle of restoring their own 629/729 to as close to original condition as possible, which included reinstatement of original brown 3-roll back seats (like you see in 661), pull down window shutters (which were removed from most of these trains) and original green and speckled grey colour scheme. Of course 726 is now restored and operational with 661 at Byron Bay. Wikipedia has a whole host of information on these sets and which ones survive.
Nothing but a gimmick. Bad business model by apparently otherwise savvy entrepreneur. 6km round trip would have been serviceable by relatively cheap buses instead. The payback period is almost beyond belief.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 89 | คู่เอก "ยอดไอคิว vs คิริลล์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z3vYkHJ_5Ig/mqdefault.jpg)
Ive been on that its a really nice short run
Excellent work and congrats to the people who brought the idea to fruition with a bit of foresight . Pity the corrupt NSW government is more interested in giving the rest of the line to a small group of selfish push-bike riders intent on personally profiting from a fair weather bike track instead of providing an all weather passenger transport link with Bangalow byron Mullumbimby and Billinudgel for everyone like you guys have 👍👍
someone had to do it .good show.:)
wow, will make the world greener
I can see that one of these is #726, The 720-class were the "trailers" while the power plant was in the 620-class units. Usually the pairing would be 621/721, 622/722 and so on. The diesel motor will have been in the 620-class half of the pair, which, in this case has been replaced by a powerful electric motor taking its electricity supply from the array of solar panels attached to the roofs of both halves of the rail motor pair.
Hi Floris,
Technical knowledge isn't my thing. I also have no affiliation with the Byron Bay Railroad or the resort. You could try the website that I've added above, or make contact with the operators. Failing that, there will be an article in an upcoming issue of Railway Digest magazine, which is published monthly by ARHS NSW and available in newsagents.
Regards,
So, this is claimed to be the "first" Solar Powered Train ,, but it is NOT ..! Maybe a hybrid,, no it's not even that.....
It relies on "both" a diesel engine and additional power from the GRID,,, basically, it resources some Solar to operate.
It doesn't use any diesel - it has a backup old diesel engine but has never had to use it
Well done.
I can tell you from the start that the rail motor class this set belongs to, the 620/720 class, dates back to the early 1960s, around 1961 to 1963 or so. Station NBN-Newcastle ran a piece on these solar-powered rail motors about a week ago and mentioned their age as well over 60 years old - WRONG! They're no older than about 56 years at the most.
actully 1962-1968 after 1968 (if they kept producing them the trains would given a new look
some more info please. It runs only on the energy from the solar panels? how many batteries does it have? how long does it take to charge? what's the range?
Floris Assies I heard the solar replaces one of the two onboard engines. The second is still there for backup.
In regards to this particular rail car set, it is a mismatched pair. The power car 661 (originally 601) dates back to 1949 when it entered service - it is from the 600/700 class although a few of this class were re-engined in the early 1970's (i believe) and were renumbered to the 660/760 range. 661/761 were withdrawn in about 1994 and Lithgow State Mine Railway purchased 2 retired sets - 661/761 and 668/768 in a State Rail auction of rolling stock in 1995. Unfortunately 761 was destroyed by a fire in the early 2000's which left 661 with no partner driving trailer. They managed to purchase 726 (a 620/720 class formerly 626/726, which was retired in 2007) and restored it and made it the new partner to 661. 726 dates back to the early 1960's. The first of the 620/720 - 621/721 entered service in 1961. So you have a situation where the power car is quite a lot older than the driving trailer.
Of the 600/700 class rail cars - there were 10 sets (601/701 to 610/710), although some of these were renumbered +60 due to engine updates which included likes of 661/761, 665/765, 668/768, 669/769 and 670/770). The others remained in their original numbers, eg 602/702, 603/703, 604/704, etc. 661 is the only operational car (power or driving trailer) of the 600/700 class.
Of the 620/720 class rail cars - there were 18 sets built (621/721 to 638/738). Of these 621/721 and 623/723 are part of the state collection and 621/721 is with the Rail Motor Society Paterson and has been beautifully restored and operational. 623/723 has just been sent to Goulburn CFCLA to be restored and will be with Lithgow State Mine to be used on heritage runs in the greater Lithgow area and to Kandos/Rylstone probably by mid/late this year. Goodwin Alco were in the middle of restoring their own 629/729 to as close to original condition as possible, which included reinstatement of original brown 3-roll back seats (like you see in 661), pull down window shutters (which were removed from most of these trains) and original green and speckled grey colour scheme. Of course 726 is now restored and operational with 661 at Byron Bay.
Wikipedia has a whole host of information on these sets and which ones survive.
Where is it
Byron Bay, NSW
I thought that line was closed
Most of it is there only a short section for the railmotor to run on thats it
Nothing but a gimmick. Bad business model by apparently otherwise savvy entrepreneur. 6km round trip would have been serviceable by relatively cheap buses instead. The payback period is almost beyond belief.
Nonsense. This train was built 60 years ago and the tracks were old existing tracks. It was a surprisingly cheap project.