GM modules
Three former FM guard’s van modules have been offered to the Trust, including GM63 originally part of FM572; GM96, part of FM1070; and GM97, originating from FM1087.
GM97 was transported to the Trust’s Maymorn site on Saturday 20 May 2006, and placed into storage pending necessary remedial work. Module GM96 followed shortly afterwards on Wednesday 24 May. The transport of GM63 finally occurred on 3 April 2007, having to be delayed until ground conditions had improved.
Guard’s module GM97 being lifted onto a truck on the banks of the Mangaroa River on Saturday 20 May 2006. Photo: Hugh McCracken.
Possible uses include:
- Site and construction office
- Work train accomodation
- Mobile workshop
- Mobile storage for compressor or generator plant.
Whilst not strictly authentic for the Rimutaka Incline route, the modules should nonetheless prove to be useful rail vehicles for the Trust.
Background history of FM guard’s vans
An historical view of an FM guards van forming part of a Tranz Alpine train consist at Greymouth in 1989, dated by the dark blue “Intercity” livery with red stripe, DJ motive power, the footbridge and the mullet (left). Photo: Hugh McCracken.
The FM guard’s vans first entered service on New Zealand Railways in February 1977, at a time when all trains other than local shunts were manned by guards. The “M” suffix reflected the modular construction of these vehicles, each van consisting of a stout steel underframe carrying one central GM guard’s module flanked by two LM luggage modules. NZR hoped, by utilising modular construction, to improve van availability by swapping in servicable modules for those that suffered damage or had other defects. In practise this rarely occurred, as it took a reasonable amount of effort to swap the modules in and out.
The vans were a substantial improvement in accomodation over the then-existing fleet, including wooden framed and clad vans dating from the early twentieth century. Gas heating and cooking facilities were provided, a small sink, retention toilets, a comfortable chair located each side of the van beside a lookout window, a desk and additional accomodation for train crews travelling to and from jobs. The FM van weighed an impressive 30.8 tonnes when fully equipped.
73 FM vans were built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan in 1976/77, along with ten spare guard’s modules and twenty spare luggage modules. An additional 50 vans were built by Daewoo Industrial Company Limited in 1980, and entered service during 1980 and 1981.
The NZR also experimented with a 4-wheel FX class guard’s van consisting of a single GM guard’s module mounted on an NH class high-speed 4-wheel flat-top wagon. This proved to be a one-off, as guards were dissatisfied with the quality of ride.
The FM vans date from an interesting period of NZR’s history, contemporary developments including 44 electric units built by Ganz Mavag of Hungary, thirty DF class diesel-electric locomotives built by General Motors that entered service in 1979 and 1981, 24 DSG class diesel-electric shunting locomotives built in 1981 by Toshiba Ltd of Japan, the rebuilding of 10 DB class and 85 DA class to DBR and DC class diesel-electrics, opening of the Kaimai and Porootaroa Tunnels in 1978 and 1980 respectively and the transformation of the government-run department into the state-owned enterprise “Railways Coporation” on 1 April 1982, which traded as “NZ Rail” until its later sale and further rebranding as “Tranz Rail”.
Guards and the associated guard’s vans were discontinued on freight trains in 1987 (the last being FM969 on train S-47 from Palmerston North to Wellington on 30 May 1987), resulting in mass withdrawal of guard’s vans — many of which only saw 6–10 years service. A small number of FM vans remain in active service with Tranz Scenic and Tranz Metro, used as originally intended for luggage and train management, but also to house generator plant providing power to carriages. A limited number of FM vans and modules are with rail heritage groups, including the experimental 4-wheel FX class van based at Ferrymead, Christchurch. Many other modules were sold into private use, as can be seen in the Wellington region at the Te Marua Speedway and on farms.
References
Quail Map Company, New Zealand Railway and Tramway Altas, 3rd edition.
Rails Magazine, March, April 1977, August, September, December 1979, March 1980, January 1981, August 1987.
New Zealand Railway Observer #165, Autumn 1981.
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27 May 2007 Hugh McCracken.
