NZR FM guards van

An AG guards van directly behind the EF class electric locomotive on the Overlander service in 2003.

The NZR FM guards van is a rail vehicle in New Zealand originally used on freight trains but now used primarily on passenger trains, reclassified AG.

First batch, 1977

In the mid-1970s NZR had a need for new guards vans for freight trains, to replace old and increasingly decrepit vans. They were built by Mitsubishi, and were the first all-steel vans. The body was composed of three modules that could be detached from the underframe: a central module, classed GM (guard's module), which contained the guard's office and facilities; and two outer modules, classed LM (luggage module), for freight and luggage. The idea was that should a module become damaged in service it can be removed for repairs and replaced with another, allowing the van to return to service sooner than otherwise would have been the case. It was because of these modules that the vans were given the FM classification, as opposed to the traditional F designation given to all previous NZR guards vans. The FM also pioneered the X28020 bogie, now used under New Zealand's long-distance passenger fleet. The first batch was very well received by guards. Fifty-six were built, and in 1976 an order was placed for an additional 17.

Second batch, 1981

In 1981, another batch of 50 vans were introduced, built by Daewoo in Korea. In 1984 the newly-formed New Zealand Railways Corporation commissioned consultants Booz Allen Hamilton to review operations with a view of making the Corporation's services more efficient. Among the more drastic of the recommendations was reducing locomotive crews from two to one, and the replacement of guards and vans with Train End Monitors (TEMs). This latter recommendation led to the elimination of guards vans from all freight trains by 1987, meaning the second batch of FM vans was redundant after only five years in service.

AG class vans

NZR began overhauling a small number of FM vans for use with 56ft carriages on the Blue Fern, Northerner and Overlander, Bay Express and Lynx Express, many rebuilt with air conditioning. These vans were fitted with either a small platform-mounted generator to supply 240V power, or a larger generator in one of the LM modules to supply the 240V and also power for the air conditioning. On newer higher-powered vans one of the end platforms was given more substantial railings and gates for passenger use, and to separate the modified vans from the other FMs they were given the classification AG. Further conversions were performed with most getting the larger generator, and they soon became the new standard luggage van. There was some variation between vans, in the type, size and position of the generator.

In 1991, AG124 was modified with one of the LM modules converted to provide greater outdoor accommodation for passengers, and both ends fitted with better railings. This van was for use on the TranzAlpine, where it proved extremely popular and a few years later AG239, with a 110kVA generator for air-conditioned cars, incorporated the same feature. In 1995 AG239 had the other LM module modified to match, at the expense of any luggage carrying capacity, and a larger 175kVA generator to reflect the increased work needed for the larger consist.

In 1998, AG90, out of service since its involvement in the 25 August 1993 level crossing collision between the Southerner and a concrete mixer truck at Rolleston, was repaired and had a new 175kVA generator installed, for duty on the TranzAlpine. This van is used in the middle of the train, to separate the increasingly lengthy TranzAlpine in to two self-contained sections. In 1999, AG199 was modified in a similar manner for the TranzCoastal, with one LM and the GM hollowed out for outdoor viewing and the other LM retained solely for luggage, with no generator. In 2008, AG239 was modified to match AG90 to provide a spare viewing car. No further vans have been modified in this manner.

21st century

With the introduction of new carriages rebuilt from ex-British Rail Mark II carriages for the Capital Connection, AG130 was modified for use with them. Some of the more notable changes were the fitting of a wheelchair hoist in one of the LM modules and the covering-in of one of the balcony ends to claim back luggage capacity lost by the fitting of the hoist. Other notable changes to FM vans were the use of some with the first SA suburban sets for Auckland, to supply power before the arrival of SD carriages fitted with a generator and a driving cab. For this use the vans were painted MAXX Blue with a gold stripe. Following the arrival of the SD cars, these vans were released back in to the general pool, with two exceptions. AG222 was further overhauled and painted as a spare generator and extra luggage capacity for GWRC's Wairarapa Connection trains; AG118 moved to Dunedin along with 13 ex-Wairarapa 56 ft carriages, where it has been leased to the Taieri Gorge Railway minus bogies. It has been fitted with X25330 bogies and is used to supply head-end power to TGR's newly acquired ex-Wairarapa cars.

Up to six FM/AG vans will be rebuilt into a new configuration for use with the new AK Class carriages under construction at Hillside Workshops. Four of these will be fitted with a 220kVA generator and a viewing deck, with an interconnecting corridor past the generator compartment. AG101 and AG61 are two of the vans that will be rebuilt into that configuration, while the two others (one of which will be AG245) will become specialist luggage-only vans. It is expected all of these vans will receive a new classification. They will also keep the X28020 bogie, and not be upgraded to the newer P13 bogie.

In preservation

A considerable number of FM vans were bought by heritage railways. At least three FMs have been returned to main-line use in largely original form, with more expected in the near future. In addition, the Gisborne City Vintage Railway has two vans substantially modified to passenger carriages for main line use. The three modules have been welded together to form a single body with passenger windows. Two similar vans were similarly converted for the Wairoa YMCA for envisaged passenger trains to their Opoutama camp.^[1] This project did not come to fruition. One of these vans has ended up with Gisborne City Vintage Railway and the other with Mainline Steam, where it has been fitted with a servery.^[2]

Mainline Steam also has a number of other FM vans, to be used with its carriage fleet. One of these vans, at Plimmerton, has been modified with one of the LM modules converted to a viewing platform similar to the Tranz Scenic conversions. The GM module has been partitioned to accommodate a generator and a loco crew compartment, and the other LM left for luggage. Unlike the Tranz Scenic conversions, a corridor is provided for so that the van can be marshalled anywhere in the consist and allow passenger access through the train (an idea which has been borrowed for the new vans to go with the AK Class cars). This van is to be paired with Mainline Steam's British Rail Mark II carriage set.

Other uses

FM, GM and LM modules have found many non-rail uses both inside and outside of the rail sphere. Due to their compartmentalized nature, the modules have become handy garden or tool sheds, ticket booths or motel accommodation.^[3]

Sources

1. ^ Rails Magazine^{[citation needed]}
2. ^ http://www.mainlinesteam.co.nz
3. ^ Hapuku Carriages