Rail Paybus FP1 facts for kids

The Rail Paybus FP1 is a special vehicle from 1937. It started as a "railbus" – a bus designed to run on train tracks! Today, it's a museum exhibit at the NSW Rail Museum in Thirlmere, New South Wales, Australia. It's also known as the Rail Bus or Rail Pay Bus FP1.

This unique vehicle was designed by the New South Wales Government Railways' Road Motor Section. Its body was built by Waddingtons Ltd, and its chassis and mechanical parts came from Ford Motor Co. The Rail Paybus FP1 is so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2003.

History of the Rail Paybus

How Railbuses Began

The first railbuses, including FP1, were built in 1937. They were designed by the NSW Railways' Road Motor section and put together by Waddingtons Pty Ltd. These railbuses were built using truck parts, like a Ford V8 petrol engine and gearbox.

The first group of railbuses, numbered FP1 to FP6, looked a bit different from each other. FP1 and FP6 were "single-ended," meaning they only had controls at one end. They had to be turned around at the end of their journey, usually using a special turntable or a triangle-shaped track. The other buses (FP2 to FP5) were slightly bigger and had controls at both ends, so they didn't need to be turned. They could carry 18 passengers.

Why Railbuses Were Created

Railbuses were meant to carry passengers on smaller train lines. On these lines, there weren't enough people to make it worthwhile to run a big steam train or even a regular rail-motor. FP1 started its service on 7 July 1937.

However, the idea of railbuses for passengers didn't last long. Within a year or two, all of them were taken out of passenger service. They were then used as "pay buses." We don't know exactly why they weren't successful as passenger vehicles. It might have been because of the tough economic times, meaning fewer people were traveling. Also, road buses were becoming very popular for passenger transport.

From Passenger to Pay Bus

FP1 is thought to have been changed into a pay bus in September 1937, so its time as a passenger vehicle was very short. By June 1938, it was definitely working as a pay bus. The other buses in this group also became pay buses later.

Life as a Pay Bus

In October 1938, FP1 had a major check-up. It had traveled about 46,000 miles (74,000 km)! The results were good, showing very little wear on the engine.

A famous event involving a pay bus happened on 8 December 1941. Pay Bus FP5 was severely damaged when explosives were set off under the track. The bus was so badly damaged that it was taken out of service. A new bus, also built by Waddingtons, replaced it in September 1945.

In 1942, all the remaining pay buses, including FP1, were moved to the Mechanical Branch of the Railways. FP1 had another major check-up in June 1943. It was also submerged by floodwaters in Maitland in 1949, but it was repaired.

Changes Over Time

The railbuses had many changes during their working lives.

• Some buses, like FP4, were fitted with a second roof in 1947 to help with cooling. FP1 also got this feature.
• Originally, they had two headlights at each end. By around 1950, these were replaced with a single headlight on the roof at each end.
• Twin air horns were added to the roof around 1939-40.
• The single-ended buses, like FP1, were changed to allow them to drive in reverse more easily. This involved changes to the body for engine cooling and to the transmission.
• Later in their lives, some railbuses, including FP1, received new engines. FP1 got its new engine in December 1964.

Colors and Look

When they were first built, all the railbuses were painted green and cream. FP1 had a special "art-deco" style with curvy cream lines. The double-ended buses had a simpler cream and green design.

Later, around 1939-40, the double-ended buses got a simpler green and cream paint job. FP1 also had other color schemes, including a darker green with cream or yellow around the windows.

The final color scheme for these buses was "Indian Red" with "Chrome Yellow" lines. This color was introduced in the mid-1950s and became standard for new diesel locomotives.

Why They Are Important

The Rail Paybus FP1 and its sister vehicles are important because they show how road bus ideas were used for rail transport. They were an early attempt to offer passenger service on smaller train lines where bigger trains weren't practical.

Even more importantly, when they stopped being passenger buses, they became pay buses. They were used to pay railway workers in remote areas all over the state for 50 years! This shows their big social importance, as the Railways were a huge employer in rural New South Wales. The arrival of the pay bus was a big event in many country towns.

End of Service

Most of the first group of railbuses were taken out of service between 1968 and 1970. FP1 was retired on 3 October 1968. All of them, except FP1, were scrapped (taken apart) in December 1970.

FP1 was saved for preservation and given to the NSW Rail Transport Museum in March 1969. New pay buses were introduced in 1968, replacing the older ones.

FP1 at the Museum

After being saved, FP1 was moved to the museum's first site in Petersham, then to Enfield. At Enfield, museum staff cleaned it up, fixed some rust, and repainted it. FP1 was put on display when the museum opened to the public in October 1972.

In 1975, the pay bus moved to the new museum site in Thirlmere. It was displayed under a shelter. It hasn't been worked on since, and it hasn't been on display since it was slightly damaged in a small accident around 1982.

What Rail Paybus FP1 Looks Like

Because FP1 was designed by the Railways' Road Motor Section and built by a bus body company, it looks a lot like a road bus. This was done on purpose to make it seem more like a bus and less like a typical train car. Its design has rounded panels and smooth curves, which was a popular "art deco" style for vehicles in the 1930s. Its original paint job also made it look like a road bus.

Unlike some other railbuses, FP1 was "single-ended." This means it only had one set of driving controls, so it had to be turned around at the end of each trip. The other railbuses had controls at both ends.

When it became a pay bus, FP1 was fitted with a safe for wages, tables and chairs for the paymaster, and a passenger seat. The driver's seat was about a third of the way into the vehicle.

Current Condition

As of June 2003, the Rail Paybus FP1 was in very poor physical condition for a museum exhibit. Its body showed signs of neglect, with damaged panels and rust. The inside also needed a lot of work. The old floor covering and paymaster's table were worn out. The seats were torn, and parts of the floor were missing. Inside panels were coming loose, and light fittings were gone. The front windows had been removed and covered with a rough material, allowing water to leak inside. Rust was even starting to appear on the dashboard.

Future Potential

This vehicle has high potential to be restored and displayed properly in a museum.

Changes Made to FP1

Here are some key changes made to Rail Paybus FP1:

• 1937: Started service as a 17-seat railbus.
• 1938: Changed into a rail pay bus.
• 1942: Its ownership moved to the Mechanical Branch of the Railways.
• 1949: Was completely submerged in the Maitland Floods.
• 1964: The original Ford V8 engine was replaced with a Ford Thames V8 engine.
• 1968: The Railway Department decided it was no longer needed.
• 1969: Given to the Rail Transport Museum in Thirlmere.

Why FP1 is a Heritage Item

As of July 2005, Rail Paybus FP1 is very important to the history of New South Wales. It shows how the idea of road buses was used for train travel. It tried to provide passenger service on train lines where regular trains were too expensive to run.

When it stopped carrying passengers, FP1 and its sister buses were successfully used to pay wages across the state. This system lasted for 50 years! This shows its great social importance, especially for the many railway workers in remote places.

FP1 is also important for its history, looks, and technology. It creatively adapted road vehicle styles and building methods for use on train tracks.

A Unique Part of History

FP1 is historically important because it was the first of its kind. It shows how the railway tried new ways to offer passenger service. When that didn't work out, it was successfully changed into a pay bus. This role continued for 50 years, until modern ways of paying staff took over. FP1 is very rare because it's the only one left from its original group.

Creative Design and Look

FP1 and its sister buses are important for their creative design. They used coach-building techniques and the look of road buses from the 1930s for rail transport. They definitely didn't look like other railway vehicles! Their early paint schemes, with curvy two-tone designs, were very much in the "art deco" style of the time.

Connecting with Communities

These first railbuses also have clear social importance. First, they tried to provide passenger service where regular trains weren't practical. But more importantly, their role as pay buses made a big difference in how railway staff were paid. The Railways were a huge part of life in most rural areas of NSW, and railway employees were a large part of many communities. The pay bus arriving in a town was a significant social event. Because this method of paying remote staff continued for about 50 years, FP1 represents a big part of that history.

Learning from Technology

There's a lot to learn from how road bus technology was adapted for rail transport in these first railbuses. Both their mechanical parts and how they were built were like pure road buses. Only the wheels and some mechanical parts were changed to fit them for rail use. FP1 is both a good example of this and very rare.

A Rare Survivor

FP1 is extremely rare. It is the only known pre-war railbus still in existence.

A Great Example of Adaptation

This is the only StateRail-owned railbus/pay bus that still exists. It's a great example of how technology from one area (road transport) can be adapted for another (railways). It also shows how a vehicle that wasn't successful in its first job (passenger bus) found great success in another role (pay bus).