Power type Diesel Build date 1948-55 Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) | Designer Walker Bros. Total produced 12 + spare power unit | |
Builder Walker Bros. (Power Unit),
Martin & King (Body),
Victorian Railways (Assemble). |
The 102hp Walker railmotor was a type of diesel railcar operated by the Victorian Railways in Australia.
After the Second World War, the Victorian Railways undertook a major rebuilding program known as "Operation Phoenix". One of the first tasks was the upgrading of passenger services on country branch lines, through the replacement of 23 wooden bodied railmotors built in the 1920s, and the withdrawal of steam locomotive hauled mixed trains. An initial order of six 153hp railcars, twelve 102hp railcars and twelve 280hp railcars from Walker Brothers in Wigan, UK, was placed, and was extended to include a further 102hp railmotor, being delivered into revenue service on Wednesday, 26 January 1955.
Thirteen 102hp units were built in total.
The power units and controls were shipped out from England and the car bodies built locally by Martin & King in Malvern, with the finished units assembled at Newport Workshops.
HO scale
Weico has produced whitemetal kits for the 102hp and 153hp Walker Railmotors and trailers.
Trainbuilder announced a series of brass 102hp Walker railmotors, to retail at $1175 each (plus $25 postage within Australia). Numbers include 1RM with silver roof, 4RM and 7RM with yellow roof, and 6RM, 10RM and 11RM with blue roof.