53RM
Sister unit 54RM at Whittlesea 6 June 1935. Photo RB McMillan, Newport Railway Museum.
Doubled Ended Leyland Rail Motor 53RM is our most historic vehicle and will celebrate its centenary in 2026.
It is a unique survivor, one of four such vehicles that entered service with the Victorian Railways in 1926 it is the only example, not just of those, but of the 23 wooden railmotors built between 1922 and 1926 in existence today.
When withdrawn from service in 1954, its body was sold to a sawmill near Colac as a bunkhouse and metal components scrapped. The immense importance of the vehicle to Victoria’s railways heritage was identified by Daylesford Railway when the derelict body was purchased in 1982 with the aim of one day restoring it to service.
After being stored at Daylesford for many years, work commenced on restoration when the railmotor was placed on temporary bogies and a subframe built to stop the body from sagging. Heritage Victoria awarded the railway a $20,000 grant to replace the roof and strengthen the frame in 2007.
Our volunteers have continued over the past 18 years to rebuild the car body which, despite being 99 years old is in generally good condition. However areas that had been repaired due to collision damage in the 1940s were extremely poor and required complete replacement. All windows have been repaired and await reglazing along with the doors, many internal fittings restored, and both of the drivers cabs rebuilt.
We purchased a reconditioned 6LW Gardner diesel some years ago, as 51 and 52RM were repowered with them in 1936 and 1939 respectively.
The Board of Directors recently adopted the aspiration of returning 53RM to service for its centenary in 2026.
This will be unique in Australian rail preservation. All items of rolling stock that have been restored have been largely complete, with at least wheels and a frame, and usually boilers, motors, etc.
With all of the mechanical and control components being scrapped over 70 years ago, the only option is to build as new using the original drawings, of which we already hold.
Some of these items include:
Drive and non-drive bogies.
Springs and axle boxes.
Reversing axle drive.
Change gear gate and selector.
Engine subframe.
Fuel, water and air tanks.
Wheels and axles.
Throttle controls.
Brake system.
Radiators.
Lights
Seats.
While our volunteers will continue to add to the already thousands of hours work to complete the car body, the mechanical items are beyond the railways capacity to manufacture in house or fund externally, with a preliminary rough order of magnitude costing being $545,000.
As such we will be seeking funding from all sources, government grants, philanthropic organisations, sponsorships and donations to complete these items.
