26MT

ID/Name: 26MT
Type:  Carriage
Description: DERM Trailer
Built: 1930
Status: Stored

Five light weight trailer carriages were built in 1930 for the new Petrol Electric Rail Motors. Outwardly resembling these vehicles, they could seat 8 more passengers for a total of 62 with a large Guards van for luggage and parcels.

SERVICE HISTORY
Built ostensively to increase the capacity of the Petrol Electrics on the Melbourne to Geelong service, they spent the much of their working life on this run. Because of its relatively flat nature, two would often be seen behind a single motor. On the weekends, it was not uncommon to see them on the Whittlesea excursion train

Being painted red when built, they emerged from the workshops in the early 1950s in the new livery of blue and gold at the same time when the petrol engines were being replaced in the railmotors, thus making them DERM trailers. It was also at this time that the 280hp walker railcars replaced the DERMs on many of their Geelong services, so the trailers could be seen behind their motors going to places such as Bacchus Marsh, Leongatha, Yea and the brachlines radiating out of Bendigo.

This remained until the mass closure or withdrawal of passenger service on the brachlines in the 1970s when they all returned to the depot at Spencer Street. Here they would also add the shorter runs to Seymour and the shuttle between Frankston and Stoney Point and occasionally they would be paired with a 600hp DRC for the long run to Donald.

However, as more passenger services were closed and with their light construction catching up with them after 50 years, they were all withdrawn in 1982.

PRESERVATION JOURNEY
Daylesford Railway approached Vic Rail at that time with an interest to purchase 26MT (as the class leader) and our intension to acquire a DERM upon their retirement. We were successful and 26MT was transported by road to Daylesford in 1983. After the purchase and restoration of 63RM in 1986 and its restoration to service in 1992 attention turned to 26MT.

It entered service in the late 1990s and ran a number of times until it was unfortunately a victim of multiple vandal attacks (along a number of other vehicles). This along with the lack of undercover storage took its toll where it became unfit for traffic and was withdrawn.

CURRENT STATUS
Today, 26MT is stored undercover in the shed with its long-awaited restoration planned to commence in 2026.

FUN FACT

26MT is the only survivor of the 5 DERM trailers.