ID/Name: RM74
Type: Railmotor
Description: Dodge Passenger Mail Motor
Built: 1936
Status: Under Restoration

SERVICE HISTORY
RM74 is one of six Dodge service cars converted in 1936 to run on rails as Passenger Mail Motors (PMMs) for the Victorian Railways. They were purpose build to carry up to ten second class passengers and 12 cwt. of mail on regularly scheduled advertised passenger services along lines in the less populated areas of Victoria.

Built at the South Australian Railways workshops at Islington on chassis supplied by Dodge and car bodies by T J Richards in Adelaide, it is believed that Victoria is the only state that provided this type of service with this type of vehicle in Australia. When issued into traffic in 1937 the six PMMs were numbered RM70 to 75. Painted in diagonal chrome yellow and black stripes, they quickly became known as “Tigers”.

In 1938 they were scheduled on five routes: Maryborough - Ararat, Horsham - Goroke, Birregurra - Forest, Murchison East - Girgarre (alternatively Colbinabbin) and Shepparton - Katamatite. One PMM was kept spare as a replacement when one in service required maintenance. In addition to providing regular passenger and mail services, they also delivered newspapers and bread to wayside dwellers. To increase the mail and parcels carrying capacity, four small ten foot long trailers were built and used as required.

During the Second World War, all six were converted to run on Producer Gas due to the wartime rationing of petrol. They remained in service until replaced by the new Walker Railcars or the passenger service on the lines they were running were withdrawn. After this they became inspection cars, RM74 being the one for the North East District

PRESERVATION JOURNEY
RM74 had been removed from service by 1958, ending up in the Plum Scrap Yard in Benalla.

In 1974 it was moved to the Australian Railways Historical Society Museum at North Williamstown where it sat for 23 years until acquired by Daylesford Railway.

CURRENT STATUS
It is now undergoing a full restoration to one day provide one of the most unique rail experiences in the world.

FUN FACT
RM74 carries its own turntable underneath, so it can be turned at any flat location.