4D (train): Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=OctoberDecember 20132023}}

| backgroundname = 4D

| interiorcaption = Lower deck Interior showing passenger seats and stairs

| factory = [[Broadmeadow, New South Wales|Broadmeadow]]

| replacedsuccessor =

| yearscrapped = 30 March 2006

| numberconstructionnumberbuilt = 1

| numberbuiltnumberscrapped = 41

| traction = 8[[Mitsubishi x {{convertElectric|170|kW|hp|abbr=on}} <br> 4-quadrantMitsubishi]] [[Gate turn-off thyristor|GTO]]–4-quadrant [[Chopper Control ([[Mitsubishi Electricelectronics)|chopper]]) control

| poweroutput = {{convert|1360|kW|0|abbr=on}}

| aux = [[Toshiba]]

| electricsystem = 1500{{1,500 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct current|DC]]}} (nominal) from [[overheadOverhead line|overhead catenary]]

| collectionmethod = [[Pantograph (railtransport)|Pantograph]]

| uicclass = 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′

| coupling = [[Scharfenberg coupler]]

| gauge = {{RailGaugetrack gauge|1600mm|lk=on}}

The '''4D''' was a prototype [[bilevel rail car|double deck]] [[electric multiple unit]] built for the [[Public Transport Corporation]], in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria, Australia]], for operation on the [[Railways in Melbourne|Melbourne railway system]]. It remains the only double deck train ever to have runever operated in Melbourne. The train's name stood for "Double Deck Development and Demonstration."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=suburban&section=4d|title = VICSIG}}</ref>

Depending on sources, the intention was for this train to be the demonstration unit for a future order of either 20 or 50 extra sets, had the tests been successful.<ref{{citation nameneeded|date="facebook.com">https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3380889439405&set=a.1192189123265.2030430.1184504348&type=3&comment_id=10210023382839516&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D</ref>July 2023}}

[[File:Interior 4D 6000T.jpg|left|thumb|Vestibule|left, 6000T Interior looking at stairs, seats and door entrance, 2000]]

Built byin [[UGL Rail|A Goninan & CoBroadmeadow]], [[Broadmeadow, New South Wales|Broadmeadow]], it was delivered by rail ininto Melbourne on 10 December 1991.<ref>"{{Victorian Rail-Newsrail|title=Introduction of Four D Train to Melbourne|month=11|year=1991|pages=348-349}}</ref><ref>Interstate Rolling Stock" ''[[Railway Digest]]'' February 1992 page 73</ref> After being bogie exchanged, it was transferred to [[Jolimont Workshops]] on 18 December of the same year, for an inspection and final fit out.<ref name=newsrailmar11/> Funding for the train was supplied from both the Victorian and [[Government of Australia|Commonwealth]] governments.<ref name="facebook.com"RailwayDigest>Melbourne's double-deck experiment and Sydney's Millenium trains ''Railway Digest'' March 2003 pages 15-17</ref>

The train's design was based on the [[Sydney Trains T set|Tangara]] train being built by A Goninan & Co for [[CityRail]] in [[Sydney]], however it was similar only in terms of interior and exterior bodywork; the train's electrical system was much closer to that of the [[Comeng (train)|Comeng]] sets. The design was further modified for use on Melbourne's [[broad gauge]] track, and its control system was designed specifically to allow in-service coupling and operation with Comeng sets.<ref name=Vicsig>[http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=suburban&section=4d 4D train] Vicsig</ref> In addition, the individual carriages were narrower and shorter in both length and width against their predecessors, to fit the Melbourne loading gauge. Altogether, it was 78 metres long; same length as a four-car [[Harris (train)|Harris]] set, but seven metres shorter that a three-car [[Hitachi (Australian train)|Hitachi]] set.<ref name=newsrailmar11/>

It was manufactured from stainless steel, and was fitted with air-conditioning, tinted windows, and inter-car doors, allowing passengers to access all carriages of the train. Much of the equipment matched Sydney's Tangara fleet, from the traction motors (8x MB 3303B) down to small fittings like console buttons.<ref name="facebook.com"/>

The four-car set had a total passenger capacity of 974 passengers (346 seated and 628 standing); considerably more than a three-car [[Comeng (train)|Comeng]] train of similar length, which would only hold 763 passengers in crush load conditions, including 263 seated. However, the set had about the same seating capacity as a [[Tait (train)|Tait]] train - 10 seats per compartment, 34 compartments per four-carriage set, with no data available on crush loads.<ref name=RailwayDigest/>

As part of the trial, the [[Belgrave railway line|Belgrave]] and [[Lilydale railway line|Lilydale]] lines were selected as main testing grounds for the unit and necessary works were performed to accommodate the train's somewhat unconventional dimensions. Preparations for the train occurred at [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]] and near the [[Princes Bridge]] in May 1991, when the tracks were lowered.<ref name=newsrailmar11/> The [[Overhead line|overhead wire]] to [[Belgrave railway station|Belgrave]] and [[Lilydale railway station|Lilydale]] was also altered, including the power feeds, and platforms were cut back where required.<ref name=newsrailmar11/> It was known that the train was physically too large for the Jolimont tunnel between [[Jolimont railway station|Jolimont]] and [[West Richmond railway station|West Richmond]] railway stations, on the [[Hurstbridge railway line|Hurstbridge]] and [[Mernda railway line|Epping]] lines. Given that the train was a demonstrator, it was likely that production designs or future infrastructure plans would have dealt with this.

By early 1993, the Victorian Government had decided not to proceed with the acquisition of any further double deck trains, deciding infrastructure changes required to accommodate the larger trains were too expensive.<ref>"Melbourne abandons double deck plans" ''Railway Digest'' March 1993 page 84</ref>

[[File:4D Cableless Flinders Street.jpg|left|thumb|Power car, 2000]]

The unit broke from Melbourne tradition by being configured as Driving Trailer-Motor-Motor-Driving Trailer (D-TM-TM-D); all other sets in service at the time were (and are still) configured as Driving Motor-Trailer-Driving Motor (M-T-M). In a further break from tradition, the 4D did not use the 'D' code for a driving trailer, instead it was coded simply as T-M-M-T. The car numbers were also placed far outside the usual range; the 4D was numbered as 6000T-5000M-5002M-6002T.

[[Category:Electric multiple units of Victoria (Australiastate)]]

[[Category:ScrappedTrain-related locomotivesintroductions in 1992]]