Permanent Way Camp Trains

In the early 1970s the SAR built a number of permanent way camp trains, using redundant suburban cars, Brill railcars and trailers, and brakevans. Three types of vehicles were provided: ablutions (PWA), kitchen / dining (PWK) and sleeping (PWS). Each train consisted of one PWK, one PWA and two PWS vehicles, although in later years vehicles tended to be intermixed as needed.

PWA11. Built 1918 as broad gauge end and centre loading suburban car 435. Rebuilt as per-way camp train ablutions car PWA11, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln 2 Feb 1971. Condemned 26 Apr 1985.

PWA12. Built 1918 as broad gauge end and centre loading suburban car 441. Rebuilt as per-way camp train ablutions car PWA12, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln 27 May 1971. Condemned 4 Dec 1985.

PWA18. Built 1954 as broad gauge composite goods brake 4408. Rebuilt as per-way camp train ablutions car PWA18, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln Mar 1973. Condemned 26 Apr 1985.

PWK11. Built 1913 as broad gauge end and centre loading suburban car 349. Rebuilt as per-way camp train kitchen and dining car PWK11, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln 2 Feb 1971. Condemned 26 Apr 1985.

PWK12. Built 1918 as broad gauge end and centre loading suburban car 440. Rebuilt as per-way camp train kitchen and dining car PWK12, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln 27 May 1971. Condemned 4 Dec 1985.

PWK18. Built 1918 as broad gauge end and centre loading suburban car 437. Rebuilt as per-way camp train kitchen and dining car PWK18, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln Mar 1973. Condemned 26 Apr 1985.

PWS20. Built 1928 as broad gauge Brill trailer 215. Rebuilt as per-way camp train sleeping car PWS20, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln 2 Feb 1971. Condemned 4 Dec 1985.

PWS21. Built 1927 as broad gauge Brill railcar 40. Rebuilt as per-way camp train sleeping car PWS21, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln 2 Feb 1971. Condemned 26 Apr 1985.

PWS22. Built 1930 as broad gauge Brill railcar 55. Rebuilt as per-way camp train sleeping car PWS22, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln 27 May 1971. Condemned 4 Dec 1985.

PWS23. Built 1930 as broad gauge Brill railcar 58. Rebuilt as per-way camp train sleeping car PWS23, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln, probably in May 1971. Condemned 6 Mar 1986.

PWS30. Built 1928 as narrow gauge Brill trailer 301. Converted to broad gauge 1930, renumbered 220. Rebuilt as per-way camp train sleeping car PWS30, converted to narrow gauge and transferred to Port Lincoln Mar 1973. Condemned 22 May 1984.

PWS31. Built 1928 as narrow gauge Brill trailer 302. Rebuilt as per-way camp train sleeping car PWS31, transferred to Port Lincoln Mar 1973. Condemned 4 Dec 1985. To Pichi Richi.

While operating as designated sets, the Eyre Peninsula allocations were -

Consist 11: PWK11, PWA11, PWS20, PWS21
Consist 12: PWK12, PWA12, PWS22, PWS23
Consist 18: PWK18, PWA18, PWS30, PWS31

PWA11 (and PWA12 beside it) at Darke Peak in 1974. The water tanks on both PWAs are extended in their 'living' position. Photo: Alex Grunbach

PWA18 at Cummins in 1974. The water tank is retracted in its 'travelling' position. Photo: Alex Grunbach

PWK11 at Darke Peak in 1974. Photo: Alex Grunbach

PWS30, PWS31, PWA18 and PWK18 at Cummins in 1974. Photo: Alex Grunbach

Three PWS sleepers at Kimba in 1983. Nearest the camera is PSW 30 or 31, then PWS20, then PWS 21 or 22. Photo: Greg O'Brien