I remember riding on the red rattlers as a kid and into my teenage years. It was fun but in hindsight, not particularly safe. You could open the carriage doors whilst it was moving and literally hang out of the train. Not surprising why there were a number of injuries and fatalities.
With the introduction of the Tangara trains in the early 1990's, it was the end of the line for good old Red......
I used to love the old "U"boats with soft seats and if you could get a coach with original windows with metal sun blinds. For the winter they had tiny little heaters above the doors to the main compartment. They were so comfortable you could fall asleep easily. Even the lighting was soft. Today hard upright seats, smelly air conditioning and horrible fluorescent lights. Ahhh progress.
nothing like standing near the doors of a red rattler on a hot summers day i think it beats any aircon train today it was also great to be bouncing on the soft seats i feel old now lol
Its funny you should say that, since these cars don't have hydraulics. They do have pneumatics though. I assume you may have been referring to a W set with an auto door which failed.
Hmm...I remember one particular red rattler who lost control of its hydraulics and sprayed oil up and down the side of itself...and all over my mum's pants!
The 1964 Tulloch double-deck trailer carriages that went with the red-rattler power carriages were not all withdrawn from service until 2004. These had powered doors which closed before the train left the platform, so were a lot safer than the single-deck carriages, but they were also a reminder of the old days. The one that ended up at Dorrigo turned out to be the carriage that was on my regular afternoon school train!
i remember the red rattlers lol it was a near death experience everytime you rode one thats what made them awsome to ride lol the doorless train ive seen guys jump off before the train stopped and bounce on the platforms lol ahh the good old days of the 90s
The first time I went to Sydney at age 6½, I was amazed that the trains went everywhere with the doors open. None of the trains in Brisbane at the time were electric, but we had old wooden compartment coaches with swing doors, or stainless steel SX sets with power closing sliding doors, and no train in Brisbane left a platform with a door open (intentionally, at least).
Back then we all travelled along with the doors wide open. You would stand with your sholders between the hand rails,relax and speed along without a worry in the world. occasionally you swung half your body out to see whats going on.
As the train slowed at your destination, if you felt like it, you would jump off at the speed you felt safe at. Running for a train was fun too,if you were quick enough to jump on,good luck to you! HA HA!!...no wander they were banned.
i know someone who really loves collected these stuff... and after that i always received new updates about trains from him and so i learned new about this too... want to see the oldest train on earth.... still running
I have never been on one but they are a truley magnificant piece of machinery, funny enough you can buy old carragies ie the tangara and chuck it on a block of land pending council aproval (enquired about it thinking about converting one into a mini house / flat for my self) but I say bring back the Rattler's for today (made out of modern matiriels but the same classic design and closeable doors)
I dont know who the driver of that last run over the Harbor Bridge was, but I am sure the Guards name was David Kay. Of Sydney Depot. Like the old train he is now also gone .
They certainly have a good character... far more so than the new millenium or tangara models... and whilst imo the 1972-190s silver models have much character i daresay these certainly surpass them. For the electric variety of traction imo these have the most character
If any of you collect model trains, you may be interested to know you can now buy working models of these from Berg's in Parramatta or at the railway store at Central station.
Got my own 4-car set, applied the decals just recently and it looks a treat!
Cool been looking for a set for age's and you've answered my question where to get them roughly how much are they, As I hear all these classic stories about them but am to young to remember them (I'm 22) the oldest I can remember is the suburban and intercity and tangara,
I use to catch the red rattlers in 1987 from Lidcombe to Central for my tafe coarse, they were a mix of the single deck and double deck carriages, loved the sound of them. It was funny how people would be standing near the open doors when the thing was doing about 60 k's an hour
Seriously I dont remember them (not long turnt 23) the earliest I can remember are the Tulloch carraige's but more or less remember the introduction of the Tangara's in 88. Knowing me I have been on one but forgot about it
I miss them too but I don't blame them for getting rid of them though, It was always pretty scary being on those trains when the doors were open. Did those doors ever work? I remember the old old ones where you had to pull them shut but the electric ones never worked either.
The old red rattlers, yes they were well past their use by date when they retired them and potentially dangerous, but they sure had their quaint old fashioned charms. If you stepped into one of the original carriages, with the original light fittings (not the fluorescent ones) and the original window shades you would feel you were transformed back in time to the 1920s.
IT pis*es me off to know that they were turned to scrap, there is another video on youtube about them, showing them been crushed and it was very upsetting for a train buff such as myself i still think they had another 10 or 20 years left in them.
They didn't have DOORS?!
TrollPancakes 3 months ago
They should have just put automatic doors on them! LOL! They took away something that could have been as iconic as Melbourne's old trams
Nordfallen 3 months ago
I remember riding on the red rattlers as a kid and into my teenage years. It was fun but in hindsight, not particularly safe. You could open the carriage doors whilst it was moving and literally hang out of the train. Not surprising why there were a number of injuries and fatalities.
With the introduction of the Tangara trains in the early 1990's, it was the end of the line for good old Red......
woohooboy 4 months ago
I would have peed out the doorway
MrChowTheTroll 5 months ago
It is so sad that no Red Rattlers are left
TheWaluigiking 7 months ago
I used to love the old "U"boats with soft seats and if you could get a coach with original windows with metal sun blinds. For the winter they had tiny little heaters above the doors to the main compartment. They were so comfortable you could fall asleep easily. Even the lighting was soft. Today hard upright seats, smelly air conditioning and horrible fluorescent lights. Ahhh progress.
faulcon1 8 months ago
nothing like standing near the doors of a red rattler on a hot summers day i think it beats any aircon train today it was also great to be bouncing on the soft seats i feel old now lol
doggyy2004 9 months ago
Its funny you should say that, since these cars don't have hydraulics. They do have pneumatics though. I assume you may have been referring to a W set with an auto door which failed.
zordmaker 10 months ago
Hmm...I remember one particular red rattler who lost control of its hydraulics and sprayed oil up and down the side of itself...and all over my mum's pants!
pitiablerabbit 10 months ago
The 1964 Tulloch double-deck trailer carriages that went with the red-rattler power carriages were not all withdrawn from service until 2004. These had powered doors which closed before the train left the platform, so were a lot safer than the single-deck carriages, but they were also a reminder of the old days. The one that ended up at Dorrigo turned out to be the carriage that was on my regular afternoon school train!
hartleymartin 1 year ago
7 news? He says at the end "10 eye witness news."
CommanderQ 1 year ago
i remember the red rattlers lol it was a near death experience everytime you rode one thats what made them awsome to ride lol the doorless train ive seen guys jump off before the train stopped and bounce on the platforms lol ahh the good old days of the 90s
rolficus 1 year ago
The first time I went to Sydney at age 6½, I was amazed that the trains went everywhere with the doors open. None of the trains in Brisbane at the time were electric, but we had old wooden compartment coaches with swing doors, or stainless steel SX sets with power closing sliding doors, and no train in Brisbane left a platform with a door open (intentionally, at least).
JBofBrisbane 1 year ago
Back then we all travelled along with the doors wide open. You would stand with your sholders between the hand rails,relax and speed along without a worry in the world. occasionally you swung half your body out to see whats going on.
As the train slowed at your destination, if you felt like it, you would jump off at the speed you felt safe at. Running for a train was fun too,if you were quick enough to jump on,good luck to you! HA HA!!...no wander they were banned.
hiptoeknee 1 year ago
those Tangaras Suck!
gmspeedfreak 1 year ago
@gmspeedfreak I love Tangara's, but nothing beats the good old train's
my90tp 11 months ago
good on a hot day just open the window or door.i used them when i was living there 1974 1980.
dublin0850 1 year ago
Pennsy MP-54 MU's were also called "Red Rattlers" as well, or just "Reds."
nyshortline 1 year ago
Great footage of yesteryear !
TrainSpotterX 2 years ago
There are some red rattlers at Flemington Maintenance Centre and some have been scrapped:}
Bails992 2 years ago
i know someone who really loves collected these stuff... and after that i always received new updates about trains from him and so i learned new about this too... want to see the oldest train on earth.... still running
ladymeirah28 2 years ago
I have never been on one but they are a truley magnificant piece of machinery, funny enough you can buy old carragies ie the tangara and chuck it on a block of land pending council aproval (enquired about it thinking about converting one into a mini house / flat for my self) but I say bring back the Rattler's for today (made out of modern matiriels but the same classic design and closeable doors)
my90tp 2 years ago
yeah.. where are the rattlers now?? pretty sure most people just used to jump from one train to the other..
IM1337iPwn 2 years ago
I dont know who the driver of that last run over the Harbor Bridge was, but I am sure the Guards name was David Kay. Of Sydney Depot. Like the old train he is now also gone .
ookland81 2 years ago
Yeah he died by smoke inhalation from being trapped in the millenium train, couldnt escape...Where are these rattlers now?
Viciousrambl 2 years ago
It'll be such a shame to lose the R, L, S, K, C, [ I think I've covered them :p] sets soon.
They have such character, and they feel and look like trains!
Scrige 2 years ago
actually, only the L, R and S sets will be scrapped. The K and C sets vill stay in service.
B767rules 2 years ago
True, sorry at the time of the posting I think it was unclear which sets were going.
Still I believe the K, and C sets only have a number of years before they too will be retired.
Scrige 2 years ago
i hope not. just a couple of weeks ago i went on a k set. very clean, very fast and very well maintained.
B767rules 2 years ago
They certainly have a good character... far more so than the new millenium or tangara models... and whilst imo the 1972-190s silver models have much character i daresay these certainly surpass them. For the electric variety of traction imo these have the most character
Atomius1 2 years ago
If any of you collect model trains, you may be interested to know you can now buy working models of these from Berg's in Parramatta or at the railway store at Central station.
Got my own 4-car set, applied the decals just recently and it looks a treat!
Bennyboy1985 3 years ago
Cool been looking for a set for age's and you've answered my question where to get them roughly how much are they, As I hear all these classic stories about them but am to young to remember them (I'm 22) the oldest I can remember is the suburban and intercity and tangara,
Cheers Adam
my90tp 2 years ago
I'm only 2 years older than you but I remember them well. I picked my set up for $550 (4 car set).
Bennyboy1985 2 years ago
I use to catch the red rattlers in 1987 from Lidcombe to Central for my tafe coarse, they were a mix of the single deck and double deck carriages, loved the sound of them. It was funny how people would be standing near the open doors when the thing was doing about 60 k's an hour
CMCHRYSLERVALIANT 2 years ago
@my90tp I'm 24 and can remember riding these beautiful trains with my dad in the 80's and early 90's!
The doors swinging shut and open by themselves going through the subway from redfern > bondi was probably one of my fondest memories of being a kid!
nommyz 2 years ago
Seriously I dont remember them (not long turnt 23) the earliest I can remember are the Tulloch carraige's but more or less remember the introduction of the Tangara's in 88. Knowing me I have been on one but forgot about it
my90tp 2 years ago
Finally, Something about red rattlers
cityraildude 3 years ago
I remember being on this train when i was 8 or 9 years of age going to the football with my brothers to see st george vs the bulldogs..great days..
anthonymij 3 years ago
one guy in camden bought heaps of reddies and i think he set up a track around his house
polishbox3220 3 years ago
Oh ye gods. Falling out the doors?
hianda 3 years ago
it must be the B-sets
trainz10 3 years ago
I miss them too but I don't blame them for getting rid of them though, It was always pretty scary being on those trains when the doors were open. Did those doors ever work? I remember the old old ones where you had to pull them shut but the electric ones never worked either.
casanoc 4 years ago
The old red rattlers, yes they were well past their use by date when they retired them and potentially dangerous, but they sure had their quaint old fashioned charms. If you stepped into one of the original carriages, with the original light fittings (not the fluorescent ones) and the original window shades you would feel you were transformed back in time to the 1920s.
nua68 4 years ago 2
IT pis*es me off to know that they were turned to scrap, there is another video on youtube about them, showing them been crushed and it was very upsetting for a train buff such as myself i still think they had another 10 or 20 years left in them.
Terrykennedy18 4 years ago
They actually sold most of the carriages to private buyers for as sheds, motel rooms, etc.
rdrogel 4 years ago
cool
anthonymij 3 years ago