New South Wales Sputnik suburban carriage stock

what is it?

The Sputnik suburban carriage stock is a type of electric multiple unit that was operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between 1957 and 1993 and served on the Sydney suburban network. Entering service in 1957, gaining the nickname "Sputniks" after the Russian satellite of the same name that the Soviet Union launched into space the same year. In their later years, they, alongside the Standard and Tulloch stock, were nicknamed "Red Rattlers", the expression coming from Melbourne in reference to the wooden Tait trains.

who runs it

base stats

• speed 113 km/htop speed
• built 40made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

• 🎂First built 69 years ago, in 1957.
• 📏19.1 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
• ⌛Served for 36 years (1957–1993).

multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.

spec sheet

built

1957

in service from

1957

retired

1993

status

retired

number built

40

kind

Electric multiple unit

traction

electric

origin

🇦🇺 Australia

builders

Commonwealth Engineering

operators

New South Wales Government Railways, New South Wales Public Transport Commission, State Rail Authority of New South Wales, CityRail

top speed

113 km/h

power

—

gauge

1,435 mm standard gauge

electric system

1,500 V DC catenary

formation

8 carriages

length

19.1 m

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.