Talk:CGR Railmotor

CGR Railmotors no. M1 to M5
Additional information in an email from John Middleton on 3 March 2014.

From: John Nicholas Middleton To: Kol Andre H Kritzinger Cc: Bruno Martin ; The Paxtons ; Wally And Elrine Greig Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 6:40 AM Subject: Re: CGR Railmotor no M6

Hi Andre

The statement "It was the first railmotor to enter service on the CGR and was allocated the number 6, later M6, in the number range that was used for railway inspection trolleys" isn't true, as M1 to M5 all preceded it and this M series of railcars were mostly revenue vehicles, but at least one larger inspection car was also in this series (M4)

Maudsleys M1-M2 were Revenue Cars - 9 ton / 27 HP  Petrol-Electric 1st Class (7 seats); 3rd Class (4 seats) plus 1 ton goods - see photo in Jorgensens "150 year book" page 36. These large cars cost £1582 each. Of the 3 cars M1-M3 (see below M3 was different), 2 had been delivered by the end of 1905, one of which was tried on the Cape Flats Line and on the Sir Lowry Pass section, but with indifferent results; after certain alterations have been effected, further tests were to be made before one car was sent to De Aar, where it was to be located for use on the Prieska Branch. It was intended to place the other two 3 ft. 6 in. petrol cars on the Carnarvon and Somerset East Branches respectively, and the steam car (No. 6) on the French Hoek Line. Performance of all 3 cars M1-M3 initially reported as very unsatisfactory. One Maudsley put into service on the Somerset East branch on 1/7/1906 running alternate days with steam, but was unreliable and was eventually removed and replaced by steam loco. One Maudsley introduced on Hutchinson - Calvinia service on 3/7/1906 but was unreliable and only ran 43 out of 151 scheduled days by end of 1906. The Somerset East car seems to have then been sent to the Colesberg branch as in 1907 it was referred to as the "Spare Car" and was transferred from Colesberg to Hutchinson - Victoria West service so that both Maudsleys were there. They must have got the Maudsleys to work properly in the end as one is supposed to have worked the Colesberg branch for some years.

M3 was also a Revenue Car from Lloyd & Plaister - 15 HP 2 1/4 ton 8 passengers. This smaller car cost £506. Introduced on Hutchinson - Victoria West Passenger Service 7/5/1906 but broke down, repaired but failed again by end of 5/1906 and reported as permanently withdrawn from service. Replaced by Maudsley Car from 3/7/1906.

M4 seems to have been an inspection trolley

M5 was a 2'0" gauge version of M3, see reference in "24 Inches Apart" which says car entered service 6/6/1906. Seems to have been intended for passengers.

Regards John

Posted here for future reference by - André Kritzinger (talk) 22:10, 3 March 2014 (UTC)

Drawings shows another Railcar!?
I think it is not the right drawing! Here is an image of the CGR railmotor in an old magazine: https://archive.org/details/locomotiverailwa1219unse/page/35/mode/1up

and here is a builder's photo of the engine from NBL: https://www.e-pics.ethz.ch/index/ETHBIB.Bildarchiv/ETHBIB.Bildarchiv_102146.html It was a Cab-Forward-Railcar.

Bernhard Rieger (talk) 16:42, 30 April 2022 (UTC)


 * Today I added the correct images and adjusted the text accordingly. Of course backed up with references. Bernhard Rieger (talk) 13:51, 1 January 2024 (UTC)