Motor Quad - Villiers 8E

(Commonwealth Railways, NSWGR, QR, STC^o)

These two cars were discovered at a Dealers in Wilmington, South Australia, suggesting that they had come from the former Commonwealth Railways. The owner said he acquired them at auction in Port Augusta

Markings on the quads confirmed their ancestory as being sourced from the New South Wales Government Railways. Other than that, not much else is known about them. Note the Fairmont 14" steel wheels on the main frame. Power is a Villiers Mark 8E two stroke motor. The motor for the car in the picture is to the right of the person sitting on the car.

A couple of these are in the Pichi Richi Railway Collection at Quorn, running on their 42" track.

Greg Lee has an excellent description of these here.

Whilst in Brisbane (September 2003), we found this Villiers in the Museum at Ipswich.

David Mewes, their curator, advises that QR ran two models of NSWGR cars on their standard gauge line south to the border. This Villiers is one of two. See also the SIC page.

I have also seen photos of these in Broken Hill, appearing as narrow gauge units, most likely owned by the Silverton Tramway Company.

Heres my "Technical Info" page

Uploaded July 12, 2003, Updated May 11, 2008

© Nic Doncaster