Pacific/Fairmont ST-T and E series

N138 Alice Springs

These cars were built by Pacific between 1970 and 1976.

They are a combination of a Fairmont S Series Chassis, and an auto motor driving through a gearbox otherwise used for an MT19 type car, with a chain final drive.

The records suggest that 42 units of the STT series were built and 5 of the STE series were assembled. The difference denoted by the T and the E were the motors. There is some suggestion that a sixth car was built.

All were powered by a small four cylinder engine. The "T" indicated a "Torana" engine (the Torana was a Holden/General Motors product, based on the Vauxhall Viva motor) and the "E" an Escort engine (that being built by rival Ford).

It appears most, if not all, were owned by the Commonwealth Railways, working on the narrow gauge Central Australia Railway between Marree and Alice Springs. A few came south when that line closed, ending their days at Port Augusta, and a few on the Eyre Peninsula. Those remaining are believed to be all privately owned.

The largest group appears to be owned by the Ghan Preservation Society in Alice Springs, as is the car in the photo.

Some will note that there are pictures of some of these carrying the "N" code as part of their number, and others, including other types of cars, were classed with a "CC".

CR generally did not allocate an alpha code to its standard gauge cars, but noted its narrow gauge units as "NXXX". Some older stock was reallocated a "CC" number as it was being rebuilt, "CC" believed to be a shortening of "CCE" or "Chief Civil Engineer"!. The use of "CC" was carried over into the practice of Australian National.

Some SAR cars were also re-coded with the "CC" including some Fairmont cars, as they were outshopped in the heyday of Australian National.

First uploaded June 2003, Updated April 23 2011

© Nic Doncaster