Converted from members of the 1890 Express type cars during 1929-30, the L cars were designed to provide improved accommodation on a number of accelerated Timetable Daylight trains designed to compete with improving road transport. The initial 42 cars were marshalled into 7 semi-permanently coupled sets of 6 cars, numbered Set 80 to Set 86. Four of the sets were painted in new bright colour schemes matched to each new service. Later on, between 1933 and 1940, further conversions were done, but these remained 'independent' cars.
Green and Cream was carried by Set 82 from introduction till July 1948. This set was used on the South Coast Daylight Service between Sydney and Nowra till 1938 when it was replaced by the new R car Set 109. Like Sets 80 and 81, Set 82 continued in service, but on less important trains.
Set 82 was formed of:
HFL 391 BL 329 BL 993 RFL 33 FL 330 HFL 422
These coaches had a long and varied life - initially they were designed to service the medium distance country traiin workings, and provided Buffet facilities for all passengers via interconnecting gangways between cars. The brake seconds at the outer ends of the set had connecting gangways, so if any extra corridor cars were attached, they were able to access the buffet facilities.
These R-Type corridor cars were worked generally as sets. As the sets got older, carriages beyond repair were taken out of the sets without replacement, and the remainder of the cars lasted until the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.
These R-Type corridor cars were worked generally as sets. As the sets got older, carriages beyond repair were taken out of the sets without replacement, and the remainder of the cars lasted until the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.