29CE

29CE was unique amongst CE guards vans in that it was fitted with aligned bogies in late 1982 or early 1983, perhaps as experiment to improve its reliability. During 1983 I regularly observed this van in commuter sets running to Kyneton, Seymour, Bacchus Marsh and Geelong, usually in a consist with an AE and a mix of 2 or 3 BE's or BW's.

The original plan of New Deal for Country Passengers for S and Z sets didn't make any provision for replacing the CE vans. It became apparent that the CE vans weren't standing up to the strain of the higher utilisation and long distance running of the New Deal timetable. As a short term solution, 4 CD vans were hired from Australian National, while longer term plans were developed to convert the AZ to ACZ. 29CE remained in service until April 1984 (corresponding with the entry into service of the ACZ).

At 10:21am on 8th April 1983, T336 was on 8107 Down Bacchus Marsh pass with a consist of 33BW-28AE-22AW-29CE. As the wooden carriage fleet was reduced through withdrawals its wasn't uncommon for AE or AW's to be used as economy cars. Although not really visible in this photo 29CE was riding on experimental 4 wheel aligned bogies.

The sides are made up of layers of styrene sheet. 30thou (black) sheet forms the base layer which the door openings were cut through. The next layer is scribed car siding, with the final layer for the steel sheeting being 10thou sheet. L angle and channel is also used on the sides and the underframe. Steam Era detail parts have been used on the underframe. Alyhough not correct for the bogies I have just used Steam Era Models XSC bogies. I'm not really happy with the shape of the cupola roof. I've also had to remove the steps at the end of each side from below the guards door as they were fouling with the swing of the small bogies (which is interesting as they don't with the longer E car bogies). the layout it will be rotated with the other vans (CE, CW and CD) in passenger train consists.