How to build an HST (XPT)

[Theo]

Comeng's promotional video on the Australian XPT from 1982, shows a lot
about the design and construction of their HST variant:

(with an emphasis on design for the terrible NSW track)

[Sam Wilson]

Post by Theo
Comeng's promotional video on the Australian XPT from 1982, shows a lot
http://youtu.be/QMv_ihG54kA
(with an emphasis on design for the terrible NSW track)

Interesting how similar the style of the interior fit out is to the
original BR Mk3. The vestibule and toilet doors look almost identical.

Sam

[Recliner]

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by Theo
Comeng's promotional video on the Australian XPT from 1982, shows a lot
http://youtu.be/QMv_ihG54kA
(with an emphasis on design for the terrible NSW track)

Interesting how similar the style of the interior fit out is to the
original BR Mk3. The vestibule and toilet doors look almost identical.

I thought it started out as a licensed HST copy, with changes only made as necessary for Australian conditions?

[Marland]

On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:32:46 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by Theo
Comeng's promotional video on the Australian XPT from 1982, shows a lot
http://youtu.be/QMv_ihG54kA
(with an emphasis on design for the terrible NSW track)

Interesting how similar the style of the interior fit out is to the
original BR Mk3. The vestibule and toilet doors look almost identical.

I thought it started out as a licensed HST copy, with changes only made
as necessary for Australian conditions?

Only the power cars , the coaches were a local design based on previous
ones by the US Budd company and bore the hallmark of that firm with the
fluted sides typical of many US cars.

GH

[Theo]

Post by Recliner

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by Theo
Comeng's promotional video on the Australian XPT from 1982, shows a lot
http://youtu.be/QMv_ihG54kA
(with an emphasis on design for the terrible NSW track)

Interesting how similar the style of the interior fit out is to the
original BR Mk3. The vestibule and toilet doors look almost identical.

I thought it started out as a licensed HST copy, with changes only made as
necessary for Australian conditions?

According to the video, power cars were licensed from Transmark (BREL's
export arm) with localisation (bogies, engine derating, cooler groups) and
fabrication done by Comeng. But passenger coaches were all Comeng, although
perhaps they borrowed design ideas from the Mk3?

Of course Comeng would want to emphasise how much local work they did,
rather than bought in. It would be interesting to see how their 'mockups'
match the HST design.

Theo

[Recliner]

Post by Theo

On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:32:46 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by Theo
Comeng's promotional video on the Australian XPT from 1982, shows a lot
http://youtu.be/QMv_ihG54kA
(with an emphasis on design for the terrible NSW track)

Interesting how similar the style of the interior fit out is to the
original BR Mk3. The vestibule and toilet doors look almost identical.

I thought it started out as a licensed HST copy, with changes only made as
necessary for Australian conditions?

According to the video, power cars were licensed from Transmark (BREL's
export arm) with localisation (bogies, engine derating, cooler groups) and
fabrication done by Comeng. But passenger coaches were all Comeng, although
perhaps they borrowed design ideas from the Mk3?
Of course Comeng would want to emphasise how much local work they did,
rather than bought in. It would be interesting to see how their 'mockups'
match the HST design.

I think the video showed an airbag suspension that was probably from the Mk
3. There might well have been other Mk 3 donor items.

[Sam Wilson]

Post by Recliner

Post by Theo

On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:32:46 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by Theo
Comeng's promotional video on the Australian XPT from 1982, shows a lot
http://youtu.be/QMv_ihG54kA
(with an emphasis on design for the terrible NSW track)

Interesting how similar the style of the interior fit out is to the
original BR Mk3. The vestibule and toilet doors look almost identical.

I thought it started out as a licensed HST copy, with changes only made as
necessary for Australian conditions?

According to the video, power cars were licensed from Transmark (BREL's
export arm) with localisation (bogies, engine derating, cooler groups) and
fabrication done by Comeng. But passenger coaches were all Comeng, although
perhaps they borrowed design ideas from the Mk3?
Of course Comeng would want to emphasise how much local work they did,
rather than bought in. It would be interesting to see how their 'mockups'
match the HST design.

I think the video showed an airbag suspension that was probably from the Mk
3. There might well have been other Mk 3 donor items.

There’s a comment in the video that Comeng had bogies that would provide
the improved ride that was specified, but the client insisted on BR ones,
so the airbags may well have come by that route.

Sam

[Marland]

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by Recliner

Post by Theo

On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:32:46 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by Theo
Comeng's promotional video on the Australian XPT from 1982, shows a lot
http://youtu.be/QMv_ihG54kA
(with an emphasis on design for the terrible NSW track)

Interesting how similar the style of the interior fit out is to the
original BR Mk3. The vestibule and toilet doors look almost identical.

I thought it started out as a licensed HST copy, with changes only made as
necessary for Australian conditions?

According to the video, power cars were licensed from Transmark (BREL's
export arm) with localisation (bogies, engine derating, cooler groups) and
fabrication done by Comeng. But passenger coaches were all Comeng, although
perhaps they borrowed design ideas from the Mk3?
Of course Comeng would want to emphasise how much local work they did,
rather than bought in. It would be interesting to see how their 'mockups'
match the HST design.

I think the video showed an airbag suspension that was probably from the Mk
3. There might well have been other Mk 3 donor items.

There’s a comment in the video that Comeng had bogies that would provide
the improved ride that was specified, but the client insisted on BR ones,
so the airbags may well have come by that route.
Sam

Later batches had the locally designed ones but if you want a cure for
insomnia this how the BR design was tuned for Australian tracks.

<https://railknowledgebank.com/Presto/content/GetDoc.axd?ctID=MTk4MTRjNDUtNWQ0My00OTBmLTllYWUtZWFjM2U2OTE0ZDY3&rID=NDk1Mw==&pID=Nzkx&attchmnt=True&uSesDM=False&rIdx=NDcxOA==&rCFU=>

[Sam Wilson]

Post by Marland

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by Recliner

Post by Theo

On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:32:46 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by Theo
Comeng's promotional video on the Australian XPT from 1982, shows a lot
http://youtu.be/QMv_ihG54kA
(with an emphasis on design for the terrible NSW track)

Interesting how similar the style of the interior fit out is to the
original BR Mk3. The vestibule and toilet doors look almost identical.

I thought it started out as a licensed HST copy, with changes only made as
necessary for Australian conditions?

According to the video, power cars were licensed from Transmark (BREL's
export arm) with localisation (bogies, engine derating, cooler groups) and
fabrication done by Comeng. But passenger coaches were all Comeng, although
perhaps they borrowed design ideas from the Mk3?
Of course Comeng would want to emphasise how much local work they did,
rather than bought in. It would be interesting to see how their 'mockups'
match the HST design.

I think the video showed an airbag suspension that was probably from the Mk
3. There might well have been other Mk 3 donor items.

There’s a comment in the video that Comeng had bogies that would provide
the improved ride that was specified, but the client insisted on BR ones,
so the airbags may well have come by that route.
Sam

Later batches had the locally designed ones but if you want a cure for
insomnia this how the BR design was tuned for Australian tracks.
<https://railknowledgebank.com/Presto/content/GetDoc.axd?ctID=MTk4MTRjNDUtNWQ0My00OTBmLTllYWUtZWFjM2U2OTE0ZDY3&rID=NDk1Mw==&pID=Nzkx&attchmnt=True&uSesDM=False&rIdx=NDcxOA==&rCFU=>

Thank you - that’s fascinating.

Zzzzz. . . (no irony - I just happen to be going to bed!)

Sam

[Matthew Geier]

Post by Recliner
I think the video showed an airbag suspension that was probably from the Mk
3. There might well have been other Mk 3 donor items.

Definitely - some years back going some where in NSW on an XPT I noticed
the bellows on the inter-coach corridor connector had BR logos embossed
on it.

The train basically was a HST, but with souped up cooler groups on the
engine, and more powerful air conditioning. (Which meant more powerful
hotel power alternators too)

The 'customer' basically asked for a HST 'for local conditions'.
The Budd design of coaches was used as Comeng held a license and had the
machinery to build in that style as they were still turning out EMUs for
the railway used the Budd style welded coach bodies.