Tait
EMU
Owner
VR: 1916-1983
Blind Institute, Mitcham: 1977-?
MTA: 1983-c1988
Mornington Railway: 1984-Current
Bass Station Restaurant: 1986-2005
Bay Park Scout Camp, Mt Martha: c1986-Current
Red Rattler Retreat, Boorhaman: c1994-Current
Red Rattler Bricks & Pavers, Hoppers Crossing: c.1999-2012
Sunshine Roofing Tiles Bricks & Pavers, Albion: ?-Current
Sandhurst Town, Bendigo: ?-?
Griffith Caravan Village, NSW: ?-Current?
Steamrail: ?-Current
Melaleuca Station, NSW: ?-c2007
State Mine Museum: 2005-Current
Yarra Valley Railway: 2007-?
VicTrack: ?-Current
- VicRail: 1974-1983
Blind Institute, Mitcham: 1977-?
MTA: 1983-c1988
Mornington Railway: 1984-Current
Bass Station Restaurant: 1986-2005
Bay Park Scout Camp, Mt Martha: c1986-Current
Red Rattler Retreat, Boorhaman: c1994-Current
Red Rattler Bricks & Pavers, Hoppers Crossing: c.1999-2012
Sunshine Roofing Tiles Bricks & Pavers, Albion: ?-Current
Sandhurst Town, Bendigo: ?-?
Griffith Caravan Village, NSW: ?-Current?
Steamrail: ?-Current
Melaleuca Station, NSW: ?-c2007
State Mine Museum: 2005-Current
Yarra Valley Railway: 2007-?
VicTrack: ?-Current
Class Information
Name
Sliding Door, Reds, Red Rattlers
Name origin
Tait: Named after Sir Thomas James Tait, the chairman of commissioners of the Victorian Railways from 1903 to 1910
Sliding Door: As opposed to the Swing Door then in service
Reds/Red Rattlers: From the 1950's when the blue-painted Harris trains were introduced
Sliding Door: As opposed to the Swing Door then in service
Reds/Red Rattlers: From the 1950's when the blue-painted Harris trains were introduced
Number in class
Total: 618
Number of sets
Pairs: M-D (Used as M-D+M-D blocks)
Pre 1920's Units: 2-carriage (M-T) sets
Post 1920's Units: 3-carriage (M-T-G or M-T-D) sets
Blocks: 4-carriage (M-T-T-M) sets for off-peak and weekend services
Run as 7-car (M-T-T-M+G-T-M) sets during peek hours
Boat train: M-T-M-T-T-M
Other noted sets:
M-T-T-T-T-M, M-T-M
Pre 1920's Units: 2-carriage (M-T) sets
Post 1920's Units: 3-carriage (M-T-G or M-T-D) sets
Blocks: 4-carriage (M-T-T-M) sets for off-peak and weekend services
Run as 7-car (M-T-T-M+G-T-M) sets during peek hours
Boat train: M-T-M-T-T-M
Other noted sets:
M-T-T-T-T-M, M-T-M
First run
1916
Builder Information
Build date
1916 - 1972
Wheel Information
Gauge
Broad: 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Dimensions
Car length
ACPD, BCPD cars: 59 ft 7 in (18.16 m)
ACPM, BCPM cars: 59 ft 9 in (18.21 m)
APT cars:
D cars:
BT car: 57 ft 4 1/2 in (17.49 m)
ACPM, BCPM cars: 59 ft 9 in (18.21 m)
APT cars:
- 1 - 26, 28 - 30, 32, 37, 41, 45 - 46, 50, 57: 57 ft 4 1/2 in (17.49 m)
- 63 - 65, 80: 59 ft 7 in (18.16 m)
D cars:
- 201 - 224, 226 - 265: 59 ft 7 in (18.16 m)
- 225: 57 ft 4 1/2 in (17.49 m)
- 201 - 203, 205 - 241, 242 (1st), 242 (2nd), 242 (3rd), 243 (1st), 243 (2nd) - 244 (2nd), 246 (1st), 247 - 248, 249 (1st) - 250 (1st), 249 (2nd) - 250 (2nd), 251, 252 (1st), 252 (2nd), 253, 254 (1st), 254 (2nd), 255, 256 (1st), 256 (2nd), 257, 258 (1st) - 259 (1st), 258 (2nd) - 259 (2nd), 260 - 262, 263 (1st) - 264 (1st), 263 (2nd) - 264 (2nd), 265 - 267, 268 (1st) - 269 (1st), 268 (2nd) - 269 (2nd), 270 - 273, 274 (1st), 274 (2nd), 275 - 276, 277 (1st), 277 (2nd), 278 - 279, 280 (1st) - 281 (1st), 280 (2nd) - 281 (2nd), 282 - 284, 285 (2nd), 288 (2nd), 290 (2nd) - 291 (2nd), 293 (2nd), 294 (1st), 294 (2nd), 295, 296 (1st) - 297 (1st), 296 (2nd) - 297 (2nd), 298, 299 (1st), 299 (2nd), 300 (1st), 300 (2nd), 301 - 385, 445 (2nd), 450 (2nd), 457 (2nd), 463 - 470, 474 - 488, 490 - 499, 1364, 1367, 1380, 1383, 1445, 1469 - 1470, 1477, 1483, 1485: 59 ft 9 in (18.21 m)
- 204, 244 (1st), 245, 246 (2nd), 472: 59 ft 7 in (18.16 m)
- 201 - 262, 287 - 348: 57 ft 4 1/2 in (17.49 m)
- 263 - 286, 349 - 372: 59 ft 7 in (18.16 m)
BT car: 57 ft 4 1/2 in (17.49 m)
Total length
ACPD, BCPD cars: 61 ft 6 in (18.75 m)
ACPM, BCPM cars: 61 ft 8 in (18.80 m)
APT cars:
D cars:
BT car: 59 ft 3 1/2 in (18.07 m)
ACPM, BCPM cars: 61 ft 8 in (18.80 m)
APT cars:
- 1 - 26, 28 - 30, 32, 37, 41, 45 - 46, 50, 57: 59 ft 3 1/2 in (18.07 m)
- 63 - 65, 80: 61 ft 6 in (18.75 m)
D cars:
- 201 - 224, 226 - 265: 61 ft 6 in (18.75 m)
- 225: 59 ft 3 1/2 in (18.07 m)
- 201 - 203, 205 - 241, 242 (1st), 242 (2nd), 242 (3rd), 243 (1st), 243 (2nd) - 244 (2nd), 246 (1st), 247 - 248, 249 (1st) - 250 (1st), 249 (2nd) - 250 (2nd), 251, 252 (1st), 252 (2nd), 253, 254 (1st), 254 (2nd), 255, 256 (1st), 256 (2nd), 257, 258 (1st) - 259 (1st), 258 (2nd) - 259 (2nd), 260 - 262, 263 (1st) - 264 (1st), 263 (2nd) - 264 (2nd), 265 - 267, 268 (1st) - 269 (1st), 268 (2nd) - 269 (2nd), 270 - 273, 274 (1st), 274 (2nd), 275 - 276, 277 (1st), 277 (2nd), 278 - 279, 280 (1st) - 281 (1st), 280 (2nd) - 281 (2nd), 282 - 284, 285 (2nd), 288 (2nd), 290 (2nd) - 291 (2nd), 293 (2nd), 294 (1st), 294 (2nd), 295, 296 (1st) - 297 (1st), 296 (2nd) - 297 (2nd), 298, 299 (1st), 299 (2nd), 300 (1st), 300 (2nd), 301 - 385, 445 (2nd), 450 (2nd), 457 (2nd), 463 - 470, 474 - 488, 490 - 499, 1364, 1367, 1380, 1383, 1445, 1469 - 1470, 1477, 1483, 1485: 61 ft 8 in (18.80 m)
- 204, 244 (1st), 245, 246 (2nd), 472: 61 ft 6 in (18.75 m)
- 201 - 262, 287 - 348: 59 ft 3 1/2 in (18.07 m)
- 263 - 286, 349 - 372: 61 ft 6 in (18.75 m)
BT car: 59 ft 3 1/2 in (18.07 m)
Capacity Information
Capacity
ACPD, BCPD cars: 82 Passengers
ACPM, BCPM cars: 84 Passengers
APT, BPT cars: 92 Passengers
D cars: 82 Passengers
M cars:
ACPM, BCPM cars: 84 Passengers
APT, BPT cars: 92 Passengers
D cars: 82 Passengers
M cars:
- 201 - 203, 205 - 241, 242 (1st), 242 (2nd), 242 (3rd), 243 (1st), 243 (2nd) - 244 (2nd), 246 (1st), 247 - 248, 249 (1st) - 250 (1st), 249 (2nd) - 250 (2nd), 251, 252 (1st), 252 (2nd), 253, 254 (1st), 254 (2nd), 255, 256 (1st), 256 (2nd), 257, 258 (1st) - 259 (1st), 258 (2nd) - 259 (2nd), 260 - 262, 263 (1st) - 264 (1st), 263 (2nd) - 264 (2nd), 265 - 267, 268 (1st) - 269 (1st), 268 (2nd) - 269 (2nd), 270 - 273, 274 (1st), 274 (2nd), 275 - 276, 277 (1st), 277 (2nd), 278 - 279, 280 (1st) - 281 (1st), 280 (2nd) - 281 (2nd), 282 - 284, 285 (2nd), 288 (2nd), 290 (2nd) - 291 (2nd), 293 (2nd), 294 (1st), 294 (2nd), 295, 296 (1st) - 297 (1st), 296 (2nd) - 297 (2nd), 298, 299 (1st), 299 (2nd), 300 (1st), 300 (2nd), 301 - 385, 445 (2nd), 450 (2nd), 457 (2nd), 463 - 470, 474 - 488, 490 - 499, 1364, 1367, 1380, 1383, 1445, 1469 - 1470, 1477, 1483, 1485: 84 Passengers
- 204, 244 (1st), 245, 246 (2nd), 472: 82 Passengers
- 201 - 265, 280, 287 - 348: 92 Passengers
- 266 - 279, 281 - 286, 349 - 372: 82 Passengers
Electric (Overhead Lines) Information
Electric System(s)
1.5 kV DC
Current collection method
Pantograph
Traction motors
4 x 105 kW (141 hp) GE239
Top speed
50 mph (80 km/h)
Photos
 |  |  |
Tait 381 M at Steamrail's open day 12 March 2016 | Inside Tait 317 M at Steamrail's open day 11 March 2018 | Tait 257 D at Steamrail's open day 7 March 2020 |
 |  |  |
Tait 327 M at Steamrail's open day 7 March 2020 | Tait 470 M at Steamrail's open day 7 March 2020 | Tait 317 M at Steamrail's open day 9 March 2020 |
Class Types
| Year | Type | Description | Max No. of class |
| 1916 | ACPM class | 1st class motor cars | 43 |
| 1916 | BCPM class | 2nd class motor cars | 58 |
| 1919 | APT class | 1st class trailer cars | 40 |
| 1919 | BPT class | 2nd class trailer cars | 28 |
| 1920 | ACPD class | 1st class driving trailers | 6 |
| 1921 | BCPD class | 2nd class driving trailers | 5 |
| 1921 | D class | Driving trailers | 65 |
| 1921 | M class | Motor / Double ended motor cars | 261 |
| 1921 | T class | Trailer cars | 235 |
| 1923 | G class | Dual lighting (Gas/Elec) trailers | 103 |
| 1950 | BT class | Trailer / Test cars | 1 |
Trains of Victoria
