M Class Carriages

"Great Divide Scenic Railway"

More information on the "Great Divide Scenic Railway" coming soon.

M Class Carriages

In January 1950, Queensland Railways awarded a contract for 99 steel bodied carriages to Commonwealth Engineering, Rocklea. These were purchased to operate the Lander series of trains, The Inlander, The Midlander, The Sunlander and The Westlander entering service between 1953 and 1955. The carriages were designed to travel to all parts of the system, meaning a maximum axle load of 9 tons, which was a challenge for the dining cars. New features included showers in the sleeping cars, roomettes in first class and head end power cars, especially necessary where trains may be delayed by floods or other events, as was often the case.

A Little Bit of History

The M Class stainless steel carriages were the backbone of Queensland’s long-distance rail travel for more than 60 years. Introduced in the 1950s, they worked on the famous “Lander” trains The Sunlander, The Westlander, The Inlander and The Midlander, carrying generations of Queenslanders and visitors across the state in comfort.

DownsSteam is proud to preserve a collection of these important carriages so visitors can experience the golden age of Queensland rail travel first-hand.

A New Era of Rail Travel

In the years after World War II, Queensland Railways set out to modernise its long-distance services. Between 1953 and 1955, 99 new steel, air-conditioned M Class carriages were built by Commonwealth Engineering (Comeng) in Rocklea, Brisbane.

They replaced older wooden stock and allowed the launch and expansion of fully air-conditioned “Lander” trains across the state. A further small batch was completed in the early 1960s, taking the fleet to just over 100 carriages.

These coaches revolutionised travel in Queensland:

• First QR carriages built in steel, not timber
• Among the first in Australia to offer fully air-conditioned sleeping cars
• Used on all major long-distance routes for decades
   

The M Class remained in regular service until the early 2010s, with the last cars withdrawn around 2014–2015 when newer stock and tilt trains took over.

Comfort, Safety and Modern Design

For their time, the M Class carriages were a huge step up in comfort and technology:

• Steel construction for improved strength and fire safety
• Full air-conditioning and insulation to handle Queensland’s heat
• Enclosed, private sleeping compartments (no more open-berth sleepers)
• Onboard showers in sleeping cars; a first in Australian rail travel
• Fluorescent lighting, hot and cold running water, and modern washrooms
• Dining and club cars that turned the train into a “hotel on rails”
   

Each carriage rode on specially designed lightweight bogies to keep axle loads low enough for branch lines, but still strong enough for Queensland’s long distances and rugged conditions.

Over the decades, many cars were refurbished and updated from classic 1950s sleepers to 1990s luxury “Queenslander Class” accommodation and themed club cars with bars and lounges.

Car Types in the M Class Fleet

The M Class wasn’t just one type of carriage, it was a complete family of vehicles that together made up a full long-distance train. Key subtypes included:

• MAS  -  First Class Sleeping Car
  Twin-berth “twinette” compartments offering privacy and extra comfort for premium travellers.
• MBL - Economy Sitting Car
  Air-conditioned day-sitting cars with reclining seats in a 2+2 layout for budget and shorter-distance passengers.
• MBS / MBSC - Economy Sleeping Cars & Staff Sleepers
  Triple-berth compartments for second-class passengers, with some cars modified to include crew sleeping space.
• MCS - Composite Sleeper
  A mix of first-class and economy cabins in the one carriage, used on routes where demand for first class was smaller.
• MCC  -  Club / Lounge Cars
  Bar and lounge spaces where passengers could relax, socialise, enjoy a drink, or listen to live music while the scenery rolled by.
• MCD / MDC  -  Dining Cars
  Full restaurant cars with onboard kitchens, serving cooked meals at tables  -  a highlight of travelling on the Lander trains.
• MPC  -  Power / Baggage Vans
  Generator cars supplying electricity for air-conditioning, lighting and kitchens, making the train self-sufficient on long remote runs.
   

Together, these cars allowed Queensland Rail to offer a full service on wheels, from sleeping and sitting to dining, socialising and luggage handling.

The End of an Era and a New Life

By the early 2010s, after more than six decades of service, the M Class fleet was finally retired in favour of new trains such as the Spirit of Queensland tilt train on the Brisbane - Cairns route.

Rather than sending all of the carriages for scrap, Queensland Rail donated many M Class cars to museums and heritage groups around the state including DownsSteam. This has ensured a representative collection survives for education, display and future heritage operations.

M Class Carriages at DownsSteam

DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum is home to a unique group of M Class carriages that together tell the full story of Queensland’s long-distance railways. Our collection includes:

• First Class Sleepers (MAS 1494, 1496, 1500)
  Twinette sleepers that once ran on The Sunlander and other Lander services, now candidates for restoration so visitors can experience overnight rail travel of the 1950s - 70s.
• Economy Sitting & Lounge Cars (MBL 1506, MBL 1526 “Daintree Lounge”)
  An original economy sit-up car and a former Queenslander-class lounge car now used as a training and function space at DownsSteam.
• Staff & Composite Sleepers (MBSC 1486, MCS 1466)
  Cars that show how both passengers and staff travelled including mixed first/economy accommodation and crew sleeping areas.
• Club Car MCC 1503 “Tropics”
  The famous Tropics Club Car from The Sunlander, preserved with much of its tropical lounge décor and used for special events and display.
• Dining Car MCD 1516 “Macrossan”
  A classic stainless dining car now being restored as a heritage restaurant space for future events and “dinner in the diner” experiences.
• Power Car MPC 1452
  A rare surviving generator van that powered the air-conditioning and lights across entire train sets.
   

All of these vehicles are at various stages of stabilisation, cosmetic repair and restoration. Some are already used for functions and limited visitor access; others are being conserved and prepared for future projects.

Looking Ahead Bringing a Lander Back to Life

DownsSteam’s long-term vision is to recreate an authentic Lander-style train using restored M Class carriages, operating as part of our planned Great Divide Scenic Railway project.

This would allow visitors not just to view the carriages, but to ride in them enjoying sleepers, lounges and dining cars much as travellers did in the 1950s through to the early 2000s.

In the meantime, our preserved M Class fleet provides a rare opportunity to:

• Walk beside and (on special days) through original stainless steel carriages
• See the difference between first class, economy, lounge, dining and staff cars

• Learn how Queensland’s long-distance trains operated and evolved over 60+ years

   

Your visit, and support, helps us keep this unique chapter of Queensland’s rail heritage alive.