SX Carriages

DownsSteam SX Set #49

DownsSteam's SX set ceilings host historic photos depicting scenes from across Queensland and the Darling Downs, including the "ANZAC" coach; "Range" car; "Downs" car and "Darling Downs Finest" dining car. Our SX set also includes our unique "Dreamtime Journey Coach" (static exhibit), a commercial kitchen car and an archives car. The “Range” car features work camps used during the building of the Range Railway line and of some of the bridges and tunnels. The “Downs" car features historic places on the Darling Downs, including Rudd’s Pub at Nobby, Talgai Homestead, one of the childhood homes of Pamela Lyndon Travers (writer of "Mary Poppins") and the Sister Kenny Memorial. The “ANZAC”car commemorates the use of railways during various wars from the Boer War, through the Great War, World War 11, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The word "ANZAC" is used by special permission.

SX Class Background

The Suburban Stainless Steel SX Coaches were built by Commonwealth Engineering (body shells at Granville and fitted out at Rocklea), in 1961/62 as locomotive-hauled sets consisting of 5 SX coaches with an SXV guards coach at each end. During the Bjelke Peterson years, the idea was to transform the SX sets into Brisbane's first Electric Multiple Units. The conversions were started, but never completed. All SXV guard's vans were modified with the addition of a headlight, destination board and a small drivers console desk but no electrical controls or running gear was ever added. The SX sets were not a common sight on Brisbane's South side prior to Electrification in 1979 due to the SX cars not being fitted with side steps and  the majority of these stations only having low platforms. The conversion to electric traction never occurred and in the late 1980's the guards coaches had steel plates riveted over the headlight and destination boards. Several sets of the class have been retained for excursion train operations after the cessation of regular locomotive hauled commuter trains in 1999.

A Little Bit of History

The SX stainless steel suburban carriages were the face of Brisbane’s commuter rail system for almost four decades. Introduced in the early 1960s, they replaced ageing wooden stock and brought a modern, streamlined look to Queensland Rail’s suburban network.

DownsSteam is proud to preserve a full SX set, allowing visitors to step back into the era of loco-hauled suburban trains.

Modern Suburban Trains for a Growing City

Between 1961 and 1963, 112 SX carriages were built by Commonwealth Engineering (ComEng).

• Bodies were fabricated at Granville (Sydney)
• Final fitting out took place at Rocklea (Brisbane)
   

They were Queensland Rail’s first stainless steel suburban carriages, designed to:

• Replace older timber suburban cars
• Increase capacity and comfort
• Be future-proofed for possible electrification (which later went a different way)
   

Each 7-car SX set typically included:

• 5 passenger cars (SXA suburban coaches)
• 2 guard’s vans (SXVA brake/guard cars)
   

Although they were built with the idea that they might one day become electric multiple units, this conversion never happened. Instead, they remained locomotive-hauled suburban stock for their entire Queensland careers.

Design & Passenger Experience

The SX cars were designed for high-capacity suburban running, with:

• Stainless steel bodies with fluted sides durable, low-maintenance and instantly recognisable
• Length around 16.9 m and weight around 23–24 tonnes
• 2+2 bench seating with vinyl upholstery
• Seating for around 50–52 passengers, plus standing room up to around 70
• Opening windows and roof vents (no air-conditioning, but good ventilation for the era)
• Improved ride quality and lighting compared to earlier wooden stock
   

Guard’s vans (SXVA):

• Contained a guard’s compartment, handbrake and train controls
• Included some luggage/storage space and passenger seating
• Carried tail lights and end-of-train equipment
   

Over time, couplers and brake systems were upgraded and recoded (e.g. SX → SXA, SXV → SXVA) to keep pace with modern locomotives.

In Service Around Brisbane (1961–1999)

The SX sets entered service from 1961 and quickly became the standard Brisbane suburban train.

They operated on:

• Ferny Grove & Mitchelton services
• Ipswich, Darra and Corinda services
• Northside lines to Petrie and Caboolture
• Southside services towards Beenleigh
• Various other suburban and outer-suburban routes
   

Traction changed over time:

• Early 1960s: Steam-hauled, often behind BB18¼ class locomotives
• Mid-1960s onward: Primarily diesel-hauled (e.g. 1200, 1400/1450, 1600 class)
   

When Brisbane’s suburban network was finally electrified from 1979, new EMU and SMU sets took over. The SX cars were gradually pushed to:

• Outer-suburban services
• Lines waiting for electrification
• Peak-hour extras and special workings
   

The last regular SX-hauled suburban service ran on 2 December 1999, marking the end of loco-hauled suburban commuter trains in Brisbane.

Many locals still remember:

• The gentle rocking of the stainless cars
• The sound of a diesel up front

• The feel of opening the metal-framed windows on a hot afternoon

   

Travels Beyond Queensland

These tough stainless cars also worked well outside Brisbane and outside Queensland:

• Perth, WA (1986-1991):
  Two 7-car SX sets were leased to Transperth to boost capacity during the America’s Cup period, running suburban services on the Fremantle line.
• Auckland, New Zealand (2003-2014):
  Seven cars went to Auckland, where six were refurbished and used in suburban service behind ex-Queensland diesels as a stopgap fleet prior to full electrification.
• International sales:
  Some SX sets were sold to the State Railway of Thailand and the Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia, where they were used on metre-gauge and mining-related commuter services.
   

Their export history highlights just how robust and adaptable the SX design was.

Preservation in Queensland

Rather than scrapping them all, Queensland Rail and heritage groups retained a number of SX carriages for preservation and reuse. Key collections include:

• Queensland Rail Heritage (Ipswich):
  • One complete 7-car SX set (ex-Set 45) is stored by QR’s Heritage Division at the Workshops Rail Museum.
  • It awaits underframe and mechanical overhaul for eventual return to service as an authentic heritage suburban set.
• Cairns Kuranda Steam (Far North QLD):
  • A group of SX cars in Cairns, originally intended for a Kuranda tourist train.
  • Some work has been done; they remain stored with future restoration potential.
• Other individual cars:

  • A small number of cars and guard’s vans are held by other groups or private owners, including examples in New Zealand and scattered displays.

     

DownsSteam’s SX Set Moving History

At DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum in Toowoomba, a full SX set (ex-Set 49) has been given a new life as a moving museum and tourist train.

The DownsSteam SX fleet includes:

• Five SXA coaches now fitted out with themed interiors

• Two SXVA guard’s vans one used for exhibits, one for staff/catering functions

   

Highlights of the DownsSteam SX carriages:

• Themed history coaches
  • Coaches decorated with historic photography and interpretive displays including images of the Toowoomba Range, Queensland rail history and local heritage stories.
• ANZAC Coach
  • A guard’s van transformed into an ANZAC tribute carriage, honouring Australian servicemen and women with photographic and interpretive displays.
• Dreamtime Journey Coach
  • An entire SX coach turned into a stunning Indigenous art installation, hand-painted over 19 weeks by Aboriginal artist “Domi”.
  • The interior tells the Creation story and spiritual journey from dawn to dusk in vibrant 3D-style murals.
  • Housed under a protective canopy with climate control, it’s one of DownsSteam’s signature attractions.
• Dining & event use
  • Some coaches have been reconfigured with tables and café-style seating, ready for future dinner trains and special events.

  • One of the former guard’s vans is being set up as a galley/kitchen car for onboard catering.

     

Operationally, DownsSteam’s SX set has been equipped with:

• Automatic couplers and air brakes
• Compatibility with the museum’s steam and diesel locomotives (including C16 No.106 and DH diesel)
   

When coupled behind a heritage locomotive, the restored SX cars recreate the look and feel of a 1960s Brisbane suburban train but with the added bonus of immersive displays and storytelling inside.

Why the SX Carriages Matter

The SX stainless steel carriages represent:

• A major step forward in suburban comfort and capacity in the 1960s
• The transition period between steam/diesel-hauled trains and modern electric fleets
• A beloved part of Brisbane’s everyday transport history
   

Thanks to groups like DownsSteam, these carriages are no longer just stored in sidings or remembered in photos they’re alive, accessible, and full of stories, giving visitors a chance to:

• Sit where Brisbane commuters sat in the 1960s-90s
• Walk through themed coaches and art installations
• Experience a complete stainless steel suburban set behind a heritage locomotive
   

In preserving and reimagining the SX cars, DownsSteam has turned a hard-working commuter train into a moving museum and cultural space, ensuring this unique chapter of Queensland’s rail history continues to be seen, experienced and enjoyed.