Swing Door (train)

Swing Door trains, commonly known as "Dogboxes" or "Doggies", were wooden-bodied electric multiple unit (EMU) trains that operated on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Swing Door
A restored swing-door driving car at the Steamrail open day, March 2014. It was destroyed by fire less than a year later.
In service1887–1974
ManufacturerVictorian Railways
Built atNewport Workshops
ReplacedSteam hauled carriages
Constructed1887–1909 (built), converted 19
Entered service1887 (as locomotive-hauled carriages)
1919 (as EMU cars)
Scrapped1964-2015
Number built144 motor cars,
32 driving trailers,
112 trailers
Fleet numbers1-164M (Motor cars, with gaps),
1-32D (Driving trailers),
1-111T, 126T (Trailers)
OperatorsVictorian Railways
Specifications
Articulated sectionsNone
Maximum speed83 km/h (52 mph)
Traction system4 x 105 kW GE239
Electric system(s)1500 V DC overhead
Track gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)

Swing Door cars had outward-opening doors. They were reasonably narrow, to ensure that two passing trains would not foul each other if doors were accidentally left open. At certain locations, clearances were tight and there are stories of Swing Door cars losing doors that were not closed. The fleet could be seen running in any arrangement, from one car, using a double-ended M car, to seven cars.

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