1613 - LHY Luggage Van

Built in 1961 as a timber bodied passenger car, rebuilt in 1983 into an interstate Brake Van, LHY 1613 is an example of an express parcels and luggage van. These were once a common sight attached to the rear of regional passenger services, laden with passengers’ luggage and bags of mail. They remained in active service until the 1980s, when moving mail by rail fell out of favour, and timber-bodied carriages were gradually being phased out of use. 1613 found its way to Canberra Railway Museum, where it became a long-term project to restore it as a crew and stores van for long-distance excursions.

Progress stalled for some years until a decision to restore the van as a volunteer facility, and move it up close to the museum building. The plan is to create a space for our volunteers to escape the elements for meals and tea breaks, especially in the chilly Canberra winters.  Recent progress has included repairs to floors in the vestibule (entry space) and the larger northern compartment, and laying of vinyl over the timber floors. From here we will be replacing old rubber seals around all windows, installing new electrical wiring and lighting, and some cleaning and repainting. Something we treasure as evidence of the van's years of use, are the chalkboards and labels of destinations around central NSW associated with its time carrying cargo around the state. We definitely won't be painting over these records!