Hundreds of people took a train ride down memory lane when one of Sydney’s old “red rattlers” rolled into Cronulla Station last weekend.
Transport Heritage NSW and Sydney Trains collaborated to operate one of Sydney’s single-deck vintage electric trains from North Sydney to Cronulla return last Saturday.
The visit coincided with the Cronulla Spring Festival so the vintage train had plenty of admirers.
They included Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins who lives in Cronulla and was at the station to admire the restored red rattler.
Christened the Sutherland Shuttle for the day, the old train ran two half-hour return trips from Cronulla to Sutherland before returning to North Sydney.
Transport Heritage NSW marketing and commercial services manager David Bennett said more than 550 people travelled on the train during the day.
“The train was full on both shuttle trips,” he said.
“A lot of people thanked us for putting the train back into service. They said it brought back a lot of memories.”
Transport Heritage NSW is a not-for-profit organisation established by the NSW Government with the mission of bringing Sydney’s transport heritage to life.
The organisation incorporates the activities of the former NSW Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM), Trainworks Ltd and the Office of Rail Heritage.
Mr Bennett said the success of the day meant that the Sutherland Shuttle may be coming back.
“We are thinking of coming back early next year with the visit to coincide with a vintage car rally,” he said.
For more information on the work of Transport Heritage NSW go to: www.transportheritagensw.com.au/vintageelectric
