The layout of this space reflects the evolution of Sydney’s early electric train design. Originally, the carriage was fitted with transverse seating, a design that quickly earned the nickname “bunks for drunks” as late-night passengers would often sprawl across them. As rail operations modernised, these long bench seats replaced the original layout, maximising capacity and simplifying maintenance.
On the right, the extended driver’s cabin partition marks a distinctive feature of this carriage. Unlike later designs, passengers could once sit right at the front, watching the network unfold ahead through the forward-facing window. An experience that made every journey feel like a front-row seat to the city in motion.
Now, dust settles on the worn floors, and sunlight filters through the aged blinds, casting soft streaks across the green leather seats. A quiet reminder of an era when trains carried more than just passengers; they carried stories, habits, and the rhythms of daily life.