Dust lingers on the seats of Driving Control Trailer Car D4052, its silence a stark contrast to the decades of movement it once knew. The venetian shutters along the windows, designed to shield passengers from the harsh Australian sun, now hang partially drawn, filtering light into the worn interior. Unlike its original configuration, this car has been fitted with double-deck trailer-style seats, a later addition to extend its service life.
One of 248 trailer cars built by Walsh Island Dockyard in Newcastle, this carriage first entered service in 1929 as Standard Trailer Car T4547. In 1937, it was modified with a driver’s cab and controls, allowing it to operate as part of two-car sets during off-peak services. By 1976, it was renumbered D4673, continuing to run until its retirement from CityRail in 1990.
Hauled by rail to Chullora Workshops before entering service, it now rests in the Eveleigh Paint Shop, far from the network it once helped power. Though its wheels no longer turn, the marks of its long career remain in every faded seat, scuffed panel, and dust-covered aisle.