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Contacting Us
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The Sydney Electric Train Society Inc
P.O. Box R868
Royal Exchange NSW 1225 |
Phone: |
Leave a message on:
The SETS Infoline
Phone 0468 8606 46
24 Hours a Day - 7 Days a Week
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email: |
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Facebook: |
facebook.com/setsAU |
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Who Are We?
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The Society's 46 class locomotive - 4615 - is seen here at Eveleigh on 14th December 2002. Built by Metropolitan-Vickers Beyer-Peacock in Britain, this electric loco saw 39 years service before being withdrawn and preserved by SETS in operational condition. (Hugh Burns)
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The Sydney Electric Train Society Inc. (SETS) was established in 1991
when it was decided that something had to be done to ensure Sydney's
vintage single-decker suburban & interurban electric trains were
preserved for the benefit of present and future generations. The Society
was instrumental in ensuring that a good selection of single-deck
electric rolling stock was retained for future restoration to operable
condition. We are a not-for-profit group and became an incorporated association in 1993.
The Society has two prime objectives.....
- To encourage and preserve by means of restoration, maintenance, operation and display, examples of Sydney's heritage and historic electric trains.
- To foster interest in Sydney's transport heritage, its electric trains, technology and environment in which they operated.
In 1998, 1956-vintage electric locomotive 4615 was acquired for
preservation by the Society. In 2003, 1983 electric locomotive 8606 was
also obtained for preservation. Both locomotives are in operable
condition and are used on regular Society outings. Join us on our trips
and relive the bygone days of many loco-hauled interurban and country trains, from The Fish to the Newcastle Flyer, which were once a common sight in New South Wales.
Our single-deck electric carriage fleet is made up of several examples
of suburban and stainless-steel interurban electric cars. They are
currently undergoing restoration to operable condition by Society
volunteers. Our suburban cars will be painted in colour schemes dating
back to the 1960's & 70's (remember tuscan-red or blue & white?). These
cars will be used on special tours and charters visiting a wide variety
of locations they once served in regular service.
Our efforts today mean that it will be possible to once again experience
the way Sydneysiders travelled by train around the city, suburbs and
regions, in the electric trains of the past, that played a major part in
the development of our greater metropolis.
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Tours and Events
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Electric locomotive 8646 visits Olympic Park during the Society's 86
Class Farewell Tour held on 7th September 2002. (Hugh Burns)
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Our very first train tour, on 11 January 1992, was a tribute to the
service of the eight-car single-decker suburban electric trains. This
tour was the last time a single-decker would travel the length and
breadth of the Sydney System whilst in revenue service.
Since then, we have conducted numerous day tours, mostly utilising a
variety of electric rolling stock. Whilst our electric cars are under
restoration, we also have conducted tours by vintage bus, to places of
interest that are impractical to reach by special train. We also run
electric locomotive hauled vintage trains trips to various places within and beyond the electrified network. Our tours are tailored for railfans and others looking for an interesting day out with a difference. We sometimes feature visits to places not normally accessible to the public, from railway workshops to abandoned railway tunnels. We farewelled the 86-class electric locomotives, which were withdrawn from revenue service in 2002. We recently organised and conducted the final farewell to Sydney's S-set trains in July 2019.
Visit our tours page or ring our Infoline for news of our
next tour!
Take a look at the list of our previous tours.
We can can also specially arrange outings or transport, using trains and/or buses, for your group or function.
See our Special Hirings page for more information, or
please contact us for details.
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Where Do We Meet?
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We hold members meetings every two months and visitors are always welcome.
Come and hear the latest Society news and meet others who share the same
interest. We currently meet at Darling Harbour (city) on board the retired
Manly ferry South Steyne, in the lower deck end saloon. The ferry
is moored adjacent to Pyrmont Bridge. Doors open at 1:30pm for 2:00 pm
start. Closest Railway Station is Town Hall (10 mins walk down Market
Street and across Pyrmont Bridge). See our home page
for details of our next meeting.
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The SETS Web Site
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Our web site features latest tour news, Theme Pages, Gallery (including
a Guest Photographer) and details of our rolling stock. The web site is
updated periodically, and there is always something to interest everyone.
You can visit us at www.sets.org.au
Bookmark this address now and visit our site often.
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Newsletter/Magazine - Under the Wires
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Red set on the Airport line - during the Society's Sputnik Suburban tour
held on the 27th October 2001. (Hugh Burns)
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Under The Wires is the Society's bi-monthly journal. It features Society
news, historical articles and photos relating to electric trains in
Sydney and elsewhere. UTW has become a valuable source of historical
information, and it is the only publication devoted to covering the
history of Sydney's electric train fleet.
See the Under the Wires page.
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Membership
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Uboat interurban set at Bell during the Society's Gosford to Lithgow
Tour on the 4th February 1995. (Roy Howarth)
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There are many benefits to becoming a financial member of the Sydney
Electric Train Society Inc. Once you become a member of SETS, you will
receive our bi-monthly journal, Under The Wires posted to your door as
well as updated news of Society meetings, tours, news and other events.
Members also receive discounts for tickets on our train trips.
The annual membership fee is currently $50 with a joining fee of $5, with the membership year running from July to the following June, with renewals becoming due in July. A six month membership is available for $30 (plus joining fee) if you join between 1 January and 30 June. Just fill in the
membership form and send it to us today! Please contact the Society if you would like
more information on becoming a member.
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