The one RM railmotor class incorporated several types of railmotors.
The group represented here are the numbers 55-64 built 1928 to 1930.
The VR completed a “prototype” 55 RM at Newport Workshops with mostly local materials during 1928. According to remaining documents in the Public Records Office of Victoria and an extensive article in the Victorian Railways Magazine of August 1928, it is believed genuine EMC, Cleveland drawings were used. However, most electrical and mechanical parts were imported from the Electro Motive Company’s various suppliers in the United States.
After about a 12 month break, work commenced on a further 9 “production” cars at Newport. These cars were constructed with less imported parts and were built to a VR altered design (not the original EMC drawings). These 9 cars were completed between 1929 and 1931.
These railmotors were all petrol-electric. They were known as "PERM"s or Petrol Electric Rail Motors.
On light used branch lines they were sometimes used for hauling one or two freight wagons.
From 1951 to 1953 the original, 6 cylinder, Winton 106A gasoline engines were replaced with 2 x General Motors, 6 cylinder, Series 71 engines giving the cars an extended life. With diesel engines fitted these cars were known as D.E.R.M.'s or Diesel Electric Rail Motors. The date of the nickname change is not known
File c077m compiled by Peter J. Vincent, updated 20/8/2018