The Victorian Government Railways purchased two McKeen railmotors from the McKeen Motor Car Company in Omaha, Nebraska in June 1911 at a cost of £7800. This included delivery and in running at Melbourne, Victoria.
The cars entered service on the 13th May 1912, numbered as Motor Car No.1 and Motor Car No.2.
Car 1 operated between Ballarat and Maryborough, later Maryborough and St Arnaud.
Car 2 operated between Warrnabool and Hamilton for its service life.
Various problems plagued the cars. The air starting system and the air operated octoroon clutch were not successful. With skilled operators it was proven the cars could perform well. Reverse direction could only be achieved by stopping the petrol engine and reversing it. The cars had a drivers cab at one end only. Whilst they could go in reverse at full speed, they were turned for the reverse journey. They did pull some two axle trailers at times, no details of journeys or locations.
As mentioned, there were starting problems with the original engines. One American experience has a steam engine pushing the McKeen car around the yard in an effort to start it.
By 1918 both cars were in the process of being converted to locomotive hauled passenger stock. The railmotors had their engines removed and were recoded to become ABCL where they ran on the Altona line until it was electrified
Assistance from Colin Kelly.
File c189m compiled by Peter J. Vincent, updated 1/8/2007