No snooze fest for NSW Rail Transport Museum volunteers with car restoration

VOLUNTEERS from the NSW Rail Transport Museum have finished restoring an 1880s sleeping car after a lengthy period

THERE are only two in the world and one calls the Macarthur region home.

After a three-and-a-half-year project, volunteers from the NSW Rail Transport Museum have finally finished restoring an 1880s sleeping car.

The FZ909 rail carriage was unveiled as part of a display at Trainworks at Thirlmere earlier this month.

Built back in the early 1880s, it is one of two that remain in the world.

Both are in Australia.

The FZ909 had a colourful history as a sleeping car before it was pulled from service to be used as living quarters for the commissioner for railways.

It was then transformed into a first-class sitting car, before it became a travelling classroom for trainee locomotive drivers.

Rail Transport Museum asset manager Jennifer Edmonds said she was delighted with the success of the restoration.

"The unveiling was about taking the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work the volunteers have done," she said.

The project was funded by Railcorps Office of Rail Heritage and it took more than 3500 hours of volunteer labour to restore the FZ909's exterior.

Most volunteers worked on the project for a number of days each week.

"If there is anyone out there, we are always welcoming new volunteers," Ms Edmonds said.