A Car Fit for Royalty
In May 1933, the South Australian Government authorised the expenditure of £15,000 ($A1.3 million*) for the construction of a new inspection car for the Railways Commissioner. When introduced on the 1st of October 1934, the actual cost of construction had risen to £19,954 ($A1.7 million*). This additional cost was due to an upgrading of equipment, fittings, and finish to make Murray suitable for use by the Duke of Gloucester on his visit to Australia in 1934. In 1972 Murray was altered to also operate on the standard gauge for inspection trips between Peterborough, Port Pirie and Broken Hill; and in March 1974 Murray was again on a royal train for the Duke of Edinburgh, when he travelled from Murray Bridge to Adelaide.

The Murray car was the last timber bodied car built at the Islington Workshops, and when it was built it was claimed to be the most up to date car of its kind in the Commonwealth. The frame work of the car is made from Tasmanian blackwood and the internal panels are sliced Queensland walnut. Sleeping accommodation is provided for ten passengers.

Murray’s Movements
Murray was retained by the South Australian State Transport Authority when the South Australian Railways were sold to the Commonwealth Government in 1978, and stored in the north car sheds of the former Adelaide rail yard. In 1975 it was transferred to Australian National and entered Islington in September 1987 to be upgraded. This did not happen and it was transferred to Port Augusta in 1991 for storage. Following an application by the History Trust of South Australia, it was transferred to Islington for conversion to broad gauge in preparation for returning to South Australian Government control in 1997. Murray entered the National Railway Museum in 1997.

Built by: South Australian Railways, Islington Workshops
Operators: SAR, State Transport Authority, Australian National
Number in class: 1
Entered service: 1 October 1934
Withdrawn from service: 1975
Entered Museum: 11 June 1997
On loan from History SA

Broad gauge: Metric: 1600mm, Imperial: 5’3”
Length: Metric: 23.9m, Imperial: 77'71⁄2"
Weight: Metric: 52.83 tonnes, Imperial: 52 tons

* In 2011, source RBA