The Harris blue electric trains were introduced in c1955 and followed the 'Red Rattlers'. They had a long life and were named after Norman Charles Harris, Chairman of Commissioners of the Victorian Railways, between 1940 and 1950. The first 30 7-carriage trains, known as the first series, were constructed in the United Kingdom by Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, and delivered between 1956 and 1959. Another 30, the second series, were built by Martin & King in Melbourne, and delivered between 1961 and 1967. The trains had either two or three sets of hand-operated dual sliding doors per carriage side. Later they were fitted with power doors. Initially, until late 1978, the interiors were split into smoking and no-smoking compartments. In 1978 smoking on trains was abolished. Carriages were also designated as First or Second class until 1958, when one class travel was introduced. they had florescent lights but no heating. Most of the early carriages did not have end doors and gangways between carriages, but safety concerns led these being incorporated in the sets delivered from mid-1966. With the exceptions of the last few carriages built, all Harris trains contained asbestos insulation. The first sets contained blue asbestos, and the later sets contained white asbestos in the linings for insulation of noise and temperature. Due to the presence of asbestos, they began to be withdrawn from the mid-1980s and most were disposed of in the 1990s, by being buried at Talbot Quarry in Clayton, some having been wrapped in plastic. No original Harris trailer cars remain. A coloured photograph of a blue Harris electric train heading towards Surrey Hills station from Mont Albert station. The electricity sub-station and Lorne Parade are on the RHS of the photo and Beresford Street on the LHS. The grey, smoggy appearance of the sky suggests a winter's morning.surrey hills, trains, lorne parade, beresford street, norman charles harris, gloucester railway carriage and wagon company, martin & king, talbot quarry, harris blue train

The Harris trains operated in Melbourne 1956-1988. They were full of asbestos and were taken out of service, wrapped in plastic and buried in land fill near ClaytonDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5063 black and white transparencyharris (blue) train, eltham, silver street, overpass

City bound passengers have departed on the train and school children who have arrived on the train leave the station. The Harris trains operated in Melbourne 1956-1988. They were full of asbestos and were taken out of service, wrapped in plastic and buried in land fill near ClaytonDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5063 black and white transparencyharris (blue) train, montmorency railway station

The train is headed towards Surrey Hills station. In the background are the Hamilton Street shops with advertising posters on their rear walls. The donor George Lister Coop was about 27 years of age when he took this photo. It is one of a small series of photos donated by him that relate to Mont Albert and Surrey Hills stations. He has always had an interest in railways and there are other examples of his documentation of railway history in other collections contributing to this database. A black & white photo of a Harris train destined for Flinders Street that has passed through Mont Albert station, which can just be seen in the background. Behind the train on the rear walls of buildings are advertising for Haydn Real Estate and K&M Murray selling Toppa Ice Cream.advertising signs, george l coop, mont albert station, trains, haydn real estate, toppa ice cream, k & m murray, hamilton street shops

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencyharris (blue) train, west richmond railway station

Former Eltham Shire Council offices in backgroundDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5063 black and white transparencyeltham shire office, eltham trestle bridge, harris (blue) train, princes bridge railway station

Former Eltham Shire Council offices in backgroundDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5063 black and white transparencyeltham shire office, eltham trestle bridge, harris (blue) train, princes bridge railway station

Former Eltham Shire Council offices in backgroundDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5063 black and white transparencyeltham shire office, eltham trestle bridge, harris (blue) train, princes bridge railway station

Former Eltham Shire Council offices in backgroundDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5063 black and white transparencyeltham shire office, eltham trestle bridge, harris (blue) train, princes bridge railway station

Former Eltham Shire Council offices in backgroundDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5063 black and white transparencyeltham shire office, eltham trestle bridge, harris (blue) train, princes bridge railway station

Looking southeast along Para Road. Sherbourne road overpass in distance. Railway Parade on left. Briar Hill industrial area on right.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5063 black and white transparencygreensborough railway station, harris (blue) train, industry, para road, railway parade, sherbourne road

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP4 black and white transparency471m, eltham railway station, harris (blue) train, hurstbridge line, red rattler, single motor carriage, tait train

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP4 black and white transparency471m, eltham railway station, harris (blue) train, hurstbridge line, red rattler, single motor carriage, tait train

View from driver's cabinDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP4 black and white transparencyeltham railway station, harris (blue) train

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP4 black and white transparencyeltham trestle bridge, harris (blue) train

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP4 black and white transparencyeltham trestle bridge, harris (blue) train

Digital TIFF file Scan of 9 x 13 cm black and white print575m, eltham trestle bridge, harris (blue) train, panther place

Digital TIFF file Scan of 9 x 13 cm black and white print747m, eltham trestle bridge, harris (blue) train, panther place

Digital TIFF file Scan of 9 x 13 cm black and white print747m, eltham trestle bridge, harris (blue) train, panther place

Viewed from Box Hill Signal Box Waiting at the level crossing is a Ford Zephyr MKII, registation GWH838 manufactured by Ford Australia in Geelong, (1956-1962) Cross Ref EDHS_04674-10 taken within minutes of this image. Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodachrome positive transparencygeorge coop collection, 515m, box hill, electric train, ford zephyr, gwh838, harris (blue) train, railway crossing, station street, level crossing

Climbing the hill from Surrey Hills having just crossed Mont Albert Road.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencygeorge coop collection, harris (blue) train, mont albert railway station

Behind the train on the rear walls of buildings are advertising for Haydn Real Estate, Victoria Insurance Co. Ltd and K&M Murray selling Toppa Ice Cream.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencygeorge coop collection, harris (blue) train, advertising, haydn real estate, k&m murray, toppa ice cream., victoria insurance co ltd

Chelsea station opened on 4 February 1907 as a single platform stopping station, on a single railway line to Frankston, which was laid in 1882. The double line was introduced in December 1910, and the station expanded to two platforms. In 1922 the railway line was electrified. Four black and white photos of Chelsea Railway station. P01067: Chelsea Railway Station showing office on Melbourne side of station (west); P01068: An electric train (Harris Train also known as the "Blue Train") stationary at Chelsea Station; P 01069: Chelsea railway station showing down side (Frankston) office building; P01070: Chelsea Railway Station office, taken from the ramp on the west side of line.chelsea, electric train, frankston railway line, harris train, blue train

View from driver's cabin The Harris trains operated in Melbourne 1956-1988. They were full of asbestos and were taken out of service, wrapped in plastic and buried in land fill near Clayton Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP4 black and white transparencyhurstbridge railway station, harris (blue) train

A Harris (Blue) train waits at Eltham StationDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford XP1 400 black and white transparencyharris (blue) train, hurstbridge line, red rattler, single motor carriage, tait train

A Harris (Blue) train can be seen at Eltham StationDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP4 black and white transparencydiamond street, eltham railway station, harris (blue) train, level crossing

Two Harris (Blue) trains can be seen in the Hurstbridge storage yard. Full seven coach trains would be stored here at weekends to permit rapid start of weekday services on a Monday. Meanwhile, Single Motor Carriage trains ran the Eltham-Hurstbridge service adequately at weekends. Two single carriages can be seen here. The Harris trains operated in Melbourne 1956-1988. They were full of asbestos and were taken out of service, wrapped in plastic and buried in land fill near Clayton.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP4 black and white transparencyharris (blue) train, hurstbridge line, red rattler, single motor carriage, tait train

Single carriage Red Rattler Tait train which shuttled between Eltham and Hurstbridge and a Harris (Blue) trainDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5063 black and white transparencyeltham railway station, harris (blue) train, hurstbridge line, red rattler, single motor carriage, tait train

Single carriage Red Rattler Tait train which shuttled between Eltham and Hurstbridge and a Harris (Blue) trainDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5063 black and white transparencyeltham railway station, harris (blue) train, red rattler, single motor carriage, tait train

A Harris (Blue) electric train in background.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP4 black and white transparencyeltham railway station, harris (blue) train, l class electric locomotive, l1168