In Greek mythology, Cyclops was a race of one-eyed giants, so when an original D+Dm+D electric mulitiple unit set was restored with the original single large headlight at each end (instead of the twin sealed-beam unit that every other set was given in the 1980s), Cyclops seemed an obvious name to give it.
The restoration included new Midland red paint and earned Tranz Metro a "business in conservation" award from the New Zealand Department of Conservation and the Wellington Conservation Board in 2006. The set dated from 1949, but was not put into service until the Hutt Valley lines were electrified in 1954.
For more information on these see our books Railway Electrification in Australia and New Zealand and Wellington Transport Memories available in our online shop.
1 comment:
a really nice multiple unit set. it's a shame that the fronts at both ends have since been painted yellow.
Bob
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