The 2 McKeen cars were imported from the McKeen Company of Omaha, USA in 1911 and entered service
with VR on 13.5.1912. They seated 73 passengers. One ran services between Hamilton - Warrnambool, the
other serving Ballarat - Maryborough.
They lasted in this service about 3 years. By 1919 the de-engined cars were in use as steam-hauled passenger
carriages on the Altona line.
I acquired an operating manual for these unusual cars - at a garage sale in the mid 1990s. And to date, it
appears to be the only surviving example. I'm happy to hear otherwise if you know of any others. This site
exists mostly to provide access to the manual for those interested in these rail motor cars, which were so
unreliable that they were withdrawn after only a few years service.
