Ritchie Brothers

This article is about the former Australian rolling stock manufacturer. For the industrial auctioneer, see Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers.

Ritchie Brothers was an Australian railway rolling stock and tram manufacturer based in the Sydney suburb of Auburn.

Ritchie Brothers

Industry	Rolling stock manufacturing
Founded	1857
Defunct	1950s
Headquarters	Auburn
Products	Railway carriages Trams

History

In 1857, Robert Ritchie took over the blacksmith business of Joseph Whiting of Parramatta. In 1876, Ritchie was awarded a contract by the Government of New South Wales for 150 wagons. In 1882, the business relocated to Marion Street, Auburn.^[1]

Ritchie Brothers built carriages for the New South Wales Government Railways including American suburban carriages, Bradfield suburban, Silver City Comet, 500 class trailers and 72 foot carriages.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} It also built D and N class trams for the Sydney tram network.^[7] It closed in the 1950s with the plant and equipment sold to Australian Electrical Industries.^[8]

References

1. Machine Factories: Ritchie Brothers, Auburn The Sydney Mail 24 September 1892
2. Kerry, Michael (1990). Sydney's Wooden Electrics. Sydney: Transit Australia Publishing. ISBN 0-909459-14-2.
3. Cooke, David (1999). Coaching Stock of the NSW Railways. Matraville: Eveleigh Press. pp. 200–203. ISBN 1-876568-00-3.
4. C3082 1921 Ritchie Bros Wooden Bradfield Motor Car Sydney Electric Train Society
5. Cooke, David (1984). Railmotors and XPTs. Australian Railway Historical Society NSW Division. ISBN 0-909650-23-3.
6. TAM504 Office of Environment & Heritage
7. The Trams of the Sydney Tramway Museum Sydney Tramway Museum
8. Plant of Old Established Car Builder Sold Railway Transportation December 1955 page 38