Hearses

Detective, you maybe right about nobody has ever died inside a hearse but they are all dieing to get in one : : :
Colin

Fire fighters usually go off in style if they warrant an official funeral (usually if died in line of duty).


FRNSW now maintains one of its 1960s Bedford J1 pumpers for this role.

My great grand mother, 1901.



Not a lot of HP in this lot. :

Those two posts held two wonderful photos: one private; one public. Top marks to MFB for maintaining a vehicle for in-house funerals.
I digress from vehicles to cemetery culture. This was a very moving visit: the Australian war cemetery at Kanchanaburi, Thailand. This is the place where prisoners of war built the so-called 'Death railway'. There are two cemeteries, a war museum, and a section of the railway open as a walking trailing as memorials to that era.
When I walked through this beautifully-maintained cemetery, I was struck by the youth of the soldiers buried there: very few had reached 21; most were no older than the teenagers in my mathematics classes: 16-18 yo young men. For some it was simply adventure; for others, it was social responsibility. Many went and survived; these went, and never came home.
The railway trail there is one of the places overseas where Australians and friends hold a dawn service on Anzac Day. There are many interpretive panels, and a special memorial to 'Weary' Dunlop.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Oops: in the earlier post I was congratulating MFB, when I should have been congratulating FRNSW.

Here is a another modern hearse, which looks suspiciously like the Fords I have posted already. How many specialist body makers are in the field? Are all hearses now from the one set of patterns?

090917Th-P1090005-BrightVic-hearse-RSmith

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Roderick, the hearse in the last photo is one belonging to Tuckers Funeral Service in Geelong. All their number plates start with their initials ie. TFS. Cheers Tim :

On Fri.15.6.12, I attended the funeral of a relative at Warragul (Vic.), so I made sure that I got proper angles of the hearse. it reinforces my feeling that all modern hearses are based on the Ford long-wheelbase chassis. Older hearses in my collection will predate digital, and will be scattered randomly anywhere: search as well as scan.

However, other members will undoubtedly have some more, or will have opportunities at rallies or funerals which they can seize.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

I'm answering my own question about platforms and body styles for modern hearses.

Here is the start:
<http://www.australianhearsemanufacturers.com.au>
This builder uses Holdens, and has a variety of openings available, and also double-cab models (to act as a mourning car too?). It also supplies transfer vehicles.

<http://www.hadleyconversions.com.au>
Holden, Ford, Kia and Chrysler hearses, with lots of photos.
The preowned section has only a couple of hearses: modern Fords.
The real prize is the history section: interesting in its own right, and with photos of early 1960s hearses made by the company.

The Victorian Railways hearse van (one of six) is described at < www.fcmp.com.au/histrain.asp> ;

Dame Nellie Melba died in Sydney, but was buried near Lilydale (Victoria). Her body was brought to Melbourne in style, by special train. For at least the Victorian portion of the journey, the catafalque was carried in a mainline brakevan, which had sliding double doors. The train either stopped at main stations, or crawled through platforms, so that onlookers could view the coffin.

I don't know what vehicles were used, but NSWR had a mortuary station in Sydney (still there), and branch railways to Rookwood and Woronora cemeteries.
In Newcastle, Sandgate cemetery was served by a branchline.

I am stopping here for this morning, or I will be buried in the topic all day. I hadn't realised how many interesting aspects the thread could include, and other members have put up some really good photos too.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

I have continued googling, and came to this stunning site. Do explore all of its aspects.
Classic and Vintage Funeral Coaches, run by three enthusiasts with all of the restoration passion and skill. Perhaps they are HCVC members too?
www.funeralcoaches.com.au

You could spend a lifetime going through this comprehensive folio: USA, Canada, UK and Australia.
www.hearse.com/pa/index.html

A very interesting article on hearse styling and culture across different countries.
www.smh.com.au/executive-style/culture/h...s-20090529-bptr.html
I haven't copied the text or the photo, so I hope that it doesn't vanish.

This is from an archive file, with no photos.
www.moparmarket.com/classifieds_view.php?classifiedad=31156
I have copied and condensed the text.
Chrysler Valiant VG two-door hardtop hearse, one of only three made.
Chrysler in USA drew plans for an A-body two-door station wagon.
Chrysler Australia , received the plans, but didn't explore the concept any further, as the VF/VG ran for only 2 years.
A coach builder obtained the plans, and made three vehicles, to be used as a children's hearse.
All the body panels (apart from the tailgate) were from other Chrysler models and were ordered from the factory direct.
1967-69 Dodge Dart body (from windscreen to tail lights).
The roof was taken from a conventional Australian four-door station wagon.
The C pillar was an Australian Chrylser Valiant sedan's one.
Engine 245 hemi 2bbl; auto transmission.
Mag wheels: ROH Hustlers, with NOS Cheviot caps.
RIP-000 numberplates came with the vehicle.

Here is a better photo of the 1919 Fiat hearse in Cloncurry:
www.honeycombe-archive.com/thegreatwork/...tralianew/4/35w.html

This album is mainly USA, and holds a lot of photos of gimmick hearses, including: a bicycle (with outrigger); a Fiat 500 (with the coffin on a roof rack); and a nice hearse trailer, towed by an unextended 1920s saloon.
pinterest.com/gregh66538/hearses

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
(with a May issue now gravely late)

I gather that mopar is some sort of street rod.

MOPAR is a brand name for Chrysler group spare parts and accessories.

<http://www.funeralcoaches.com.au>;

This link doesn't seem to work