Commonwealth Railways NDH class railcar

Central Australia Railway Jan. 1955. A NDH railcar would depart Port Augusta, 12.05am Mon. arriving Marree, 11.10am Mon. and one would also depart Port Augusta, 2.45pm Thur. arriving Marree, 1.50am Fri.

For the return, a NDH railcar would depart Marree, 7.45pm Tue. arriving Port Augusta, 6.58am Wed. and one would also depart Marree, 6.30pm Fri. arriving Port Augusta, 5.43am Sat. A distance of 231 miles (372 km) in approximately 11 hours.[8]

First run south of the new NDH2 Gloucester railcar at Adelaide River NT, July 1955

North Australia Railway Apr. 1958. A NDH railcar would depart Darwin, 7.30pm Sun. arriving Larrimah, 6.35am Mon.

For the return, a NDH railcar would depart Larrimah, 8.30pm Mon. arriving Darwin, 8.00am Tue. A distance of 311 miles (501 km) in approximately 11 hours.[9]

Former NDH3 railcar in use as a passenger car NADH3, on The Ghan at Alice Springs, 18 September 1965

NDH1 and NDH2 were converted to standard gauge first class sitting cars and renumbered ADH1 and ADH2 in 1963.[10]

NDH3 and NDH4 had already been converted to standard gauge first class sitting cars, ADH3 and ADH4 in 1957 and were used on the new Stirling North to Marree line. NDH3 was converted back to narrow gauge and renumbered NBDH3 in 1963. In 1965 after, another short stint on standard gauge, NDH3 became NADH3 on narrow gauge. Both times on narrow gauge it was used as a first class sitting car on The Ghan, from Marree to Alice Springs, ceasing in 1971. NDH4 was converted back to narrow gauge and renumbered NBDH4 in 1961. It then was also used as a first class sitting car on The Ghan, from Marree to Alice Springs until 1963.[10][11]

In 1972 ADH2 and ADH4 (NDH2 and NDH4) had their engines removed, 415V jumper cables fitted, painted red and silver and mounted on standard gauge Westwaggon bogies for use as staff accommodation on the Thermit Welding Train.[10]

There was a reprieve for NDH5 and NDH6, remaining as self propelled railcars though, in 1957 NDH5 and NDH6 were converted to standard gauge and were renumbered DH5 and DH6. They were then used for a standard gauge school service between Stirling North and Port Augusta.[12] In 1971 DH5 and DH6 were converted back to narrow gauge, their numbering reverted to NDH5 and NDH6 and were transported to the North Australia Railway for a further short lived railcar passenger service between Darwin and Larimah.. The North Australia Railway ceased operation in 1976.[13]

In the 1970s NDH1 had tanks and a pump installed in the passenger compartment and was used as a standard gauge weed spraying car ADH1. All NDH railcars had been withdrawn from service by 1977.[10]

NDH2 (ADH2) "Duke of Gloucester" railcar restaurant, in the No 2 platform dock at Spencer Street Railway Station, 1989

NDH1 renumbered as ADH1 on standard gauge was offered to the Mile End Railway Museum in 1983 but the car was never collected because it was in a very poor condition after being gutted for use as a weed spraying car. It is likely to have been scrapped in 1983.[10]

NDH2, renumbered as ADH2 on standard gauge, was offered for sale by tender in 1979 at Whyalla and was sold to a private owner who relocated the car to Victoria. On its way to Victoria ADH2 was first stored at the BP siding at Port Pirie, then stored at Broken Hill railway station and finally stored at Albury railway station before being sent to Mittagong Engineering at Braemar, New South Wales, for a full bogie overhaul. From Braemar, ADH2 was moved to Koppers siding at South Dynon, where it was converted into a dining car and named "Duke of Gloucester".

NDH2 (ADH2) "Duke of Gloucester" railcar restaurant, being shunted into the standard gauge dock platform, Spencer St Station 1988.

For several years from 1987, ADH2 operated as a stationary restaurant, in the No 2 platform dock at Spencer St railway station. When construction started on the replacement of Spencer Street railway station, with the new Southern Cross railway station, ADH2 was relocated to South Dynon Locomotive Depot where it was stored. In 2013, ADH2 was transported by road to a depot near Ararat in Western Victoria, where it is now stored.[14]

Shortly after NDH3 renumbered as NADH3 on narrow gauge (formally ADH3 and NBDH3) was withdrawn, it was sold to a former heritage park, Homestead Park in Port Augusta, where it was used to house a display of historic photographs. NADH3 was then purchased by the Pichi Richi Railway and moved to their workshops near Quorn railway station for restoration, on 22 September 2014.[10][15]

NDH3 (NADH3) Gloucester railcar at the now closed Homestead Park, heritage park, Port Augusta, February 2010

NDH4 (NBDH4), renumbered ADH4 on standard gauge, was offered for sale by tender in 1979 at Whyalla but wasn't sold. It was sold in 1981 to a private owner and is used for accommodation on a property near Whyalla.[10]

NDH5 and NDH6 on narrow gauge (formally DH5 and DH6) were offered for sale in Darwin, at an unknown date. A private owner purchased NDH5 and moved it to Knuckey Lagoon, Northern Territory for accommodation on a horse property.[10] NDH6 was sold to a restaurant in Darwin called "The Train on Gardiner Street" and in 2005 NDH6 was acquired by the Adelaide River Railway Heritage Precinct group and is stored at Darwin Container Services, depot at Knuckey Lagoon, Northern Territory.[10][16]