South Australian Railways
Broad Gauge
Diesel-Electric
Class operators: South Australian Railways; Australian National Railways
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: South Australian Railways; Australian National Railways
Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Class Builders: English Electric, Rocklea, Queensland
Number in class: 10
Entered service: 9th June 1956.
Withdrawn: 1992
Entered the museum: 1992
Total Weight: 72 tons (72,000 kilograms)
Length (over coupling points): 44’ 10’’ (13.67m)
Engine type: EE 6SRKT
Horsepower: 750 hp
Wheel Arrangement: Bo-Bo
Traction Motors: 4x
Gear Ratio: 56:15
Fuel capacity: 700 gallons (3,182 litres)
Bogie centres: 6.80
Built by: English Electric, Rocklea, Queensland
Mileage: 721,420 KM
Condemned: 1992
Cylinders: 6 in line
Designer: English Electric, Rocklea, Queensland
Height: 4.19m
Maximum Axle Load: 18.3t (18,300 kilograms)
Maximum Speed: 97 km/h
Model: 800 class
Number series: 800 to 809
Tractive Effort (continuous): 102 kN at 14 km/h
Tractive Effort (starting): 179 kN
Width: 2.90m
The first orders for broad-gauge diesel-electric motive power placed by the SAR in the early 1950s were for main line locomotives – the 900 and 930-classes. However, ageing steam locomotives were still used for shunting and it was increasingly evident that their replacement was overdue. Therefore, in 1955, an order was placed with English Electric, Rocklea, Queensland, for ten 750 horsepower Bo-Bo machines. These were delivered in 1956-57 and became the 800-class No.800-809.
No.801 was the second of the order, carrying works number A-002, and was placed in service on 9th June 1956.
Most were allocated to the Port Adelaide depot where they replaced the small P-class 2-4-0 tank engines (No.117 is preserved in this museum), and provided shunting power for the area for the next 30 years. They were not restricted exclusively to these duties, but regularly hauled transfer freight trains around suburban Adelaide, and occasionally worked local passenger trains.
All were taken into Australian National ownership on 1st March 1978, but began to be withdrawn from service and cut up in the early 1990s. No.801 was withdrawn and sold to the railway museum in 1992. It is in full working order and is occasionally used for shunting.