South Australian Railways

Broad Gauge

Class Operators: South Australian Railways, Australian National, One Rail Australia

Condition: Excellent

Entered service: 1971/72

Entered the Museum: January 2023

Length (over coupling points): 18.67 m (61 ft 3 in)

Class: 700

Class builders: AE Goodwin, Auburn, New South Wales

Number in class: 6

Number series: 701-706

Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust

Provenance: South Australian Railways, Australian National, One Rail Australia

Tractive Effort: 69,916 lbs

Wheel arrangement: Co-Co

By December 1970, the New South Wales Government Railways took delivery of the first of forty DL
500G locomotives from AE Goodwin. The new locomotives were classified as the 422 class and were
the first 2nd generation Alco diesel locomotive to enter traffic in Australia. At the start of the 1970s,
the South Australian Railways (SAR) needed more locomotives and placed an order for six DL 500G
locomotives with slight modifications to the SAR’s operating requirements. These locomotives were
to become the 700 class, and they ended up becoming the last class of locomotives to be purchased
by the SAR.
The six 700 class locomotives were delivered to the SAR between June 1971 and March 1972, with
locomotives 700 to 702 being allocated to Broad gauge and locomotives 703 to 705 on Standard
gauge. The six locomotives were painted Regal Red and silver upon delivery, though the three
standard gauge units were quickly repainted into Mustard Pot livery to match the 600 and 830 class
diesels on Standard gauge.

When Australian National Railways (AN) took over the country lines and interstate operations in
South Australia in 1978, ownership of the 700 class was transferred to them. During their time
operating under AN, the 700 class were regularly gauge converted between Broad and Standard
gauge based on operational requirements. The first member of the class to be withdrawn was
Locomotive 702, when in 1994 it sustained extensive fire damage. 702 was then placed in store
pending work, but was later scrapped in 1997. With the sale of Australian National in 1997,the local
operations and locomotives were sold to Australian Southern Railroad which was eventually bought
out by major shareholder Genesee & Wyoming becoming Genesee & Wyoming Australia (GWA). In
2020 GWA was renamed One Rail Australia.

Locomotive 703 entered service with the South Australian Railways on 16th of December 1971 and
in 1975 it was involved in a major accident at Crystal Brook when the new Standard gauge railway
bridge collapsed during heavy rain and flooding. Locomotives 703 and 830 class diesel locomotive
No.868 made it across the bridge before it collapsed, while the second 830 class locomotive No.874
did not. Locomotive 703 was transferred to Australian National Railways on the 1st of March 1978
and was eventually sold to Australian Southern Railroad on the 1st of November 1997. In 2016
locomotive 703 and all remaining 700 class locomotives were stored. In 2022 One Rail Australia
donated Locomotive 703 to the National Railway Museum. It arrived in January 2023.

Broad Gauge

Class operators: South Australian Railways/State Transport Authority/TransAdelaide

Condition: Excellent

Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust

Provenance: South Australian Railways/State Transport Authority/TransAdelaide

Built by: S.A.R. Islington Workshops

Model: 400 Class

Number in class: 37

Entered service: 17th September 1959

Withdrawn: 15th December 1996

Entered the museum: 15th December 1996

Length (over coupling points): 65 foot 8 inches (20 metres)

Total Weight: 41 tons 17 cwt (42,519 kilograms)

Engine type: 2x GM (Detroit) series 6/71 diesel model 6086

Cylinders: 6x inline

Horsepower: 219 horsepower (163 kW)

Fuel capacity: 250 gallons (1137 litres)

Seating capacity: 80

Maximum Speed: 55 mph (88 km/h)

In 1954 the Islington Workshops of the South Australian Railways constructed diesel railcars for use on the Adelaide suburban service. Two designs were chosen, the 300 class, with a driving station at one end and the 400 class, which had a driving station at each end. The body of each car consisted of a fabricated steel framework to which a steel skin was welded. Original livery was satin maroon body, silver roof and black bogies, though this was later changed to standard suburban red.

Fabricated bogies manufactured by the Islington Workshops were used, though some cars did receive converted bogies that had previously been under Overland carriages.

Each compartment in the passenger saloon was fitted with cold cathode fluorescent tubes and low voltage emergency lighting above fixed tubular steel framed seating. Until 1961 vinyl was used for seat covering, with the main colours being cherry red and Flanders blue, but green, brown and grey sometimes appeared. From 1968, to match the green side walls, a special blue-green upholstery was used.

Interior walls were lined with plastic laminate in blue linen, tan linen or plain green. Flooring was either red linoleum or blue-yellow chequer board vinyl tiles.

Traction power was provided by two six-cylinder diesel engines of the lay-over type. A hydraulic torque converter and gearbox connected the drive shaft to each bogie.

A total of 74 units of the 300 class, and 37 of the 400 class were constructed between 1955 and 1971. Nicknamed Red Hens by the public, this type of railcar exclusively ran the Adelaide suburban service until the late 1970s when new railcars were purchased. Withdrawal of cars commenced in the mid-1980s with the last units remaining in service until late 1996.

Broad Gauge

Class operators: South Australian Railways/State Transport Authority/TransAdelaide

Condition: Excellent

Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust

Provenance: South Australian Railways

Built by: S.A.R. Islington Workshops

Model: 300 Class

Number in class: 74

Entered service: 12th April 1957

Withdrawn: 15th December 1996

Entered the museum: 15th December 1996

Length (over coupling points): 65’ 8’’ (20 metres)

Total Weight: 40 tons 2 cwt (40,741 kilograms)

Engine type: 2x GM (Detroit) series 6/71 diesel model 6086

Cylinders: 6x inline

Horsepower: 219 horsepower (163 kW)

Maximum Speed: 55 mph (88 km/h)

Seating capacity: 91

Fuel capacity: 250 gallons (1137 litres)

In 1954 the Islington Workshops of the South Australian Railways, were commissioned to construct diesel railcars for use on the Adelaide suburban service. Two designs were chosen, the 300 class, with a driving station at one end and the 400 class, which had a driving station at each end.

The body of each car consisted of a fabricated steel framework to which a steel skin was welded. Original livery was satin maroon body, silver roof and black bogies, though this was later changed to standard suburban red. Fabricated bogies manufactured by the Islington Workshops were used, though some cars did receive converted bogies that had previously been under Overland carriages.

Each compartment in the passenger saloon was fitted with cold cathode fluorescent tubes and low voltage emergency lighting above fixed tubular steel framed seating. Until 1961 vinyl was used for seat covering, with the main colours being cherry red and Flanders blue, but green, brown and grey sometimes appeared. From 1968, to match the green side walls, a special blue-green upholstery was used.

Interior walls were lined with plastic laminate in blue linen, tan linen or plain green. Flooring was either red linoleum or blue-yellow chequer board vinyl tiles.

Traction power was provided by two six-cylinder diesel engines of the lay-over type. A hydraulic torque converter and gearbox connected the drive shaft to each bogie.

A total of 74 units of the 300 class, and 37 of the 400 class were constructed between 1955 and 1971. Nicknamed Red Hens by the public, this type of railcar exclusively ran the Adelaide suburban service until the late 1970s when new railcars were purchased. Withdrawal of cars commenced in the mid-1980s with the last units remaining in service until late 1996.

Broad Gauge

Class operators: State Transport Authority/TransAdelaide/Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure

Model: 2100 Class

Built by: Comeng

Number in class: 18

Number series: 2101 to 2118

Height: 4.27m

Length (over coupling points): 25.5m

Width: 3.18m

Total Weight: 42 tonnes (39 to 41 long tons; 44 to 46 short tons) empty

Entered service: 17th November 1980

Maximum Speed: 140 km/h (87 mph) (conservative) but limited to 90 km/h (56 mph) in service

Provenance: DPTI

Seating capacity: Passenger seating capacity: 98 (90 in 2112)

Withdrawn: August 2015

Condemned: August 2015

Entered the museum: 10th July 2016

Condition: Excellent

Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust

The 2000 – 2100 class are diesel hydraulic railcars and trailers that were built for the then State Transport Authority (STA) by Comeng, for use on the Adelaide metropolitan rail network. The 2000- 2100 class railcars were the first modern suburban railcars in South Australia and the second in Australia to feature air conditioning, semi-automatic side doors and a PA address system. They were also the last diesel hydraulic railcars built for a railway operating in South Australia.

The stainless steel body shell of the 2000 – 2100 class railcars was based on the American Budd SPV-2000, Metroliner and Amfleet car designs. The body shells were built by Comeng, in Granville New South Wales, and were railed to the Adelaide plant at Dry Creek for fitting out internally, except for cars 2001 and 2101 which were completed in New South Wales. The first two trailer cars 2101 and 2102 entered service on the 22nd of February 1980, with the last trailer car 2118 entering service on the 18th of August 1981.

The class was dubbed ‘Supertrains’ by the media and the general public but most railway staff and railway enthusiasts were quick to give them their more iconic nickname ‘Jumbos’. The 2000 – 2100 class railcars earnt this nickname due to their unique raised driving cab, which was very similar in principle to a Boeing 747 Jumbo aircraft.

The 18 2100 class trailer cars have to be operated with a power car, as they are not fitted with diesel motors or any source of electrical power. They were usually operated in two-car set (power car-trailer car) or three-car set (trailer car-power car-trailer car) configurations.

In the mid to late 2000s three 2100 class trailer cars (2103, 2112 and 2116) were refurbished internally and mechanically. From 2010 onwards a large percentage of the 2100 class trailer cars received the new Adelaide Metro Livery.

In February 2014 the 2000 and 2100 class railcars were no longer permitted to operate on the Belair and Seaford lines due to clearances as a result of the electrification of the Seaford line. The 2000-2100 class railcars were retired in August 2015 and were sent to scrap in June 2016, with two power cars and two trailers being preserved.

Broad Gauge

Class operators: State Transport Authority/TransAdelaide/Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure

Model: 2000 Class

Built by: Comeng

Number in class: 12

Number series: 2001 to 2012

Height: 4.27m

Length (over coupling points): 25.5m

Width: 3.18m

Engine type: 2x turbocharged Cummins six cylinder underfloor diesel engines

Horsepower: 390 kW (520 horsepower) per engine

Total Weight: 68 tonnes (67 long tons; 75 short tons)

Entered service: 17th November 1980

Maximum Speed: 140 km/h (87 mph) (conservative) but limited to 90 km/h (56 mph) in service

Provenance: DPTI

Seating capacity: 64

Withdrawn: August 2015

Condemned: August 2015

Entered the museum: 10th July 2016

Condition: Excellent

Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust

The 2000 – 2100 class are diesel hydraulic railcars and trailer cars that were built for the then State Transport Authority (STA) by Comeng, for use on the Adelaide metropolitan rail network. The 2000- 2100 class railcars were the first modern suburban railcars in South Australia, and the second in Australia to feature air conditioning, semi-automatic side doors and a PA address system. They were also the last diesel hydraulic type railcars built for a railway operating in South Australia.

The stainless steel body shell of the 2000 – 2100 class railcars was based on the American Budd SPV-2000, Metroliner and Amfleet car designs. The body shells were built by Comeng, in Granville New South Wales, and were railed to their Adelaide plant at Dry Creek for fitting out internally, except for prototype cars 2001 and 2101 which were completed in New South Wales.

The first power car (2001) entered service on the 22nd February 1980 and the last power car (2012) entered service on the 18th August 1981.

The class was dubbed ‘Supertrains’ by the media and the general public, but most railway staff and railway enthusiasts were quick to give them their more iconic nickname ‘Jumbos’. The 2000 – 2100 class railcars earnt this nickname due to their unique raised driving cab, which was very similar in principle to a Boeing 747 Jumbo aircraft.

The 12 2000 class power cars were originally built with two V12 MAN turbocharged diesel engines. These original diesel engines proved to be poor performers and were replaced by two Cummins turbocharged six cylinder diesel engines. The railcars were usually operated a two-car set (power car-trailer car) or three-car set (trailer car-power car-trailer car) configurations.

In the mid to late 2000s two 2000 class power cars (2003 and 2006) were refurbished internally and mechanically. From 2010 onwards a large percentage of the 2000 class power cars received the new Adelaide Metro Livery. In February 2014 the 2000 and 2100 railcars were no longer permitted to operate on the Belair and Seaford lines due to electrification of that part of the system. They were formally retired in August 2015. Two power cars and two trailers were preserved, with the remainder of the fleet being scrapped in June 2016.

2000 class power car 2006 entered service on the 17th November 1980 and was withdrawn from service in 2015. During 2007 power car 2006 was refurbished inside and out, and was one of two power cars to be so treated. In June 2016 the Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) kindly donated cars 2006 and 2112 to the Museum.

Standard Gauge

Class operators: Commonwealth Railways/Australian National Railways

Condition: Very good

Provenance: Commonwealth Railways and Australian National

Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust

Built by: The Budd Co., Philadelphia, Penn, USA

Number in class: 3

Model: RDC-1

Entered service: 6th March 1951

Withdrawn: 31st December 1990

Entered the museum: 7th August 1996

Length (over coupling points): 85’ (25.908 metres)

Total Weight: 49.25 tons (50,038 kilograms)

Engine type: GM 110 x 2 – 2 stroke

Cylinders: 6

Bore and stroke: 5″ x 5.6″ (127mm x 142mm)

Horsepower: 275hp x 2 (205 kW x 2)

Wheel Arrangement: 1A-A1

Gear Ratio: 2.08:1

Tractive Effort (starting): 8,000 lbs (35.5 kW)

Tractive Effort (continuous): 2,000 lbs at 85 mph (8.9 kW)

Fuel capacity: 210 gallons (950 litres)

Maximum Speed: 85 mph (136.7 km/h)

As part of its post war rehabilitation programme the Commonwealth Railways upgraded its short haul passenger services by introducing railcars on the runs between Port Pirie, Port Augusta, and Tarcoola. A contract for the delivery of three air-conditioned railcars was let to the Budd Company, Philadelphia, U.S.A. in October 1950. The railcars arrived in March 1951. They were the standard Budd RDC-1 design, and featured stainless steel bodies and air-conditioning. There were two compartments, with seating for 49 in one and 41 in the other. After entering service buffet facilities were fitted and seating improvements made, reducing the capacity to 70 passengers.

Regular passenger services were introduced from May 1951 when the cars operated between Port Pirie Junction and Pimba. In 1952 the service was extended from Pimba along the military stores siding to the Woomera township. From July 1952 the cars made regular runs to Tarcoola, however this journey involved long stretches of unfenced track and damage was often caused through running down stock and kangaroos. The Budd car service to Tarcoola was discontinued on 25th January 1961, although the service was retained between Port Augusta and Woomera.

Completion of the new standard gauge line to Marree made it possible for Budd cars to work over that line, at first to Brachina, and ultimately to Marree.

Following the opening of the Port Augusta to Whyalla line, Budd rail cars were also introduced on that service.

Alterations in passenger traffic resulted in the cars being removed from service in 1976 and placed in storage until refurbished in 1985 for a new service between Adelaide and Whyalla. The Iron Triangle Limited ran its first regular trip on 21st April 1986. The Iron Triangle Limited was withdrawn from service on 31st December 1990.

Railcar CB1 was donated to the museum by Australian National in 1996.

Broad Gauge

Diesel

Class operators: South Australian Railways

Condition: Excellent

Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust

Provenance: South Australian Railways

Built by: S.A.R. Islington Workshops

Number in class: 39

Model: 75

Entered service: 1928

Withdrawn: 1971

Entered the museum: 9th March 1973

Length (over coupling points): 58’ 6’’ (17.83 metres)

Total Weight: 27 tons (27,000 kilograms)

Engine type: Cummins diesel

Seating capacity: 34

Following the introduction of the Model 55 railcars, Mr. Webb decided to introduce a fleet of the larger Brill Model 75 railcars to take over passenger services on the branch lines where lightly-loaded steam-hauled passenger trains were proving to be quite uneconomic.

The first car, Number 30, was built by the Brill Company in America, but the balance were all built to American plans by the South Australian Railways at Islington. Ultimately, the number series of the cars ranged from 30 to 59 on the broad gauge, with two number 44’s having been built, with the first being sold to the Victorian Railways; and 100 to 106 and 487 on the narrow gauge. A series of trailer cars was also built, being numbered in the 200 series on the broad gauge and in the 300 series on the narrow-gauge.

These rail cars and trailers were used mainly as intended on the branch lines, but were occasionally used on some main line services such as those to Port Pirie, and also on some off-peak suburban services. Regrettably, these cars were renowned for their rough riding qualities.

As built, these railcars seated 61, had petrol engines and a series of small windows similar to those of the 55-class. By the end of their lives, most had seen many changes. Six, including 41, were greatly changed in 1940 by the introduction of high-back semi-compartment type seating, which reduced the number of passengers to 34, and the replacement of the small windows by large main line type windows. These cars were promptly nicknamed the “Milk Bar Cars” because of the high-back seating.

All the railcars lost their petrol engines after 1957. Most received Gardiner 198 horsepower diesel engines in their stead, but 41 was one of three to be fitted with Cummins diesel engines. At the same time these railcars were fitted with remote control equipment to allow multiple unit operation.

During the 1960s the cars were clearly near the end of their economic lives, and there were some plans made to replace them. However, instead of this happening, there were large-scale closures of country branch lines. This resulted in a need for fewer railcars and the more modern Bluebird air-conditioned cars were able to cope on their own. The last model 75 working was on the 13th October 1971, when 46 and Trailer 216 returned to Adelaide from Victor Harbor.

The preservation of 41 is thanks to the generosity of Mr. Graham Bettany who, in January 1973, gave the railcar into the care of the Museum. He had earlier purchased it from the South Australian Railways.

Broad Gauge

Diesel

Class operators: South Australian Railways

Condition: Good

Provenance: South Australian Railways

Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust

Built by: Brill Car Co, USA

Number in class: 12

Model: 55 class

Entered service: 9th June 1924

Withdrawn: 1968

Entered the museum: 22nd October 1968

Length (over coupling points): 43’ 5’’ (13.23 metres)

Seating capacity: 43

Tare Weight: Petrol: 12 tons 17 cwt (12,863 kilograms) – Diesel: 14 tons 9 cwt (14,457 kilograms)

Early in his career with the South Australian Railways, Commissioner Webb decreed that small country passenger trains should be replaced by passenger motors (railcars). The idea was not new; there had been the Caldwell Vale railcar that operated between Goolwa and Victor Harbor and a small railcar at Port Lincoln but the scale of the replacement was new.

Mr Webb did not just order one railcar as had been done before, but he initially ordered a fleet of 12 from the Indiana firm of Service Motors. These petrol railcars came direct from the maker’s order book in which they were listed as ‘Model 55’, the name by which they have been known ever since – to distinguish them from the later Model 75 (see Railcar 41). The earlier railcars were not forgotten in the numbering sequence, and the first of these cars was given the road number 4, the remainder of the class going to 15.

When delivered they all were painted in a colour scheme of royal blue with a light Primrose yellow window strip. The maiden trip of a new 55 class railcar was undertaken by No.5 on the 16^th of Feburary 1924 to Willunga, during which run the car was stopped on the steep grade between Hallett Cove and Reynella, and then restarted to demonstrate to the notable passengers the efficiency of the railcar.

During the 1930’s the original 68 horsepower petrol engines were all removed from these railcars and replaced by Gardiner 102 horsepower diesel engines, except for No. 7, which received a Deutz 110 horsepower air-cooled diesel engine. By the early 1930’s the livery on these railcars went from Blue to standard SAR carriage Red, with gold lettering. This livery was quite austere when compared to the previous blue livery.

The cars were built for the broad-gauge, but for a time Cars 4 and 10 were active on the narrow-gauge lines in the South East, and they were re-numbered 112 and 111 respectively. Generally, the class saw service on most broad-gauge branches, but were not popular because of their very rough riding.

 In the 1950’s, they were relegated to suburban service, and their last years of service were spent providing the shuttle between Glanville and Semaphore, with occasional trips to the city. To do this they operated in pairs, using small automatic couplers, previously, they had been equipped with small tramway-type link and pin couplers. By this time their livery had changed once again going from SAR carriage Red to SAR Green and Cream like their larger 75 class counterparts.

There can be no doubt that the introduction of these small railcars paved the way for an immense change in the style of railway branch line operations in South Australia, and may even be said to have been the only way that some lines were able to be kept open for as long as they were. Their introduction marked the end of the country branch steam passenger train, and the beginning of a line of railcars that was to culminate in the luxurious air-conditioned Bluebird some 30 years later.

This railcar is currently being restored by the National Railway Museum’s skilled volunteers, to the original royal blue colour scheme.

Broad Gauge

Diesel

Class operators: South Australian Railways; Australian National Railways

Condition: Excellent

Ownership: Port Dock Station Railway Trust

Provenance: South Australian Railways; Australian National

Built by: S.A.R. Islington Workshops

Number in class: 12

Model: 250

Entered service: 13th February 1957

Withdrawn: 1995

Entered the museum: 3rd May 1995

Total Weight: 60 tons (60,000 kilograms)

Engine type: 2 x Cummins NT-855-R2 6-cylinder diesel

Auxiliary Power: 1 x GM series 3-71 3-cylinder diesel

Fuel capacity: 250 gallons (1137 litres)

Maximum Speed: 70 mph (112 km/h)

Length (over coupling points): 78’ 3’’ (23.85 metres)

Seating capacity: 52 passengers

The first of the Bluebird railcars commenced regular service on the Morgan line in October 1954. A regular service to Moonta began in September 1955 and a month later a Bluebird replaced the regular engine-hauled train to Mount Gambier.

As additional cars were constructed, their sphere of operation was extended to Port Pirie in 1958, and Terowie and Gladstone in 1959. They also operated to Tailem Bend and Victor Harbor. Unfortunately they were not able to arrest the slow decline in country passenger numbers. Services to Morgan were the first to cease in 1965, followed by Moonta in 1969, Tailem Bend in 1981, Gladstone in 1982 and Victor Harbor in 1984.

After the regular Mount Gambier and Broken Hill services were withdrawn on 31st December 1990 the only remaining operation was an intermittent special to Broken Hill which ceased on the 31st.

Broad Gauge

Class operators: South Australian Railways

Condition: Excellent

Provenance: South Australian Railways

Ownership: History Trust of South Australia

Number in class: 1

Built by: S.A.R. Islington Workshops

Entered service: 2nd April 1940

Withdrawn: 28th July 1988

Entered the museum: 28th July 1988

Constructed at Islington Workshops, the Vice Regal car was built to accommodate the Governor and members of the Royal Family when travelling on the South Australian Railways broad gauge network.

The car features separate bedrooms for the Governor and his wife separated by a common bathroom, a compartment for the Aide-de-camp, a dining saloon and kitchen area, and rounded end that acts as a lounge and observation area. It also noted for being the first air-conditioned car in service for the South Australian Railways.