South Australian Railways
Standard Gauge
Diesel-Electric
Class operators South Australian Railways; Australian National Railways
Condition Excellent
Provenance South Australian Railways
Ownership Port Dock Station Railway Trust
Class Builders S.A.R. Islington Workshops
Number in class 33
Number series 500 - 533
Entered service 29th December 1966
Entered the museum 2nd June 1992
Total Weight 56 tons (56,000 kilograms)
Length (over coupling points) 41’ 4’’ (12.6 metres)
Engine type EE 4SRKT
Horsepower 500 hp
Gear Ratio 72:15
Wheel Arrangement Bo-Bo
Traction Motors 4x
Fuel capacity 700 gallons (3,182 litres)
Bogie centres 6.25
Built by S.A.R. Islington Railway Workshops
Cylinders 4 in line
Designer SAR Islington
Height 3.98 meters
Maximum Axle Load 14.2t (14200 kilograms)
Maximum Speed 64 km/h
Model 500 Class
Tractive Effort (continuous) 133 kn at 6 km/h
Tractive Effort (starting) 139 kn
Width 2.84 meters
Withdrawn 2nd June 1992
Condemned 2nd June 1992
The 500-class locomotives became the South Australian Railways shunting locomotives. Thirty-four were built at the Islington Workshops between 1964 and 1969 using English Electric engines and electricals, and could be found working over virtually all of the broad and standard-gauge systems.
Rated at 500 horsepower they proved ideal for use at smaller depots and over the lighter rail found on many branch lines. As their allocation to various depots proceeded they displaced more and more of the older steam locomotives, particularly the F and Rx-classes resulting in their extinction from the SAR roster.
The 500s were quite distinctive machines, their most outstanding features being their roof-mounted bells, and cabs, reminiscent of those on some steam locomotives.
Engine 515 is in full working order. It arrived at the museum on broad-gauge (5’ 3’’), but was placed on standard-gauge bogies on 3 October 2001.