South Australian Railways 900 class

South Australian Railways 900 class

900 Lady Norrie

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Islington Railway Workshops Total produced 10

Specifications UIC class A1A-A1A Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Wheel diameter 1.07 m (3 ft 6 in) Wheelbase Bogie - 16ft 2in, overall total - 52ft 2in. Length Over coupler pulling faces: 20.17 m (66 ft 2 in) Axle load 21.3 tonnes (20.96 long tons; 23.48 short tons) Loco weight 128 tonnes (125.98 long tons; 141.10 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 4,550 litres (1,000 imp gal; 1,200 US gal) Prime mover English Electric 16SVT Engine type Four-stroke V16 diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Generator English Electric 822 type Traction motors 4 type 523A air cooled Cylinders 16 Cylinder size 10 inch bore X 12 inch stroke MU working X 3 Loco brake Westinghouse Compressed Air, and Electric Dynamic

Performance figures Maximum speed 119 km/h (74 mph) Power output Gross: 1,185 kW (1,590 hp) Tractive effort Continuous: 151.00 kN (33,946 lbf) at 23.6 km/h (14.7 mph), Starting: 279.00 kN (62,722 lbf)

Career Operators South Australian Railways Number in class 10 Numbers 900-909 First run 10 September 1951 Last run 18 June 1985 Preserved 900, 907, 909 Disposition 3 preserved, 7 scrapped

The 900 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by Islington Railway Workshops for the South Australian Railways between 1951 and 1953.

History

The 900 class were the first main line diesels operated by the South Australian Railways. Ten were built at Islington Railway Workshops to replace steam locomotives on the heavily graded Mount Lofty Ranges. They operated both heavy freight trains and passenger services including The Overland. After the arrival of more powerful diesels, they were concentrated on the easier graded lines from Adelaide to Port Pirie and Peterborough.^[1]

In March 1978 all were included in the transfer of the South Australian Railways to Australian National. Withdrawals commenced in May 1979^[1] with the last two withdrawn on 18 June 1985 after operating a cement train from Angaston to Dry Creek.^[2][3] Three have been preserved with the other seven scrapped.^[4]

Preserved

Three units have been preserved:

• 900 Lady Norrie resides at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide^[5]
• 907 resides in Tailem Bend under private ownership in derelict condition^[6]
• 909 resides in Tailem Bend under private ownership being standard gauge converted^[6]

References

1. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850's - 1980's. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 190. ISBN 0 730100 05 7.
2. "South Australia" Railway Digest August 1985 page 247
3. Broad Gauge 900-class diesel locomotives Chris' Commonwealth Railway Pages
4. 900 Class Railpage
5. Lady Norrie National Railway Museum
6. The Tailem Bend Train Graveyard Weekend Notes 10 February 2013

900 class drivers cab

Two 900 class locomotives