South Australian Railways 900 class

South Australian Railways 900 class

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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 Withdrawals commenced in May 1979[1] with the last two withdrawn on 18 June 1985 after operating a cement train from Angaston to Dry Creek.[2][3] Three have been preserved with the other seven scrapped.[4]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:

References

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 The Tailem Bend Train Graveyard Weekend Notes 10 February 2013
900 class drivers cab
Two 900 class locomotives
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