South Australian Locomotives
Photo: Chris Drymalik Collection
Though the South Australian Parliament passed an act confirming the adoption of the standard gauge of 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) in 1847, South Australia ended up with a mix of three gauges, and more change of gauge stations than all the other states put together.
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The country railways were initially owned by South Australian Railways. The narrow gauge lines north and west of Quorn were handed over to the Commonwealth Railways in 1926, though the Commonwealth had had financial responsibility for these lines since 1911. The Commonwealth Railways later merged with the SAR to become the Australian National Railways Commission (ANR) in 1978, hence a lot of locomotives that travelled throughout South Australia are listed under Commonwealth Railways. Those listed here are mainly Narrow Gauge.
The metropolitan railway lines are now owned and operated by Adelaide Metro, interstate passenger services operated by Journey Beyond, intrastate freight by One Rail Australia, and interstate freight by a number of companies including Bowmans Rail, One Rail Australia, Pacific National and SCT Logistics.
What Locomotive Is That?
Steam - South Australia
SAR T class
For more than 50 years the T class the backbone of the SAR's narrow-gauge motive power. As smaller SAR narrow-gauge locomotives were withdrawn in the 1920s, the T class became dominant until the early 1950s, when they were gradually superseded by the 400 class Garratt-type locomotives on the Barrier ore traffic and, in the 1960s, by 830 class diesel-electrics. The need to convert the latter locomotives from narrow to standard gauge in readiness for the opening of the new Broken Hill line resulted in many of the steam locomotives being released from storage to haul ore trains in 1968–69.
SAR 400 class
The South Australian Railways 400 class was a class of 4-8-2+2-8-4 articulated steam locomotives built in France in 1952 and 1953 under licence to Beyer, Peacock & Co. Ltd, Manchester, UK. The 10 locomotives of this class mainly hauled ore on the 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge line from the SA/NSW border to smelters at Port Pirie until 1963, when they were replaced by diesel locomotives.
They also operated on the lines to Terowie and Quorn. Some locomotives were returned to service in 1969 while narrow gauge diesel locomotives were converted to 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge. Subsequently some were stored at Peterborough before being scrapped. Two have been preserved, in static condition: No. 402 at the Zig Zag Railway, Lithgow; No. 409 at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.
SAR 500 class
The broad gauge (5' 3") 500 class were part of larger order for 30 steam locomotives placed with Armstrong Whitworth, England, in 1924, as part of the rehabilitation of the state's rail system being overseen by Railways Commissioner William Webb. They replaced the R and S class locomotives, many dating back to 1894, that were still performing mainline duties, meaning that double and even triple heading was common. All ten 500-class locomotives arrived in Adelaide in 1926, and entered service on the Adelaide to Wolseley line as far as Tailem Bend. All were named after notable South Australians. 504 is preserved as a static exhibit at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.
SAR 520 class
The 520 class filled a desperate need in the 1940s for additional tractive power on increasingly growing troop and supply trains and with the combined need for quick acceleration and high speed running on the flat and general straight mainlines to the north to Port Pirie, as well as power for the long, graded slog up the Adelaide Hills to Melbourne. The class featured extravagant streamlining, in the style of the Pennsylvania Railroad's T1 in the United States.
The 520 class locomotives were noted for their impressive displays of power and speed. A total of 12 locomotives were built at Islington Railway Workshops between 1943 and 1947. They were progressively replaced in service from the early 1960s by diesel locomotives, and in particular the 830 class, as repairs, namely to boilers, were required. Two of the 12 locomovies survive: 520 at SteamRanger, Goolwa; 523 at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide. At the time of writing, neither are operational.
SAR 600 class
The broad gauge 600 class were part of larger order for 30 steam locomotives placed with Armstrong Whitworth, England in 1924 as part of the rehabilitation of the state's rail system being overseen by railways commissioner William Webb. 609 was named Duke of Gloucester after hauling the Duke's Royal Train in 1934 and so became Australia's first 'royal' engine. All examples of the 600 class were withdrawn between 1955 and 1961. None were preserved.
SAR 620 class
The completion of the South Australian Railway (SAR) broad gauge route between Adelaide and Port Pirie created a need for a fast, light passenger locomotive to haul this service, as well as other traffic on the lightly laid 60 lb/yd (29.8 kg/m) rail branch lines of the SAR, hence the Pacific type 620 class was created. Class leader 620 was also notable for being Australia's first streamlined locomotive (video below), the smokebox being covered with a chromed steel grille similar to those fitted to motor cars of the period, painted in resplendent Hawthorn Green and Silver. The press of the time described 620's appearance as 'a bit of fluff'. The remainder of the class was unstreamlined.
The 620 class was phased out in favour of Bluebird railcars, although a spate of railcar failures in 1954–55 saw the 620 class return to service on the Port Pirie line. All were withdrawn between 1964 and 1969. Two have been preserved: 621 by SteamRanger "Duke of Edinburgh"; 624 by the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.
SAR 700 class
As part of William Webb's rehabilitation of the South Australian Railways, ten broad-gauge 2-8-2 steam locomotives were delivered by Armstrong Whitworth, Newcastle upon Tyne in March 1926. They were designed to operate across all broad gauge branch lines. In 1928, they were followed by ten nearly identical 710 class locomotives built at Islington Railway Workshops. Coal shortages after World War II saw a number converted to burn oil. All were later converted back to coal burners. The first two were withdrawn in June 1959 with the remainder replaced as 830 diesel locomotives entered service. The last was withdrawn in June 1968. he National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide has preserved 702.
Diesel - South Australia
SAR 350 Class
The South Australian Railways 350 class comprised two diesel-electric locomotives built by the railway's Islington Railway Workshops that entered service in June 1949. They were the first diesel locomotives operated by the South Australian Railways and the first to be built by an Australian railway. Locomotives number 350 and 351 spent much of their service life working in their design role as shunting locomotives – in Adelaide yard, Islington Railway Workshops, Mile End goods yard and Mount Gambier station yard. In March 1978 they were included in the transfer of South Australian Railways assets to Australian National. Both locomotives were withdrawn in 1979. Railway historical group SteamRanger bought 350 and still owns the locomotive, operating it as a depot shunter.
SAR 500 Class
The 500 class were South Australian Railways diesel shunter locomotives built at Islington Railway Workshops between 1964 and 1969. Thirty-four were built, all incorporating English Electric traction and control equipment. The first 27 were built with broad gauge bogies; the last seven with standard gauge bogies. They operated in yards at Gladstone, Murray Bridge, Naracoorte, Peterborough, Port Pirie, Tailem Bend and Wallaroo, and were deployed extensively in Adelaide. Eight examples survive, the most well known being 507 owned by SteamRanger, where it is commonly used on Cockle Train duties between Goolwa and Victor Harbor.
SAR 600 Class
The 600 class diesel-electric locomotives were manufactured by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the South Australian Railways between 1965 and 1970.The class is based on the Alco DL-541 model. Forty similar examples were built by AE Goodwin for the New South Wales Government Railways as the 45 class in 1962-64. Two were built in April 1965 for use on standard gauge construction trains and with completion imminent, a further five were delivered in 1969/70. They were the only South Australian Railways diesels to never operate on the Broad Gauge.
SAR 700 Class
The 700 class is a class of diesel-electric locomotives based on the Alco DL500G model, built by AE Goodwin, Auburn, New South Wales for the South Australian Railways. They are identical to the New South Wales 442 class locomotive. The six locomotives of the class were built in 1971–1972. The first three were delivered on 1600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge bogies and the latter three on 1435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge bogies. All were initially delivered in the South Australian Railways' maroon and silver colour scheme, however the three standard gauge locomotives were quickly repainted in the South Australian Railways' 'Mustard Pot' colour scheme.
SAR 830 Class
The 830 class diesel locomotives were built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the South Australian Railways between 1959 and 1966. The New South Wales 48 class and Silverton Rail 48s class are of a very similar design. Examples were built in a mix of Narrow, Standard and Broad Gauges. In March 1978, 43 were included in the transfer of the South Australian Railways to Australian National with the other two (no. 830 & 845) going to the State Transport Authority before also moving to Australian National. They were phased out in the late 1980s. One example has been preserved by the Don River Railway, Devonport, Tas., the remainder were scrapped.
SAR 900 Class
The 900 class were a class of diesel locomotives built by Islington Railway Workshops for the South Australian Railways between 1951 and 1953. 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.
In March 1978, all were included in the transfer of the South Australian Railways to Australian National. Withdrawals commenced in May 1979 with the last two withdrawn on 18 June 1985 after operating a cement train from Angaston to Dry Creek. Three have been preserved with the other seven scrapped.
SAR 930 Class
The SAR 930 class diesel-electric locomotives was built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the South Australian Railways between 1955 and 1967. The first six single ended examples were delivered in 1955 and 1956 to operate over the steeply graded Adelaide to Tailem Bend line and onwards to Serviceton. A further 31 double ended examples entered service between July 1957 and June 1967 and operated across the broad gauge network. The double ended locomotives had a "bulldog nose" at one end, and were flat at the other.
All were delivered with broad gauge bogies and worked across the South Australian network. Withdrawals commenced in 1986 with only two remaining by January 1994. Four examples survive; 958 is preserved in operational condition at SteamRanger Heritage Railway, Mount Barker, in Australian National livery.