A Classic Locomotive - The South Australian Railways 900 Class Diesel Electric
May 30, 2023 01:39:02 #
Ten 900 Class diesel electric locomotives were designed and built at the South Australian Railways Islington workshops (near Adelaide) between 1951 and 1953.
The class leader, number 900, was named Lady Norrie after the wife of the Governor of South Australia at the time and is cited as being “the first main line diesel electric locomotive to be placed in service on the Australian mainland.”
The 900's worked over all of South Australia's broad gauge (5'3”) network hauling express passenger and freight trains as well as the occasional urban passenger service.
Vital Statistics:
Entered service 12th Setptember 1951
Withdrawn 1st July 1985
Length over couplers 66’ 2’’ (20.17m)
Total Weight 126 tons (126,000 kilograms)
Wheel Arrangement A1A-A1A (4 traction motors)
Tractive Effort (starting) 47,000 lbs (279 kN)
Engine English Electric V16 (16SVT)
Horsepower 1,760 hp at 750 rpm
Maximum Speed 74 mph (119 km/h)
I grew up in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia at the end of the steam era and I saw the 900 class locomotives when they were new. I often watched them hauling heavy loads up the steep grades near where I lived. Sometimes I rode behind them on my way to and from school.
In 1968 I completed an apprenticeship with the South Australian Railways as a Diesel / Fitter and Machinist and also got to work on these wonderful locomotives when they were in their prime.
Because of their history and my association with them I recently bought a HO gauge model of number 900.
The Model:
HO gauge with DCC functions. Overall length 238mm (9.4").
The class leader, number 900, was named Lady Norrie after the wife of the Governor of South Australia at the time and is cited as being “the first main line diesel electric locomotive to be placed in service on the Australian mainland.”
The 900's worked over all of South Australia's broad gauge (5'3”) network hauling express passenger and freight trains as well as the occasional urban passenger service.
Vital Statistics:
Entered service 12th Setptember 1951
Withdrawn 1st July 1985
Length over couplers 66’ 2’’ (20.17m)
Total Weight 126 tons (126,000 kilograms)
Wheel Arrangement A1A-A1A (4 traction motors)
Tractive Effort (starting) 47,000 lbs (279 kN)
Engine English Electric V16 (16SVT)
Horsepower 1,760 hp at 750 rpm
Maximum Speed 74 mph (119 km/h)
I grew up in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia at the end of the steam era and I saw the 900 class locomotives when they were new. I often watched them hauling heavy loads up the steep grades near where I lived. Sometimes I rode behind them on my way to and from school.
In 1968 I completed an apprenticeship with the South Australian Railways as a Diesel / Fitter and Machinist and also got to work on these wonderful locomotives when they were in their prime.
Because of their history and my association with them I recently bought a HO gauge model of number 900.
The Model:
HO gauge with DCC functions. Overall length 238mm (9.4").
Photo 1. 900 class leader, Lady Norrie, preserved and on display in the the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia.
(Download)
Photo 2. Taken in the same location as the previous photo but several years apart. The difference in colour has more to do with the photographer (me) than anything else.
(Download)
Photo 3. The model. Having been close up an personnal with these locomotives I am impressed with the level of detail. Nikon D800, 105mm f2.8 macro lens, 68 image stack.
(Download)
Photo 4. Even the struts visable through the engine room windows are painted in the correct colour. Sony A7Riii, 24-105 f4 lens. 18 image stack.
(Download)
Photo 5. Sony A7Riii 27 image stack.
(Download)
Photo 6. The back end - a sight that I became familiar with when traveling behind a 900 class on my way to and from school in the late 1950's early 1960's. Sony A7Riii 18 image stack.
(Download)
May 30, 2023 05:57:04 #
May 30, 2023 07:53:11 #
May 30, 2023 08:17:07 #
May 30, 2023 08:22:23 #
pretty cool images. the loco has a very ALCO look to it. was it built under license of ALCO?
May 30, 2023 09:22:32 #
llamb wrote:
Thanks for the interesting post.
~Lee
~Lee
Thank you for your feedback Lee.
May 30, 2023 09:23:16 #
yssirk123 wrote:
Thanks for your sign of approval yssirk123.
May 30, 2023 09:23:38 #
May 30, 2023 09:30:18 #
travisdeland wrote:
pretty cool images. the loco has a very ALCO look to it. was it built under license of ALCO?
Thanks for your feedback travis. As far as I am aware, the design for the 900 class diesel electric locomotives was conceived in the South Australian Railways Chief Mechanical Engineer's drawing office independent of any licensing requirement.
May 30, 2023 10:26:50 #
May 30, 2023 10:30:46 #
kpmac wrote:
Interesting and nicely done.
Thanks for the feedback kpmac.
May 31, 2023 10:05:59 #
May 31, 2023 10:52:27 #
travisdeland wrote:
pretty cool images. the loco has a very ALCO look to it. was it built under license of ALCO?
It has a striking resemblance to the Alco PA1 engines of old.
The best looking diesel of its time.
May 31, 2023 14:18:20 #
May 31, 2023 16:24:30 #
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