South Australian Railways 700 class (diesel)

The 700 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the South Australian Railways in 1971-1972. They are identical to the New South Wales 442 class locomotive.

South Australian Railways 700 class
704 at Tanunda in March 2007
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderAE Goodwin, Auburn
Serial numberAlco G-6042-01 to G-6042-03
Alco G-6059-01 to G-6059-03
ModelAlco DL 500G
Build date1971-1972
Total produced6
Specifications
Configuration:
  UICCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Wheel diameter1,020 mm (3 ft 4 in)
LengthOver coupler pulling faces:
18.67 m (61 ft 3 in)
Axle load18.6 t
(18.31 long tons; 20.50 short tons)
Loco weight111.6 t
(109.84 long tons; 123.02 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity5,455 L
(1,200 imp gal; 1,441 US gal)
Prime moverAlco 251C
Engine typeFour-stroke V12 diesel
AspirationTurbocharged
Cylinders12
Cylinder size9 in × 10.5 in
(229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed112 km/h (70 mph)
Power outputGross: 1,490 kW (2,000 hp),
Tractive effortContinuous: 311.00 kN (69,916 lbf) at 11 km/h (6.8 mph),
Starting: 389.00 kN (87,451 lbf)
Career
OperatorsSouth Australian Railways
Number in class6
Numbers700-705 (now 701-706)
First run22 June 1971
Current ownerGenesee & Wyoming
Disposition5 stored, 1 scrapped

History

A total of six 700 class locomotives were built for the South Australian Railways by AE Goodwin, Auburn and are an Alco DL500g model. They were built in 1971/72, with the first three delivered on broad gauge bogies and the last three on standard gauge bogies. In March 1978 all were included in the transfer of the South Australian Railways to Australian National. Over the years the locomotives frequently switched gauges before all were put on the broad gauge in 1987. Following the Adelaide-Melbourne railway line being converted to standard gauge in 1995, all of the 700 class were converted to standard gauge.[1] The 700 class operated on all main lines in South Australia as well as interstate to Broken Hill and Melbourne.

In 1986, a new computer system required the class leaders of the former South Australian Railways to be renumbered as the last member of the class, with 700 becoming 706.[2] In June 1994 702 was damaged by fire and a New South Wales 442 class locomotive was purchased with the intention of combining the two locomotives as one but the plan did not proceed and both were scrapped.[3][4]

The remaining five were included in the sale of Australian National to Australian Southern Railroad in November 1997. As of January 2016 all locomotives are now stored with 701 (since December 2015), 703 (since December 2015) & 704 (since 2014) stored serviceable, 705 stored after a major failure in 2015 & 706 (700) stored after a major failure in 2005[5][6][7]

Status

As at September 2016, the status of the fleet was:[8]

NumberIn ServiceCurrent/Last OwnerCurrent StatusGaugeNotes
700June 1971Genesee & WyomingStoredBroadRenumbered 706, Stored after failure
701July 1971Genesee & WyomingStoredStandardStored serviceable
702September 1971Australian NationalScrappedStandard-
703December 1971Genesee & WyomingStoredStandardStored serviceable
704July 1972TransVolutionStoredBroadStored serviceable
705March 1972Genesee & WyomingStoredStandardStored after failure

References

  1. "The 700 class locomotives of South Australia" Railway Digest January 2000 page 42
  2. "Australian National Broken Hill Line Report" Railway Digest October 1986 page 314
  3. "State Rail's Locomotive Auction Results" Railway Digest January 1995 page 36
  4. Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia 1854 to 2007. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 367. ISBN 978-1-877058-54-7.
  5. Broad Gauge 700-class diesel locomotives Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages
  6. 700 Class Railpage
  7. 700 Class Vicsig
  8. "Australia Wide Fleet List" Motive Power November 2014 page 67
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