Written By: Dom Quartuccio
Photos By: Dean Jones, Ian Green, Chris Nuthall, Jack Martin, Simon Barber and Thomas McIntosh
Page Last Updated: 25/8/20
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Locomotive Info:
Type: Diesel-Electric Manufacturer: Alco Goodwin Number Built: 46 Operational: 6 Renumbered: 1 Rebuilt: 7 Stored: 12 Scrapped: 16 Preserved: 4 Model: DL531 Loco Length: 14.76 Meters Weight: 71 tonnes Engine: Alco 6-251 Generator: GE 5GT584 Traction Motors: GE 761 Horsepower: 970 Max Speed: 120 km/h |
872-864 with an ARTC rail train working wrong road at Oolong. (26/8/17)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
During the late 1950’s, the South Australian Railway’s (SAR) placed an order for 10 Alco DL531 locomotives similar to the New South Wales Government Railway’s 48 class with the intention of light goods haulage on branch lines where a lower axle load was essential due to the track condition. The locos were built under licence from Alco by Sydney based engineering firm A E Goodwin and expanded orders later saw the fleet increased to 44 locomotives by February 1970, with running numbers 830 to 873.
Original allocations saw 21 on narrow gauge working mainly out of Port Lincoln, Gladstone and Peterborough depots, 5 on standard gauge out of Peterborough and 17 for working the broad gauge lines. In February 1970 an additional unit was purchased second hand from the Silverton Tramway at Broken Hill and re-numbered 874. There were frequent gauge conversions within the class which started before the final locos were delivered.
Original allocations saw 21 on narrow gauge working mainly out of Port Lincoln, Gladstone and Peterborough depots, 5 on standard gauge out of Peterborough and 17 for working the broad gauge lines. In February 1970 an additional unit was purchased second hand from the Silverton Tramway at Broken Hill and re-numbered 874. There were frequent gauge conversions within the class which started before the final locos were delivered.
852-GM36-C501 head light engine for South Dynon at Appleton Dock. (5/4/12)
Photo By: Ian Green |
852-875-865 with a log train at Rogerville in Tasmania. (10/11/86)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
In March 1978, 43 members of the class were included in the transfer of South Australian Railways assets to the newly formed federal government Australian National Railways (Later rebranded to Australia National in 1980) with the exception of broad gauge 830 & 845 which went to the State Transport Authority (STA) for general duties before being sold to Australian National in 1982. From July 1974 until December 1980, locomotives 847, 848 and 849, were loaned to New South Wales’ Public Transport Commission (PTC) where they were pooled with the NSW 48 class.
The opening of the new standard gauge route to Alice Springs in 1980 allowed the release of a number of narrow gauge former Commonwealth locomotives power, which in turn released a number of 830 class to be transferred to Australian National's Tasmanian operations. Between April 1980 and August 1986 a total of 20 class members were shipped to Tasmania.
Withdrawals of the TasRail fleet commenced in late 1987 with only three in service by the start of April 1989. Australian National transferred five back to South Australia while two were sold to Silverton Rail and shipped to Broken Hill via Adelaide, 866 remained in Tasmania and was preserved by the Don River Railway in Devonport with the remainder meeting the gas axe.
Between 1991-1996, six 830 class units were rebuilt as the DA class (Later reclassed to 900 class) with new DOO suitable cabs to allow them to be used as shunters. In December 1994 two 48 class were purchased from the State Rail Authority (SRA) with 4813 being rebuilt as DA7 and the other locomotive (4826) eventually scrapped at Port Augusta. AN’s remaining 830 class were all included with the sale of the South Australian freight operations to Australian Southern Railroad (ASR) in November 1997.
The opening of the new standard gauge route to Alice Springs in 1980 allowed the release of a number of narrow gauge former Commonwealth locomotives power, which in turn released a number of 830 class to be transferred to Australian National's Tasmanian operations. Between April 1980 and August 1986 a total of 20 class members were shipped to Tasmania.
Withdrawals of the TasRail fleet commenced in late 1987 with only three in service by the start of April 1989. Australian National transferred five back to South Australia while two were sold to Silverton Rail and shipped to Broken Hill via Adelaide, 866 remained in Tasmania and was preserved by the Don River Railway in Devonport with the remainder meeting the gas axe.
Between 1991-1996, six 830 class units were rebuilt as the DA class (Later reclassed to 900 class) with new DOO suitable cabs to allow them to be used as shunters. In December 1994 two 48 class were purchased from the State Rail Authority (SRA) with 4813 being rebuilt as DA7 and the other locomotive (4826) eventually scrapped at Port Augusta. AN’s remaining 830 class were all included with the sale of the South Australian freight operations to Australian Southern Railroad (ASR) in November 1997.
844-704 with #1151S at Dry Creek. (3/3/13)
Photo By: Jack Martin |
841-704 with #1151S at Lyndoch. (20/12/13)
Photo By: Simon Barber |
In June 2000, locomotives 833, 838 and 845 were sold to ATN Access for use on grain services in New South Wales and Victoria, the 3 were later included in the sale of the business to Pacific National (PN) in February 2004.
833 was scrapped at Cootamundra during 2016 after years of neglect, 838 remains under PN ownership stored at Junee, while 845 was preserved by Steamranger Heritage Railway (SHR) during December 2015. The locomotive was hauled dead from Dimboola to Tailem Bend during that month on a special Steamrail/K&AB Rail transfer with the unit later arriving at SHR’s Mt Barker Depot during August 2017 for restoration.
The sale of Australian Rail Group (ARG) to QR National (QRN) in June 2006 included 852. It was sold to Junee Railway Workshops (JRW) during 2008 and after an extensive overhaul returned to service in 2012
The unit could commonly be found on hire to Qube on the Junee - Harefield shuttle service during 2020.
The Adelaide based units allocated to ASR (Later becoming GWA) were used primarily on broad gauge grain services and local movements in Adelaide during the early years with notable trains such as the Penrice stone train, TransAdelaide’s Outer Harbour line ballast trains during 2001 and the now ceased the Western Mining Shunt.
833 was scrapped at Cootamundra during 2016 after years of neglect, 838 remains under PN ownership stored at Junee, while 845 was preserved by Steamranger Heritage Railway (SHR) during December 2015. The locomotive was hauled dead from Dimboola to Tailem Bend during that month on a special Steamrail/K&AB Rail transfer with the unit later arriving at SHR’s Mt Barker Depot during August 2017 for restoration.
The sale of Australian Rail Group (ARG) to QR National (QRN) in June 2006 included 852. It was sold to Junee Railway Workshops (JRW) during 2008 and after an extensive overhaul returned to service in 2012
The unit could commonly be found on hire to Qube on the Junee - Harefield shuttle service during 2020.
The Adelaide based units allocated to ASR (Later becoming GWA) were used primarily on broad gauge grain services and local movements in Adelaide during the early years with notable trains such as the Penrice stone train, TransAdelaide’s Outer Harbour line ballast trains during 2001 and the now ceased the Western Mining Shunt.
864-8030-4497-8037 with #3316N Harefield shuttle to Junee near Harefield. (4/10/19)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
852-4836-GM36-S300 with #3CM5 grain at West Footscray. (14/3/12)
Photo By: Ian Green |
The slowly diminishing grain services remaining in the mid North of Adelaide regularly featured 830 class units 831, 841, 843 and 844. The grain services eventually concluded in 2007, the Western Mining Shunt concluded in 2006, with the Penrice stone train (affectionally known as the Stonie) becoming the last remaining broad gauge train to run daily until its demise in June 2014.
The 4 830’s rotated on this service regularly accompanied by veteran Alco 704.
The 830’s based in Port Lincoln on the narrow gauge were regularly seen on grain, salt, gypsum and general mixed workings from the early 1960’s with notable units including 850, 851, 871 and 873 which have never left the former Eyre Peninsula division of the SAR.
Other units came and went with multiple examples of the narrow gauge class members going to Tasmania, however the 830’s and later the DA/900 class variants formed the backbone during the AN/ASR/GWA era on the division.
In August 2019, 850 was preserved by the Port Lincoln Railway Museum and is on display at the rear of the heritage listed station with grain hopper HAN3 to signify the importance of both examples on the local area. 851, 859 and 873 remain based in Thevenard for Gypsum workings whilst 871 was scrapped in Port Adelaide following the loss of the Viterra grain contract and closure of the GWA Port Lincoln operations during May 2019.
The 830 and later DA/900 class locomotives were the only SAR diesel locomotives to travel on all 3 of South Australia’s gauges on a variety of services and regions, notable examples include units 844 and 852. The class have worked for a large amount of operators, including the SAR, STA, ANR/AN, ASR / ARG / GWA / ORA, ATN/PN, Coote, Greentrains, JRW and Qube logistics.
The 4 830’s rotated on this service regularly accompanied by veteran Alco 704.
The 830’s based in Port Lincoln on the narrow gauge were regularly seen on grain, salt, gypsum and general mixed workings from the early 1960’s with notable units including 850, 851, 871 and 873 which have never left the former Eyre Peninsula division of the SAR.
Other units came and went with multiple examples of the narrow gauge class members going to Tasmania, however the 830’s and later the DA/900 class variants formed the backbone during the AN/ASR/GWA era on the division.
In August 2019, 850 was preserved by the Port Lincoln Railway Museum and is on display at the rear of the heritage listed station with grain hopper HAN3 to signify the importance of both examples on the local area. 851, 859 and 873 remain based in Thevenard for Gypsum workings whilst 871 was scrapped in Port Adelaide following the loss of the Viterra grain contract and closure of the GWA Port Lincoln operations during May 2019.
The 830 and later DA/900 class locomotives were the only SAR diesel locomotives to travel on all 3 of South Australia’s gauges on a variety of services and regions, notable examples include units 844 and 852. The class have worked for a large amount of operators, including the SAR, STA, ANR/AN, ASR / ARG / GWA / ORA, ATN/PN, Coote, Greentrains, JRW and Qube logistics.
852-850 with a goods train at Port Lincoln. (12/3/85)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
863 at Port Pirie. (10/3/85)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
Locomotive Status
Click on underlined Road No. for more photos
Road No. |
Livery |
Owner |
Service Life |
Current State |
830 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Australian Rail Group |
Dec 1959 - Unknown |
Renumbered - 875 |
831 |
AN Green & Yellow |
One Rail Australia |
Feb 1960 - Present |
Stored |
832 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Australian Rail Group |
Apr 1960 - Unknown |
Rebuilt - DA2 |
833 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Pacific National |
Apr 1960 - Jun 2000 |
Scrapped |
834 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Silverton |
May 1960 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
835 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Australian Rail Group |
May 1960 - Unknown |
Rebuilt - DA3 |
836 |
ARG Orange & Black |
Australian Rail Group |
Jun 1960 - Unknown |
Rebuilt - DA6 |
837 |
Unknown |
Silverton |
Jun 1960 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
838 |
Grey |
Pacific National |
Jun 1960 - Jun 2000 |
Stored |
839 |
AN Green & Yellow |
TasRail |
Jun 1960 - Unknown |
Rebuilt - DA4 |
840 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Tasrail |
May 1962 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
AN Green & Yellow |
One Rail Australia |
Jun 1962 - Present |
Stored |
|
842 |
AN Green & Yellow |
One Rail Australia |
Aug 1962 - Present |
Stored |
843 |
AN Green & Yellow |
One Rail Australia |
Sep 1962 - Present |
Stored |
844 |
ORA Orange & Black |
One Rail Australia |
Oct 1962 - Present |
Preserved |
845 |
Mustard Pot |
Steamranger |
Oct 1963 - Jun 2000 |
Preserved |
846 |
AN Green & Yellow |
One Rail Australia |
Nov 1963 - Present |
Stored |
ORA Orange & Black |
One Rail Australia |
Jun 1969 - Present |
Stored |
|
AN Green & Yellow |
One Rail Australia |
Jul 1969 - Present |
Stored |
|
AN Green & Yellow |
Australian Rail Group |
Sep 1969 - Unknown |
Rebuilt - DA1 |
|
AN Green & Yellow |
One Rail Australia |
Mar 1962 - Present |
Stored |
|
ORA Orange & Black |
One Rail Australia |
Apr 1962 - Present |
Operational |
|
Junee Rail Workshops |
Junee Rail Workshops |
Sep 1963 - Present |
Operational |
|
853 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Tasrail |
Oct 1963 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
854 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Tasrail |
Sep 1963 - Nov 1987 |
Scrapped |
855 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Tasrail |
Oct 1963 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
AN Green & Yellow |
Silverton |
Feb 1963 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
|
857 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Tasrail |
Apr 1963 - Nov 1988 |
Scrapped |
858 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Tasrail |
May 1963 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
ORA Orange & Black |
One Rail Australia |
May 1963 - Present |
Operational |
|
860 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Tasrail |
May 1963 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
861 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Tasrail |
Jun 1963 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
862 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Silverton |
Jun 1963 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
AN Green & Yellow |
Steamtown Peterborough |
Jun 1963 - Present |
Preserved |
|
864 |
Cootes Green & Yellow |
QUBE |
Jul 1963 - Present |
Operational |
AN Green & Yellow |
One Rail Australia |
Jul 1963 - Present |
Stored |
|
866 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Don River Railways |
Jul 1963 - Dec 1990 |
Preserved |
AN Green & Yellow |
TasRail |
Aug 1963 - Apr 1989 |
Scrapped |
|
868 |
Unknown |
Australian Railroad Group |
Nov 1969 - Jun 1995 |
Scrapped |
869 |
Cootes Green & Yellow |
SSR |
Jan 1970 - Present |
Stored |
870 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Australian National |
Jan 1970 - Apr 1997 |
Scrapped |
871 |
AN Green & Yellow |
One Rail Australia |
Feb 1966 - Present |
Stored |
872 |
Cootes Green & Yellow |
QUBE |
Mar 1966 - Present |
Operational |
873 |
AN Green & Yellow |
One Rail Australia |
Apr 1966 - Present |
Operational |
874 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Australian National |
Feb 1970 - Unknown |
Rebuilt - T01 |
875 |
AN Green & Yellow |
Australian National |
Dec 1959 - Unknown |
Rebuilt - DA5 |
Information sourced from Wikipedia, Comrails and Peninsula Pioneer.