AN 930 Class Dual-Cab

AN 930 Class Dual-Cab

930 Class Dual-Cab

To assist in the dieselisation of the difficult Adelaide Tailem Bend line, the SAR introduced the first of six 1194 kW main line broad gauge diesel-electrics in December 1955. The locomotives, built under licence to the American Locomotive Co (Alco) of the United States of America, by A.E. Goodwin Ltd of Sydney, were an export model known as the world-series model DL-500B that had at that time attracted orders from several countries. Alco claimed it could build them to rail gauges that ranged from 1000 to 1678 mm.

Designated 930-class, they quickly replaced the remaining steam working the Tailem Bend route and also began working further eastwards to Serviceton. Buoyed by the success of these Alcos, Goodwin Ltd was able to come up with a bi-directional version when SAR next tendered for additional locomotives. The first of these dual cab 930-class started to arrive in 1957. This model retained its streamlined cab at the front in addition to a fully equipped 'flat' cab at the no. 2 end. As such, it was 2.5 tonnes heavier than the prototype.

In 1978, the Federal Government began to takeover the non-metropolitan portions of SAR, eventually resulting in motive power shuffles. Accordingly, several dual-cab 930-class units were provided with standard gauge ex-NSWGR bogies during mid-1982. They spent about a decade running as far afield as Broken Hill, Port Augusta and Whyalla whilst based at Peterborough.

Rationalisation exercises and more-modern locomotives have seen the demise of the 930-class and, while most have been scrapped, heritage locomotive No. 961 remained in general service and could often be seen working Penrice limestone trains. Additionally, the classleader, No. 930 resides in Port Dock Station Railway Museum and Nos. 958 and 963 belong to the Australian Railway Historical Society's SteamRanger rail tour organisation, the former in operational condition.

Company: Australian National / South Australian Railways
Model: Alco DL-500B
Year: 1955
Engine: Alco 251B
Power: 1600hp / 1194 kW
Starting Tractive Effort: 57,000lb / 254kN
Continuous Tractive Effort: 42,900lb / 191kN
Maximum Speed: 80km/h
Driving wheel diameter: 1.016m
Length: 18.04m
Weight: 106t

Author: Chris Hucklebridge (psycho_aussie)

AN 930 Class Dual-Cab
• an_930_double.jpg 10.12KB
an_930_double_alpha_numbers
alphanumber_0a.tga 1.04KB
alphanumber_0b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_1a.tga 1.04KB
alphanumber_1b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_2a.tga 1.04KB
alphanumber_2b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_3a.tga 1.04KB
alphanumber_3b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_4a.tga 1.04KB
alphanumber_4b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_5a.tga 1.04KB
alphanumber_5b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_6a.tga 1.04KB
alphanumber_6b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_7a.tga 1.04KB
alphanumber_7b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_8a.tga 1.04KB
alphanumber_8b.tga 4.04KB
alphanumber_9a.tga 1.04KB
alphanumber_9b.tga 4.04KB
an_930_double_art
an_930_double_art_512.texture.txt 65 bytes
an_930_double_art_icon.texture.txt 65 bytes
consist.bmp 24.05KB
consist_a.bmp 9.05KB
preview.bmp 768.05KB
preview_a.bmp 257.05KB
• colormap.dat 230 bytes
• config.txt 4.64KB
• main.bmp 768.05KB
• main.texture.txt 29 bytes
• skin.dat 43 bytes