Silverton Rail 48s class locomotive

Silverton Rail 48s class
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder AE Goodwin, Auburn
Serial number Alco 83826-83828
Model Alco DL531
Build date 1960/61
Total produced 3
Specifications
UIC classification Co-Co
Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm),
4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter 40 inches (1,016 mm)
Length Over headstocks:
44 ft 3 in (13.49 m)
Over coupler pulling faces:
48 ft 5 in (14.76 m)
Width 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
Height 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
Axle load 12 long tons 6 cwt (27,600 lb or 12.5 t)
Locomotive weight 74 long tons 0 cwt (165,800 lb or 75.2 t)
Fuel type Diesel
Fuel capacity 500 imp gal (2,300 l; 600 US gal)
Lubricant capacity 116 imp gal (530 l; 139 US gal)
Coolant capacity 90 imp gal (410 l; 110 US gal)
Sandbox capacity 10 cu ft (0.28 m3)
Prime mover Alco 6-251B
Engine RPM range 375–1025
Engine type Four-stroke inline 6 diesel
Aspiration Turbocharged
Generator General Electric 5GT 584
Traction motors General Electric 761
Cylinders 6
Cylinder size 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed 75 mph (121 km/h)
Power output Gross:
1,050 hp (780 kW)
For traction:
950 hp (710 kW)
Tractive effort Continuous:
40,200 lbf (178.82 kN)
at 8 mph (13 km/h)
Career
Operator(s) Silverton Tramway
Number in class 3
Number(s) 27-29
First run December 1960
Current owner Genesee & Wyoming Australia
Greentrains
Disposition 2 in service, 1 scrapped

The 48s class are a class of diesel locomotives built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the Silverton Tramway in 1960/61.

History

Between December 1960 and September 1961 Silverton Tramway took delivery of three Alco DL531 locomotives from AE Goodwin, Auburn painted red and white numbered 27 to 29. They were the same as the 48 class and 830 class locomotives. All were delivered for use on Silverton Tramway's 56 kilometre narrow gauge line from Broken Hill to Cockburn.[1]

After the Silverton Tramway was replaced by a new standard gauge line, 27 was sold to the South Australian Railways in February 1970 as 874 and after being rebuilt with a nose low cab, continues in service with Genesee & Wyoming Australia as 907. The other two were fitted with standard gauge bogies, 28 at Silverton's workshop and 29 at Islington Railway Workshops and were relegated to trip working between the various mines in Broken Hill being repainted in Silverton's yellow and blue livery in May 1984.[1]

Second hand purchases

In 1990 Silverton Rail purchased two ex Australian National 830 class from AN Tasrail[2] followed in December 1994 by six ex State Rail Authority 48 class locomotives.[3] Initially numbered in the STxx series, all were renumbered as the 48s class.[4] Also purchased for parts were two 830s and three 48s.[2][5]

Mainline service

In 1995/96 Silverton Rail leased ST30 to ST35 to National Rail for use on Adelaide to Melbourne services as bankers to Tailem Bend.[6][7] Following Silverton Rail being awarded a contract by National Rail to haul iron ore trains from Cobar to Narromine most of the STs were transferred to Parkes in August 1999.[8]

All 10 were included in the sale of Silverton Rail to South Spur Rail Services in 2006 and later passed to Greentrains.[9][10] They are primarily operate in New South Wales.

Status table

Purchased new

Current NoSerial NumberDateOwnerStatusNotes
90783826Dec 1960Genesee & Wyoming AustraliaIn serviceex Silverton 27, sold to South Australian Railways as 874
48s2883827May 1961GreentrainsIn serviceex 28
48s2983828Sep 1961GreentrainsScrappedex 29

Purchased second hand

Current NoSerial NumberDateOwnerStatusNotes
86484710Jul 1963GreentrainsIn serviceex 48s30 ex AN Tasrail 864
48s3184703Apr 1963GreentrainsScrappedex AN Tasrail 857
48s3283820Feb 1961GreentrainsScrappedex State Rail Authority 4825
48a3383824May 1961GreentrainsIn serviceex State Rail Authority 4829
48s3483715Feb 1960GreentrainsIn serviceex State Rail Authority 4815
48a3584133Feb 1962GreentrainsIn serviceex State Rail Authority 4843
48s3683711Dec 1959GreentrainsIn serviceex State Rail Authority 4811
48s3784128Dec 1961GreentrainsStoredex State Rail Authority 4838

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Silverton" Railway Digest July 1985 page 189
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Silverton" Railway Digest August 1990 page 286
  3. ↑ "State Rail's Locomotive Auction Results" Railway Digest January 1995 page 36
  4. ↑ 48s Class Railpage
  5. ↑ "Silverton Rail Loco Transfer" Railway Digest January 2000 page 36
  6. ↑ "Rail Authorities Face Loco Shortage" Railway Digest December 1995 page 16
  7. ↑ "South Australia" Railway Digest July 1996 page 37
  8. ↑ "Silverton Rail Update" Railway Digest October 1999 page 14
  9. ↑ History Engenco
  10. ↑ 48s Class Vicsig