900 Class Diesel Locomotive - "907" & "909"

• Wheel type    A-1-A A-1 -A
• Body Type     Hood,
• Builder     S.A. Railways lslington
• Engine    English Electric
• Horsepower     1588 HP
• xle Load     21 ton
• Weight    126 ton
• Length     66ft 2ins
• Number in class     10

The first of the class (engine 900) was named Lady Norrie after the wife of the Governor of the day, and entered service on 10 September, 1951, becoming the first mainline diesel on mainland Australia. There have been frequent claims that Commonwealth Railways GM1 was the first, but that engine did not enter service with its owners (Commonwealth Railways) until after 900 was in service although it did run trials on the NSW system before 900 entered service.

Engine 907 entered traffic on 25 May, 1953 and 909 on 10 July, 1953. They were the last of the mainline engines to be built at the lslington Workshops. Engine 900 is now preserved at the Port Dock Museum and the other seven have been cut up for scrap.

When first introduced the 900s worked the Port Pirie line, however they soon took over duties on the main south line displacing steam from the Oveland and crack freight trains. Twin 900s worked the Overland for many years until they were replaced by the more powerful 930 class, however right at the end of their working life they came back to the Overland as triple headers.

Due to their heavy axle load they were restricted to the broad gauge Port Pirie, Terowie (later Peterborough), Angaston, Penrice, Osborne, Mt.Gambier, Millicent, Serviceton and Victor Harbor lines. The run down of the Victor line however eventually saw them banned from that line also.

A single 900 class was able to haul 350 tons from Adelaide to Victor Harbor on a passenger service, whilst twin 900's were allowed 700 ton. This compares with a goods load of 820 ton for two engines to Victor Harbor and Tailem Bend. The modern BL class diesel is allowed 1000 ton single engine from Mile End to Tailem Bend.

With the advent of tourist railway services on the Victor line special permission was given for use of 907 and 909 on passenger trains between Mt. Barker Jct and Strathalbyn section and the Strathalbyn - Victor section was upgraded to again take their weight. After a short period of operation the high axle load cased unacceptable track deterioration and the locos were again banned from operations.

A buyer for the locos was found in the Australian Locomotive and Railway Carriage Company, who plan to work on 909 to standardise the bogies and have the loco operational again. 909 might then be offered to anyone who wants it as a shunt loco - it will not be compatible with any other main line locos around. It is also hoped 909 could be used to haul special passenger trains both in SA and Vic. Apparently 909's loading gauge is now acceptable to operatiors on the Victorian system.

Both 907 and 909 were loaded onto huge low loaders at Strathalbyn in early August 2005 for transfer to Tailem Bend by road.

The photo below, taken by Ian Johnston shows 907 being loaded at Strathalbyn enroute to a new home.