2000 class railcar

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2000/2100 class railcars
AdelaideRail 4.jpg
Adelaide Metro liveried 2011 & 2106
at Gawler station in June 2005
ManufacturerComeng
Built atGranville
Entered service1979-1980
Scrapped2016
Number built30
Number preserved6
Number scrapped24
Formation2/3 carriages
Fleet numbers2001-2012
2101-2118
Capacity72 (2000)
104 (2100)
Operator(s)State Transport Authority
TransAdelaide
Adelaide Metro
Depot(s)Dry Creek
Specifications
Car length24.8 metres
Width3.19 metres
Height4.27 metres
Maximum speed130 km/h (81 mph)
90 km/h (56 mph) Network Speed
Weight65 tonnes (2000)
42 tonnes (2100)
Prime mover(s)As built: 2 x MAN D3650s
After repowering: 2 x Cummins KTA 19Rs
Power outputAs built: 2 x 377 kW (506 hp)
After repowering: 2 x 390 kW (520 hp)
TransmissionVoith T420r Diesel Hydraulic
AuxiliariesRolls-Royce SF65CT
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)

The 2000/2100 class were a class of diesel railcars operated by the State Transport Authority and its successors in Adelaide. They were built by Comeng, Granville in 1979-1980.

History[edit]

The 2000/2100 class were self-propelled diesel railcars operated by the State Transport Authority and its successors on the Adelaide rail network. The body shell design was based on the Budd SPV-2000, Metroliner and Amfleet cars but the 2000 class railcars have a slightly different curve to the Amfleet.[1]

Twelve 2000 powercars and eighteen 2100 class trailer cars were built. The bodyshells were built by Comeng, Granville. Two (2001 and 2101) were completed at Granville while the remainder were railed to Adelaide via Lithgow and Broken Hill to comply with a contractual requirement to maximise local content, the fit out being conducted at Comeng's Dry Creek facility.[2] The first entered service in February 1980.[3][4]

They were nicknamed Jumbos due to the raised driving cab, similar to the distinctive "hump" of the Boeing 747 "jumbo jet". This raised cab was designed to meet Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees demands for a full width driver's cab whilst allowing inter-carriage doors to be fitted.[5][6]

The powercars were originally powered by V12 turbocharged MAN engines that were late replaced by two turbocharged 6 cylinder Cummins engines under the floor driving a Voith hydraulic transmission. They usually operated in 2-car (power-trailer) or 3-car (trailer-power-trailer) configurations. It was originally intended that they primarily operate express services on the Gawler and Noarlunga Centre lines with the existing Redhens operating the all stops services, but they quickly ended up operating services across the network.[1][4]

Six were stored for a number of years, being returned to traffic in 2007.[7][8] One was sent to Bombardier Transportation's Dandenong factory in 2006 to assess the feasibility of a life extension program, but it was deemed not worthwhile.[9] They did on occasions venture beyond the Adelaide metropolitan area, operating special services to Tanunda and Nuriootpa on the Barossa Valley line.[10][11]

From February 2014, they were no longer permitted to operate on the Belair and Seaford lines due to low clearances as a result of the electrification of these lines, being restricted to the Gawler, Grange, Outer Harbor lines. Mass withdrawals commenced in 2014 as the 4000 class electric multiple units entered service.[12][13][14] The last was retired in August 2015.[9][15]

Preservation[edit]

Four have been preserved:[9][16]

In addition, both 2009 (cut in half) and 2104 were donated to the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service for training.[16] The rest were scrapped in June 2016 by Simsmetal, Port Adelaide.[9][19][20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b McNicol, Steve (2016). Jumbos: The early days. Elzabeth: Railmac Publications. ISBN 9781864771121.
  2. ^ "Here & There" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 507 January 1980 page 4
  3. ^ "Here & There" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 511 May 1980 page 27
  4. ^ a b "2000 Class Railcars" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 605 Match 1988 pages 50-69
  5. ^ "The Adelaide 2000 class Railcars" Railway Digest December 2005 pages 32/33
  6. ^ Dunn, John (2013). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 4: 1977-1985. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 16–30. ISBN 9781922013514.
  7. ^ "TransAdelaide Update" Catch Point issue 173 May 2006 page 5
  8. ^ "Gawler Line Timetable Changes" Catch Point issue 187 September 2008 page 17
  9. ^ a b c d McNicol, Steve (2017). Jumbos: Workhorses to the end. Elzabeth: Railmac Publications. ISBN 9781864771145.
  10. ^ "Broad Gauge - Northern Lines" Catch Point issue 113 May 1996 page 22
  11. ^ "TransAdelaide Barossa Services" Catch Point issue 117 January 1997 page 8
  12. ^ "Seaford Rail Extension opens for business" Railway Digest April 2014 page 16
  13. ^ "Limited life for 2000 class Jumbo railcars" Railway Digest January 2015 page 20
  14. ^ "Adelaide Metropolitan News" Catch Point March 2015 page 14
  15. ^ "Jumbos Finally Sign Off" Catch Point issue 234 September 2015 page 6
  16. ^ a b "SA Jumbos Preserved" Railway Digest January 2016 page 57
  17. ^ Annual Report for year ended 30 June 2016 National Railway Museum
  18. ^ SHR gains some more heritage rolling stock SteamRanger
  19. ^ Scrapped railcars needed to help Adelaide's struggling rail network, enthusiasts say ABC News 1 June 2016
  20. ^ "Jumbo Railcars Say Farewell" Catch Point issue 234 July 2016 pages 10-13

External links[edit]

Media related to 2000 class railcars at Wikimedia Commons