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Drawing of the motor unit
Drawing of the non-powered car
In the year 1856, the first State-owned steam railway within the British Empire become operative between the City of Adelaide and Port Adelaide. For the first 70 years steam traction reigned supreme. In the 1920's Commissioner Webb looked at Elecrification of the metropolitan system. It would have costly, so he introduced the Model 55 "Tin Hare" & the Model 75 "Barwell Bull", to try and make the system more efficient. They could work the peak period efficiently, so this left to the steam, while rail cars operated off peak train. Rail Cars were use on country lines were demand was so great. Again in 1949 a Royal Commission recommend Elecrification of the metropolitan lines. It was estimated they would need 86 motor coached & 146 trailer cars (converted from exiting stock) would required to provide services. The total lenght of track would have been 108 miles. Operating DC 1500 volts & estimated cost of £ 4,511,299. Again in 1952 electrification was looked at & laped. The Government approved the building of Diesel powered coached, enter the 300 Class Railcars
The Model 75 Rail Cars & Trailers were introduced from 1926. Rail Cars No! 30, Broad Gauge, entered service on 4/8/1926 with Petrol Motor. It was converted to Diesel on the 27/5/1955. It was condemned on the 24/6/1969, after doing 1,531,733 miles. The interior was improved in 1937. No! 30 was constructed by the J.G.Brill works, as a pattern car. The rest were made at Islington Railway works.
Passenger Capacity: 61 In the Saloon and 4 in the Baggage. Cars 30 - 47
Narrow gauge Rail Car 106 entered service on17/3/1928. It was fitted with a Diesel engine on 25/2/1960 & was condemned after travelling 1,417,221 miles. 106 worked in the Murray Bridge division till a transfer to Peterborough division. This Vehicle is preserved by Pichi Richi Railway at Quron in South Australia.
Engine: Winton 6 cylinder Petrol Power: 186 hp = 139 kw Diesel Engine: Cummins 6 cylinder (fitted 1960) Power: 234 hp = 175 kw Overall Length: 58 feet (18 metres) Weight:; 24 tons (24.4 tonne)
Cost: £ 9,531.10.1 Passenger Capacity: 50 In the Saloon and 4 in the Baggage