The AK Cars inspection train passes through Yarrabandai NSW running nearly two hours early bound for Parkes NSW with 42103 "Chumster" leading historic, and Australia's oldest "GM1" series locomotive GM10.
Known as "Chumster" 42103 was one of 10 of the class built by Clyde Engineering of Granville NSW for the NSWGR in the period 1965-66. The class was the second only Streamliners to have a full number two end driving stand, the other was the Victorian Railways "B" class, also built by Clyde.
The series is an EMD model AJ16C and is powered by a V16 two stroke EMD 16-567C prime mover with Roots Blower and rated at 1,800hp.
The 421 class served over most of NSW during their career but were not popular with a lot of crew due to rough riding at speed and a noisy cab at full throttle and earned the name "Rocking Horses" or "Jitterbugs" and it was preferred that they operate as a trailing unit rather than lead.
Painted in the SRA of NSW, detested by some, "Candy" paint scheme 42103 was delivered on the 15th of February 1966 and looks quite sharp in this video, the colour scheme was a very hard one to keep clean when first introduced. The locomotive is privately owned by "Chumrail".
GM10 was built by Clyde Engineering at Granville NSW in 1952 as part of an order for 11 locomotives for the then Commonwealth Railways. The "GM1" class pioneered the introduction of diesel electric traction spelling the gradual demise of the steam powered locomotives. The "GM1" class were built for the standard gauge Trans-Australia Railway.
The "GM1" class are of A1A-A1A bogie configuration meaning the centre axle is not powered based on the American "F-type" series, the class is powered by a V16 two stroke Roots blown EMD 16-567B prime mover delivering 1,500hp. Locomotive weight is 111 tonnes and length is 17.88 metres.
Generator is a D12 which converts 1,350Kw for DC traction, fuel capacity is 6,825 litres, lube oil capacity 750 litres and water coolant capacity 796 litres. Engine speed is between 275 & 835 RPM. There was no dynamic braking fitted.
GM10 was used in 1993 as the Port Augusta SA workshops shunting locomotive before being laid up on the 20th of January 1994 at Port Augusta. In 2000 it was sold to Great Northern Railway and repainted into their livery and returned to service with that company. CFCLA purchased GM10 in Dec 2002 and it was leased to SSR for an extended period
Now owned by Southern Shorthaul Railroad, who purchased GM10 from CFCLA in November 2009, the locomotive is still working the main lines of eastern Australia at 71 years of age and no doubt has covered millions of miles/kilometres since the 03rd of June 1952 when it was handed over new.
Did you know? In today's decimal currency, it cost the grand sum of $234,590 to construct GM10 new back in 1952, the currency back then was the old Pounds, Shillings and Pence. Australia converted to decimal currency back in 1966.
The AK Cars are owned and operated by ARTC and provide real time track data on track conditions. Using laser beams, measurement is taken in the plane of the intersecting laser illumination. Rail wear, camber, cracks or uneven wear is detected and recorded.
The three AK Cars (AK-2382, AK-2383 & AK-2384) are former loco hauled "Brisbane Limited Express" sleeper cars, made redundant when the XPT took over the service in February 1999. The cars were built by Comeng at Granville NSW in 1970 and based on a design used for the Indian Pacific carriages.
1303hrs on Thursday 27th of July 2023.
