35-759: South Australian Railways (SAR) was the statutory corporation through which the Government of South Australia built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 until March 1978, when its non-urban railways were incorporated into Australian National , and its Adelaide urban lines were transferred to the State Transport Authority . The SAR had three major rail gauges : 1600 mm (5 ft 3 in); 1435 mm (4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in); and 1067 mm (3 ft 6 in). The first railway in South Australia
70-567: A further development of the 700/710 class locomotives, and the 520 class , a 4-8-4 locomotive, externally styled after the Pennsylvania Railroad T1 ; it had the same light axle load as the 620 class but a 30% higher tractive effort, achieving higher speeds on all mainline passenger services. In 1949, the diesel era started, tentatively, with two Bo-Bo 350 class shunting locomotives, designed and built by Islington Works and incorporating British components. Two years later,
105-501: A heavy Melbourne Express - two at the front and one banking from the rear. The 5 ft 3 in ( 1,600 mm ) broad gauge system was the main focus of Webb rehabilitation scheme. The 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) narrow gauge systems north of Terowie and on the Eyre Peninsula remained untouched, as did the 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) gauge South Eastern division (although it
140-748: A majority of the House of Assembly (the lower chamber of the South Australian Parliament). South Australia was established via letters patent by King William IV in February of 1836, pursuant to the South Australian Colonisation Act 1834 . Governance in the colony was organised according to the principles developed by Edward Wakefield , where settlement would be conducted by free settlers rather than convicts. Therefore governance would be divided between
175-530: A sensation with the public and throughout the railway industry in Australia. The 500 class "Mountain" was over twice the size of the biggest pre-Webb engine, and was the most powerful locomotive in Australia. Henceforth double heading 5 ft 3 in ( 1,600 mm ) broad gauge trains became a rarity in South Australia. The massive locomotives were unloaded at Port Adelaide and taken off
210-731: Is exercised by the premier of South Australia and the Cabinet of South Australia , who advise the Governor. The Cabinet comprises 15 ministers, headed by the Premier, who are either members of the House of Assembly or the Legislative Council . Cabinet is responsible for determining policies which are submitted to Parliament. As of 15 April 2024, the ministry of the South Australian Government comprised
245-589: Is the formal mechanism for administration of the state. Many of the decisions made by Cabinet do not have legal effect until they are signed by the Governor in Executive Council. All items for the approval of the Governor in Executive Council must first be considered by Cabinet, with the exception of the assent to Acts. When exercising a statutory power, the Governor must act with the advice and consent of Executive Council. All ministers are ex officio members of Executive Council. In practice, executive power
280-593: The Constitution Act 1856 , which created a bicameral parliament and an executive responsible to it. Boyle Finniss was appointed the first Premier of South Australia as part of an interrim executive until elections to the new Parliament could be held in 1857 . The executive comprised ministers selected from the Parliament and the Governor was no longer able to unilaterally make most decisions. The new Parliament and Executive took over almost all of
315-617: The Federal Government on 1 July 1975, although the SAR continued services until operations were formally transferred on 1 March 1978 to the Australian National Railways Commission . The penultimate head of the SAR, commissioner Ron Fitch , reflecting on the end of the railway administration, wrote: "The merging of the major part of the SAR into the Australian National Railways Commission , and
350-544: The Governor who was responsible to the British Crown and tasked with the authority to make laws, and Colonisation Commissioners who were responsible for the sale of land to settlers to fund the colony. This structure was found to be troublesome as the commission had control of the funds rather than the Governor, and as a result in 1838, the Governor was appointed Resident Commissioner to resolve conflict. In 1842
385-512: The conversion of the mid north 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) narrow gauge system (the Western division) to 5 ft 3 in ( 1,600 mm ) broad gauge . The antiquated Islington Railway Workshops were demolished and replaced with a thoroughly modern railway maintenance and manufacturing works, a large new round house was built at Mile End , near Adelaide, and several 85 foot turntables were installed throughout
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#1732772034229420-561: The 1950s, railcars were introduced: the 250 and 100 class "Bluebirds" for regional services and the 300 and 400 class "Red Hens" for Adelaide suburban services. A major change occurred in 1970, when the remaining 400 kilometres (250 miles) length of the Sydney-Perth rail corridor that was not built to 1435 mm ( 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ) standard gauge, the Port Pirie-Broken Hill line ,
455-799: The British Parliament reorganised the structure of South Australia's governance by abolishing the Colonisation Commission and creating a Legislative Council of eight people (including the Governor) to exercise the legislative power of the colony. In 1850 the British Parliament passed the Australian Constitutions Act 1850 , which empowered the Legislative Council to alter its own composition. The Legislative Council responded by passing
490-597: The Commonwealth. In 1934, the Constitution Act 1856 was repealed and replaced with the Constitution Act 1934 , which remains in force today with amendments. South Australia is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system , a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom . Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of
525-544: The SAR's Islington Works – were introduced. Their axle load enabled them to traverse the many rural lines laid with 60-pound rail, but they were also usefully deployed on the East-West Express between Adelaide and Port Pirie following the extension of the broad gauge line north from Redhill to Port Pirie in 1937. Other additions to the locomotive fleet after the Depression included the 2-8-4 720 class ,
560-591: The SAR's first mainline diesel-electric locomotives entered service: the 900 class , also designed and built by Islington Railway Workshops. Their styling closely followed that of the Alco PA diesels in the United States. Subsequently, and coincidentally, the SAR exclusively purchased American Locomotive Company products made under licence in Sydney by AE Goodwin : the 930 , 830 , 600 and 700 classes. In
595-576: The SAR's worst financial deficit, the government appointed American railroad manager William Webb , from the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad as Chief Commissioner. When Webb arrived in Adelaide with his young family, he found a railway system unchanged since the late 19th century. The locomotives and rolling stock were small, wagons and carriages were of wooden construction, the track and bridges were unsuitable for heavy loads,
630-640: The Service Motors Corporation, Wabash, Indiana , and 30 locomotives based on American Locomotive Company plans but built by Armstrong Whitworth & Co in the United Kingdom. These were of the Mountain , Pacific and Mikado wheel arrangements , 10 of each type, which became the 500 , 600 , and 700 class locomotives. To carry the heavier trains, the rehabilitation plan included the strengthening of track and bridges, and
665-473: The facilities of the new Islington Workshops. These were the 710 class . The 500 class was rated to haul 400 tons over the Mount Lofty Ranges immediately east of Adelaide, where a 19-mile (31 km) continuous 1-in-45 (2.2%) gradient faced trains heading for Victoria. Two years after their introduction, the class was modified by the addition of a booster engine which required replacement of
700-501: The following 14 Labor Party members and 1 Independent member: The South Australian Government delivers services, determines policy and regulations, including legal interpretation, by a number of agencies grouped under areas of portfolio responsibility. Each portfolio is led by a government minister who is a member of the Parliament. As of September 2024 there were 14 government departments and 14 specialised agencies listed on sa.gov.au, being: A range of other agencies support
735-535: The functions of these departments. South Australian Railways 600 class The South Australian Railways 600 class was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the South Australian Railways . The 600 class were part of an order for 30 steam locomotives placed with Armstrong Whitworth , England, in 1924, as part of the rehabilitation of the state's rail system overseen by railways commissioner William Webb . The 600 class design
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#1732772034229770-480: The governor and senior ministers. The Governor plays an important practical role under the state's constitution and fulfils a symbolic role as local head of state. The Governor is appointed by the King and, for most practical purposes, exercises His Majesty's powers in the state. These include the fundamental powers to dissolve Parliament, call elections and appoint and dismiss ministers. The Governor in Executive Council
805-553: The mining towns of Kapunda and Burra were linked through to the Adelaide metropolitan system. From here, a south main line extended to meet the horse tramway from Victor Harbor to Strathalbyn , and towards the South Australia / Victoria Border. With the metropolitan systems being broad gauge, the mid north and south east of the state were originally laid with 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) narrow gauge track. These systems were closely based on British practice, as
840-571: The next month. Government of South Australia The Government of South Australia , also referred to as the South Australian Government or the SA Government , is the executive branch of the state of South Australia . It is modelled on the Westminster system , meaning that the highest ranking members of the executive are drawn from an elected state parliament . Specifically the party or coalition which holds
875-435: The pier by horses (the locomotives weight alone exceeding the dock's maximum loading capacity). Apart from some initial teething problems (mainly to do with overheating bearings and rough riding due to excessive play allowed on driving axles) the new locomotives settled in nicely to their assigned positions. After the success of the original locomotives, ten more 700 class locomotives, with larger tenders, were locally built using
910-761: The powers held by the Secretary of State for the Colonies regarding the appointment to official positions in the colony, immigration, and customs matters. When federation occurred in 1901, South Australia became a state of the Commonwealth of Australia under the Constitution of Australia , which regulates the South Australia's relationship with the Commonwealth. The state ceded certain executive powers (such as defence and customs), but retained powers in all matters not withdrawn from them or in conflict with
945-562: The remainder into the South Australian State Transport Authority, cannot but tend to consign the former state railway system into eventual oblivion. But posterity should not be allowed to forget its achievements: In June 1965, Rail News was launched as a quarterly staff newsletter . It was published monthly from January 1970. The last edition was published in March 1973; Keeping Track superseded it
980-476: The state to enable the much larger locomotives to be turned. Efficient train operations were facilitated by the adoption of American train order working on country lines, and Adelaide railway station was replaced with an imposing new building, opened in 1927. This grand building has been partially taken over by the Adelaide Casino . When the two shiploads of new locomotives arrived in 1926 they caused
1015-469: The two-wheel trailing truck with a four-wheel truck. This altered the wheel arrangement from 4-8-2 to 4-8-4 , but the term "Mountains" stuck with the locomotives. Reclassified 500B class, their maximum load to Mount Lofty was increased to 600 tons, or eleven passenger cars. In the pre-Webb era the Rx class - a 4-6-0 with a Belpaire firebox was rated at 190 tons for this line, with three of them required to lift
1050-767: The workshops had antiquated machinery and the signalling system was inflexible. These attributes drove up the ratio of operating costs to revenue. Webb introduced a rehabilitation plan based on American railroad principles of large, standardised locomotives and steel bodied freight wagons, with automatic couplers to enable a significant increase in productivity. Lightly patronised passenger trains would be replaced by self-propelled rail cars, enabling faster, more frequent and more efficient services. He recruited Fred Shea as his Chief Mechanical Engineer and had him prepare specifications for this new equipment. This resulted in orders being placed for 1,200 wagons of four types from American Car and Foundry , 12 petrol mechanical railmotor cars from
1085-497: Was gauge-converted . In the 1972 election , the Whitlam Federal Government made a commitment to invite the states to hand over their railway systems to the federal government. The Government of South Australia took up the offer, but elected to retain the Adelaide metropolitan services , which were transferred to the State Transport Authority . Financial responsibility for the remaining services passed to
South Australian Railways - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-595: Was based on the USRA Light Pacific , although modifications were made by SAR's Chief Mechanical Engineer, Fred Shea, including those necessary to fit South Australia's tighter loading gauge , which was lower than that of the United States. They arrived in Adelaide in 1926. 609 was named Duke of Gloucester after hauling the Duke's Royal Train in 1934 and so became Australia's first "royal" engine. The entire class received upgraded boilers and front ends from
1155-466: Was laid in 1854 between Goolwa and Port Elliot to allow for goods to be transferred between paddle steamers on the Murray River and seagoing vessels. The next railway was laid from the harbour at Port Adelaide , to the capital, Adelaide, and was laid with Irish gauge 5 ft 3 in ( 1,600 mm ) track. This line was opened in 1856. Later on, branch lines in the state's north in
1190-472: Was subsequently converted to 5 ft 3 in ( 1,600 mm ) broad gauge in the early 1950s). Webb decided not to extend his contract in 1930 and returned to the US, having revolutionised the SAR. In 1936, the SAR owned 365 locomotives, 51 railcars, 408 passenger carriages, 38 brake vans and 8,219 goods wagons. The following year, ten 620 class 4-6-2 Pacific type locomotives, designed and built at
1225-674: Was the broad gauge system prior to 1926. Locomotives and rolling stock were bought from the United Kingdom and United States, from builders such as Beyer, Peacock & Company , Dübs and Company , North British Locomotive Company , and Baldwin Locomotive Works . Nine broad gauge tank locomotives plus the frame of a tenth were bought second-hand from the Canterbury Provincial Railways in New Zealand when it converted to narrow gauge. In 1922, after
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