I am very new to this site and hoping the members can assist me.

I would like to know what 500 Class shunting locomotives operated at Port Augusta/Spencer Junction in the early 1980s (March of 1983 is of special interest to me). Details such as road numbers and colour schemes (S.A.R. red and yellow, or A.N. green and gold), along with rostered days would be wonderful. A photograph would be even better. I have already consulted Chris' Commonwealth Railways Site and examined the images on Flickr. I know that loco 531 was stationed at Port Augusta in the late 1980s.

I apologise if the subject has already been broached: I am still finding my way around.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Kind regards,

Commrail

I am very new to this site and hoping the members can assist me.

I would like to know what 500 Class shunting locomotives operated at Port Augusta/Spencer Junction in the early 1980s (March of 1983 is of special interest to me). Details such as road numbers and colour schemes (S.A.R. red and yellow, or A.N. green and gold), along with rostered days would be wonderful. A photograph would be even better. I have already consulted Chris' Commonwealth Railways Site and examined the images on Flickr. I know that loco 531 was stationed at Port Augusta in the late 1980s.

I apologise if the subject has already been broached: I am still finding my way around.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Kind regards,

Commrail

Can't help you with numbers but I believe that the 500 based at Port Augusta when it was first  posted was painted in a variation of the Comrail/ANR scheme of Maroon and Silver. I seem to remember that a 500 was posted to Parkeston for a while as well. Just to add to the mix...

Cheers

Trevor

Can't help you with numbers but I believe that the 500 based at Port Augusta when it was first  posted was painted in a variation of the Comrail/ANR scheme of Maroon and Silver. I seem to remember that a 500 was posted to Parkeston for a while as well. Just to add to the mix...

Cheers

Trevor

Hi Trevor,

Thank you very much. While I live I learn - and I thought the A.N.R. livery of maroon and silver was confined to locomotives operated by the former Commonwealth Railways (GMs, etc), and did not appear on former S.A.R. equipment. There you are !

Kind regards,

Ross

Hi Trevor,

Thank you very much. While I live I learn - and I thought the A.N.R. livery of maroon and silver was confined to locomotives operated by the former Commonwealth Railways (GMs, etc), and did not appear on former S.A.R. equipment. There you are !

Kind regards,

Ross

Getting of track a bit but I believe an 830 was stationed up there and painted in a maroon and silver scheme as well. But from memory the maroon was a very brown rather than a CR red? Anybody else have a better memory than me (Trevor does!).

Wayne

Getting of track a bit but I believe an 830 was stationed up there and painted in a maroon and silver scheme as well. But from memory the maroon was a very brown rather than a CR red? Anybody else have a better memory than me (Trevor does!).

Wayne

'Twas 863 Wayne

From memory there was more than 1 830 painted into virtual ComRail colours, I don't have my photos handy at the moment but I seem to recall that one was painted into a standard mustard pot scheme only Maroon replaced the traffic yellow and Silver replaced the regal red stripe. It even had the scallops on the ends of the hoods as well as per a normal 830. The other version though simply had almost the same colours except  the silver stripe on the ends of it it went straight across the end of the hoods and no scallops on it. It might be the same loco just repainted though, but I think it was another one.

I found it 862 was the other one there are photos of both of these units in the section on 830 locomotives in the book "Locomotives of Australian National" by Robert Sampson and Ronald.E.Fluck. Published by the Mile End Railway Museum in 1982. This book is now out of print though, but a friend or maybe even a library might have to lend it to you. 862 is the version with the stripes straight across the ends without any scallops.

Here's 863 at Port Pirie in March 1980:

[img]http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u23/duttonbay/Odd%20Photos/EV17863inANRcoloursPortPirie25Mar80_zps616139c2.jpg[/img]

I also photographed 862 shunting at Port Augusta, in 1978, but it was still mustard pot colours then.

Getting back to the 500s, I have photos of 532 at Port Augusta Workshops in August 1978 (in SAR red/yellow) and 527, 530 and 531 at PtA in 1986, but by then they were all in green and yellow. Unfortunately nothing between those years.

In relation to 500's in ANR Red/Grey, there is a wonderful picture of 532 at Port Pirie in 1980 in the September/October issue of Motive Power.

Nathan

From memory there was more than 1 830 painted into virtual ComRail colours, I don't have my photos handy at the moment but I seem to recall that one was painted into a standard mustard pot scheme only Maroon replaced the traffic yellow and Silver replaced the regal red stripe. It even had the scallops on the ends of the hoods as well as per a normal 830. The other version though simply had almost the same colours except  the silver stripe on the ends of it it went straight across the end of the hoods and no scallops on it. It might be the same loco just repainted though, but I think it was another one.

I found it 862 was the other one there are photos of both of these units in the section on 830 locomotives in the book "Locomotives of Australian National" by Robert Sampson and Ronald.E.Fluck. Published by the Mile End Railway Museum in 1982. This book is now out of print though, but a friend or maybe even a library might have to lend it to you. 862 is the version with the stripes straight across the ends without any scallops.

Hello David,

I thank Wayne and you for the very interesting asides regarding 830 Class colour schemes. I had no idea the locomotives appeared in as many liveries, both official and improvised.

I have a lot of questions concerning 830 operations at Port Augusta and beyond, but they will keep for the time being.

Living in Sydney has put me at a disadvantage in terms of sightings, pictures, etc. That said, I have had a passion for Commonwealth Railways/Australian National for over half a century (ever since Kelloggs put tiny plastic GM Class (?) locos in Corn Flakes packets). A small HO scale layout (still in the planning stage) based on Port Augusta and western hinterland in the period 1953 to 1983 sustains my interest.


Cheers,

Ross alias Commrail

I also photographed 862 shunting at Port Augusta, in 1978, but it was still mustard pot colours then.

Getting back to the 500s, I have photos of 532 at Port Augusta Workshops in August 1978 (in SAR red/yellow) and 527, 530 and 531 at PtA in 1986, but by then they were all in green and yellow. Unfortunately nothing between those years.

Hello Dutton Bay,

Many thanks for your contribution. I take it the locos in question were rostered on at different times, and did not work together at Port Augusta, or am I mistaken?

I wonder whether anyone knows when 527, 530, 531 and 532 were first painted green and gold. I know that 502 (?) on the broad gauge was wearing the new Australian National livery as early as late 1982.


Kind regards,

Ross

In relation to 500's in ANR Red/Grey, there is a wonderful picture of 532 at Port Pirie in 1980 in the September/October issue of Motive Power.

Nathan

Hi Nathan,

I appreciate your contribution. I will try to obtain a copy of the magazine.


Cheers,

Ross

I take it the locos in question were rostered on at different times, and did not work together at Port Augusta, or am I mistaken?

I am Victorian, so these photographs were taken whilst passing through a different trips - I have no idea how often loco assigments were changed. A trawl through Recorder or Catchpoint might be of help - if I run out of things to do I will take a look.

532 was photographed on 19/20 August 1978
530 and 531 were there on 24 February 1986  - I think I was looking cockeyed when I mentioned 527 - my photo of that loco at Port Augusta was taken in 1996, not 1986.

Of course, just because something wasn't photographed doesn't mean it wasn't there...

I am Victorian, so these photographs were taken whilst passing through a different trips - I have no idea how often loco assigments were changed. A trawl through Recorder or Catchpoint might be of help - if I run out of things to do I will take a look.

532 was photographed on 19/20 August 1978
530 and 531 were there on 24 February 1986  - I think I was looking cockeyed when I mentioned 527 - my photo of that loco at Port Augusta was taken in 1996, not 1986.

Of course, just because something wasn't photographed doesn't mean it wasn't there...

Hello duttonbay,

Thank you for the details re road numbers and dates. I will also scan Catchpoint. I have been buying the magazine on an irregular basis for the occasional historical feature.

Cheers,

Ross alias Commrail

531, 532, 859, 862 and 863 were all repainted into ANR red and silver. 859''s livery was very short lived.

531, 532, 859, 862 and 863 were all repainted into ANR red and silver. 859''s livery was very short lived.

Hello Alco251_244,

Thank you for the particulars. I wonder if anybody knows when 527, 530, 531 and 532 were repainted in A.N. green and gold. Had the locos in question all been finished in the new livery by March 1983?

Cheers,

Ross