Edited 04 Jul 2015 13:23, 7 years ago, edited by Alco_Haulic

The old NSWGR was very adept at throwing wads of good money at bad projects such as the PLs. Look, we have a couple old 73s, lets chuck some money at joining 2 together to make some sort of test car and then write it off after a short time. I can also think of the 621/721 rail inspection cars when purchasing new stock may have been cheaper and a more effecient use of scarce money resources. Hopefully, these days are gone. The PLs were really weird looking.

As Pressman has already noted, Australian National converted some 830 class to DA's for driver only shunting from the early 1990's. IIRC the first 3 reused the original cab, the first 2 with the original nose chopped down, and DA 3 featured a new nose and 2-piece windscreen (DA 1 & @ used a 3-piece layout). While from DA4 onwards a new cab and nose was manufactured. The units were seemingly more successful than the PL rebuilds, as only one has been retired, and that was due to a bent frame resulting from a level crossing incident. The cab was later reused on another 830 to produce another DA style locomotive that ended up in WA.

The PL-class had some potential as a way to improve forward vision of the 48-class on branchlines, however, I have heard there was a lot of resistance from drivers due to the lack of restroom facilities on the locomotives. And of course, a reduced number of brnachlines to operate. As for looks, the windscreen rake may have been different, but it had a certain charm compared to the brick looks of a 81 or NR.