GM1 (John Cleverdon)
22 (John Cleverdon)
GM22 (Mark Grace)
Locomotive numbers: GM1-47
| Model Number: | ML1 (GM1-11) A7 (GM12-47 - original) A16C (GM12-47 - later) |
| Type | Diesel-Electric |
| Introduced | 1951 |
| Number in class | 47 |
| Manufacturer | Clyde Engineering, Granville |
| Gauge | Standard |
| Axles | A1A-A1A (GM1-11) Co-Co (GM12-47) |
| Length | 18.54 m |
| Mass | 109 t (GM1-11) 116 t (GM12-47) |
| Engine | EMD 16-567B (GM1-11) EMD 16-567C (GM12-47) |
| Generator | EMD D12 |
| Traction motors | EMD D27 (GM1-11) EMD D37 (GM12-21) EMD D47 (GM22-26) EMD D57 (GM27-29) EMD D67 (GM30-39) EMD D77 (GM40-47) |
| Power | 1120 kW / 1500 HP (GM1-11) 1340 kW / 1800 HP (GM12-47) |
| Tractive effort | 184 / 132 kN (GM1-11) 283 / 255 kN (GM12-47) |
| Speed | 143 / 24 or 15 km/h |
Note: GM1-11 are also known as the F class (Four
motors), and GM12-47 are also known as the S class (Six
motors).
The GM class were the first Clyde-built locos to appear in service.
There was a bit of a race between Clyde and SAR as to who would be the
first to produce Australia's first mainland mainline diesel loco, with
Clyde's GM1 beating the SAR's 900 by just one day! They brought about a
revolution as they replaced steam on the Trans-Australian line. More
were ordered to cope with increased traffic, when the Marree line was
standardised, and for increased coal traffic from Leigh Creek. Some
were also loaned to VR in the early 70's. Despite their age, and
several of the class being scrapped, some still hang on in service.
Twelve have been sold to Great
Northern,
with half of these being for spares (due to their poor condition).
GM1 holds the record of being the oldest commercially operational
diesel locomotive in the country, and last year celebrated it's 50th
birthday.
Although there was no major party, a birthday event was still held, and
photos
can be seen on the Photo Gallery.
It is in and out of storage, depending on demand for motive power, and
currently it is out of service.
GM30 is likely to be re-engined with a more powerful engine.
Great
Northern:
These were used for mainline work, along with some trip trains.
GM19 went to the West Coast Railway, in a swap for B75. The remainder
were
sold to CFCLA.
Named locomotives:
| GM1 | Robert Gordon Menzies |
| GM3 | Ray E Purves |
| GM22 | Hubert Opperman |
| GM36 | C J Stomann |
Bob Menzies was Prime Minister at the time of the introduction of
the
class.
Ray Purves was the founder of Clyde Industries.
Hubert Opperman was the well-known cyclist and later politician.
C J Stomann was a past president of the Seymour Railway Heritage
Centre.
Preserved locomotives:
| GM2 | National Railway Museum |
| GM28 | Port Pirie station (static display), renumbered GM22 |
| GM36 | Seymour Railway Heritage Centre |
| GM41 |
Privately owned (Bendigo area -
cab only) |
| Loco | Serial # | In Service | Comments |
| GM1 | ML1-1 | 9/1951 | Stored |
| GM2 | ML1-2 | 11/1951 | Preserved |
| GM3 | ML1-3 | 12/1951 | Sold to EDI-Clyde (Kelso), for use as shunter |
| GM4 | ML1-4 | 1/1952 | Scrapped |
| GM5 | ML1-5 | 1/1952 | Scrapped |
| GM6 | ML1-6 | 2/1952 | Scrapped |
| GM7 | ML1-7 | 3/1952 | Scrapped |
| GM8 | ML1-8 | 3/1952 | Scrapped |
| GM9 | ML1-9 | 4/1952 | Scrapped |
| GM10 | ML1-10 | 6/1952 | Sold to Great Northern, In service 5-2000 Sold to CFCLA, In service ?-2003 |
| GM11 | ML1-11 | 7/1952 | Scrapped |
| GM12 | 55-70 | 10/1955 | Sold to Great Northern (never entered service) Sold to CFCLA (never entered service) Sold to RTS as shell |
| GM13 | 55-72 | 11/1955 | Scrapped |
| GM14 | 56-84 | 4/1956 | Sold/Scrapped to Great Northern as spares |
| GM15 | 56-88 | 4/1956 | Scrapped |
| GM16 | 56-97 | 7/1956 | Scrapped |
| GM17 | 57-137 | 3/1957 | Scrapped |
| GM18 | 57-139 | 4/1957 | Sold/Scrapped to Great Northern as spares |
| GM19 | 57-148 | 5/1957 | Sold to Great Northern (never entered service) Sold to West Coast Railway (never entered service) Sold to Rail Power, Goulburn |
| GM20 | 57-151 | 6/1957 | Scrapped |
| GM21 | 57-158 | 7/1957 | Scrapped |
| GM22 | 62-252 | 7/1962 | Sold to Great Northern, In service 12-1998 Sold to CFCLA, In service 12-2002 |
| GM23 | 62-253 | 8/1962 | Scrapped |
| GM24 | 62-254 | 9/1962 | Scrapped |
| GM25 | 62-255 | 10/1962 | Sold to Great Northern (never entered service) Sold to CFCLA (never entered service) Sold to RTS as shell |
| GM26 | 62-256 | 11/1962 | Sold/Scrapped to Great Northern as spares |
| GM27 | 62-267 | 1/1963 | Sold to Great Northern, In service 5-1999 Sold to CFCLA, In service ?-2004 |
| GM28 | 62-268 | 2/1963 | Preserved |
| GM29 | 62-269 | 3/1963 | Scrapped |
| GM30 | 64-366 | 12/1964 | |
| GM31 | 64-367 | 1/1965 | Scrapped |
| GM32 | 64-368 | 1/1965 | |
| GM33 | 64-369 | 3/1965 | Sold/Scrapped to Great Northern as spares |
| GM34 | 64-370 | 4/1965 | |
| GM35 | 66-444 | 4/1966 | Sold/Scrapped to Great Northern as spares |
| GM36 | 66-445 | 5/1966 | Preserved - operational |
| GM37 | 66-446 | 6/1966 | |
| GM38 | 66-447 | 6/1966 | |
| GM39 | 66-448 | 7/1966 | Scrapped |
| GM40 | 66-526 | 1/1967 | |
| GM41 | 67-527 | 2/1967 | Sold/Scrapped/Preserved to Great Northern as spares |
| GM42 | 67-528 | 2/1967 | |
| GM43 | 67-529 | 3/1967 | |
| GM44 | 67-530 | 4/1967 | |
| GM45 | 67-531 | 5/1967 | |
| GM46 | 67-532 | 6/1967 | |
| GM47 | 67-533 | 12/1967 |
Introduction
© Copyright John Cleverdon