South Australian Railways 700 class (diesel)
The 700 class is a class of diesel-electric locomotives based on the Alco DL500g model, built by AE Goodwin, Auburn, New South Wales for the South Australian Railways. They are identical to the New South Wales 442 class locomotive. History. The six locomotives of the class were built in 1971–1972. The first three were delivered on broad-gauge bogies and the latter three on standard-gauge bogies. In March 1978, they were included in the transfer of the South Australian Railways to Australian National. The locomotives frequently switched gauges before all were  put on the broad gauge in 1987. Following the Adelaide-Melbourne railway line being converted to standard gauge in 1995, all of the 700 class were converted to standard gauge. The 700 class operated on all main lines in South Australia and interstate to Broken Hill and Melbourne. The first three were delivered in SAR's maroon and silver colour scheme, with the second batch bearing a mustard and maroon scheme. In 1986, a new computer system required the class leaders of the former South Australian Railways to be renumbered as the last member of the class, with 700 becoming  706. On 26 September 1994, 702 caught fire near Blackwood and was put into storage. Australian National purchased 44221, a mechanically and physically identical locomotive from the FreightCorp 442 class, at that company's December 1994 auction, with a view to repairing 702 using parts from the New South Welsh locomotive, however the plans fell through and both locomotives were scrapped in October 1997. In 1997, the remaining five units were included in the sale of Australian National to Australian Southern Railroad. In mid-2021, One Rail Australia donated 704 to SteamRanger heritage railway. South Australian Railways 700 class (diesel) The