ADK/ADB class diesel multiple unit
| ADK/ADB class railcar | |
|---|---|
 ADK 687 and another unit approaching Britomart near the end of their service in 2014. | |
| In service | Australia: 1967-93, New Zealand: 1993-2014 |
| Manufacturer | ADK: Commonwealth Engineering ADB: Western Australian Government Railways |
| Built at | ADK: Granville ADB: Midland Railway Workshops |
| Replaced | Australia: WAGR Dd class & carriages New Zealand: 56-foot carriages |
| Constructed | 1967/68 |
| Entered service | Australia: 1968 New Zealand: 1993 |
| Refurbished | 2007 |
| Number built | 10 sets |
| Number in service | 0 sets |
| Formation | Australia: ADK+ADB New Zealand: ADK+ADB+ADB+ADK (originally ADK+ADB) |
| Fleet numbers | ADK 681–ADK 690 ADB 771–ADB 780 |
| Capacity | ADK: 74, ADB: 64 |
| Operators | Australia: Western Australian Government Railways, Westrail New Zealand: Tranz Metro, Transdev Auckland |
| Depots | Australia: Claisebrook New Zealand: Westfield |
| Lines served | Australia: Armadale Fremantle Midland New Zealand: Eastern Line Southern Line Western Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | ADK: 20.20 m (66 ft 3 in) ADB: 15.85 m (52 ft 0 in) |
| Train length | 37.75 m (123 ft 10 in) per two-car unit |
| Car length | ADK: 21.09 m (69 ft 2 in) over couplers ADB: 16.66 m (54 ft 8 in) over couplers |
| Width | 2.74 m (9 ft 0 in) |
| Height | 3.92 m (12 ft 10 in) |
| Floor height | 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) |
| Entry | 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) |
| Doors | Air-operated sliding doors, 2 pairs each side (ADK), one pair each side (ADB), 0.915 m wide |
| Maximum speed | 90 km/h (56 mph) |
| Weight | ADK: 33.3 t (32.8 long tons; 36.7 short tons) ADB: 15.8 t (15.6 long tons; 17.4 short tons) |
| Prime mover(s) | 2 x Cummins |
| Power output | ADK: 2 x 155 kW (208 hp), one engine per bogie |
| Transmission | Diesel-hydraulic |
| Auxiliaries | ADB: diesel alternator in former cab (one per four-car set) |
| HVAC | Heating only |
| UIC classification | 1A-A1+2'2' |
| Braking system(s) | Electro-pneumatic |
| Coupling system | Australia: Norwegian coupling NZ: Kidney link & pin |
| Multiple working | Within class only |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
The ADK class were a class of diesel multiple units that were last operated by Transdev Auckland on Auckland's suburban rail network. Originally built by Commonwealth Engineering and the Midland Railway Workshops for the Western Australian Government Railways in the late 1960s, all but one were sold in 1993 to New Zealand Rail, and are currently owned by Auckland Transport. The units were completely withdrawn from service on 8 December 2014, following completion of electrification of Auckland's network.
History
In 1967 and 1968 ten two-carriage stainless steel sets were manufactured for the Western Australian Government Railways. Each set consisted of an ADK power car manufactured by Commonwealth Engineering, and an ADB trailer built by the WAGR's Midland Railway Workshops. The ADK cars were manufactured in Granville and railed via Melbourne and Adelaide requiring a change of bogies at each of these locations and again at Kalgoorlie.[1][2]
Following the electrification of the Perth rail network they were rendered surplus and in 1993 all except ADK 689 were sold, along with the newer ADL/ADC class, to New Zealand Rail to replace 56-foot carriages on suburban trains in Auckland.[1][2][3] In October 1993, prior to being privatised, New Zealand Rail sold the class to the Auckland Regional Council.[4]
In 2004 the ARC funded an upgrade, which included refurbishment of the interiors, painting in the new MAXX blue colour scheme and mechanical improvements to extend their life by 10 years. After the upgrade they ran as four-car rather than two-car sets. All were refurbished except ADB 773 (in use at Lock 'n' Load paintball arena) and ADK 689 (which did not move to New Zealand). Westrail planned on converting ADK 689 to a self-propelled track inspection carriage, however this did not eventuate.
Unlike the ADL/ADC class and SA sets, the units have not been fitted with Electronic Train Protection (ETP) equipment, owing to their imminent replacement by the AM class. All are scheduled for withdrawal by late 2014.[5]
As of 15 September 2014[update], all services on the Manukau Line are operated by the AM class. As a result of this, all ADK units were placed into warm storage. Services to Papakura formerly run by ADKs are now run by ADLs, also displaced from the Manukau Line. A farewell trip was run by the Railway Enthusiasts Society on 16 November 2014, running on every suburban line in Auckland.[citation needed] The units were completely withdrawn on 20 July 2015.
Status list
| Number | Introduced in NZ | Current status | Current livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADK 681 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | (old photo) |
| ADK 682 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 683 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 684 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 685 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 686 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 687 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 688 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 689 | - | Withdrawn | TransPerth red front | Stripped for parts. |
| ADK 690 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADB 771 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | (old photo) |
| ADB 772 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADB 773 | Withdrawn | TransPerth red front | At Lock 'n' Load paintball arena. | |
| ADB 774 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADB 775 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADB 776 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADB 777 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | |
| ADB 773 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | Originally ADB 778; paired with ADK 683 |
| ADB 778 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue | Originally ADB 779; paired with ADK 688 |
| ADB 780 | July 1993 | Withdrawn | MAXX Blue |
References
Notes
- ^ a b Gray, Bill; May, Andrew (2006). A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages. Perth: Bill Gray. pp. 298–303. ISBN 0-646-45902-3.
- ^ a b Dunn, John (2010). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 3: 1966-1977. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 11–15. ISBN 9781877058905.
- ^ Churchman & Hurst. The Railways of New Zealand. p. 64.
- ^ ADK/ADL New Zealand Diesel & Electric Traction
- ^ "Railfan". 20 (3). Triple M Publications. June 2014. ISSN 1173-2229.
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Bibliography
- Parsons, David. New Zealand Railway Motive Power 2002.
External links
Media related to ADK/ADB class at Wikimedia Commons
