South Australia

Home state of the streamliner – here is where the Australian streamliner story essentially began in 1951, and where commercial streamliner operations have remained unbroken, if now dwindling, ever since.

• One Rail Australia (also known as ORA, and as of mid-2022 being bought out by Aurizon) continue to operate several GM12 and CLF/CLP class locomotives. The CLF/CLP Class locomotives are mostly used on ORA’s standard gauge grain services operating into Port Adelaide from the north (locations such as Mallala, Crystal Brook, Gladstone and Port Pirie) and the east (Tailem Bend and Worsley), but share these trains with other classes of locomotives, so luck is involved. They also can appear on freight and ore trains serving the Darwin line, but do not often lead these movements. A handful of the older GM12 Class locomotives also survive, however their sphere of operations is generally limited to running infrastructure-related workings such as rail trains, ballast rakes, and providing additional power (usually trailing unit) to the aforementioned grain moves. 

• SteamRanger operating out of both Mount Barker and Goolwa on the broad-gauge Victor Harbor Line sometimes employ 930 Class Goodwin/ALCo 958 during the Summer months and on days of total fire ban.

• The National Railway Museum in the historic Port Adelaide precinct is arguably the best museum in the country for streamliner fans, for it has on display four pristinely presented streamlined diesel locomotives, representing three different track gauges and four different locomotive builders: Commonwealth Railways locomotives GM2 and NSU61, and South Australian Railways’ class‑leaders 900 and 930.

• Somewhat hidden away from prying eyes, the Australian Locomotive and Railway Carriage Company is restoring classic South Australian Railways’ English Electric streamliner 907 to operation – for standard gauge operations after being a broad gauge unit for its entire history. You could try contacting the group via their website to enquire about visiting, but the compound is generally not accessible to the public.

• Steamtown Heritage Rail Museum, Peterborough, is worth a visit for many reasons, but for streamliner enthusiasts it also home to Commonwealth Railways narrow-gauge locomotive NSU55. Much of the museum – including the NSU – is accessible only via guided tour, so make sure to put aside sufficient time for your visit, this is not an attraction you can be in and out of in under 15 minutes. At the time of writing (mid-2022) Steamtown was also home to a second streamliner in the form of NSU62, however this locomotive was transferred to Farina Station for display in May 2023.

• The Pichi Richi Railway – the legendary surviving leg of the former narrow-gauge Central Australia Railway – is perhaps better known for its steam trains, however, it does have a small diesel fleet as well, including NSU52. More recently the NSU has been sidelined from operations, but moves have started to return it to action. Pichi Richi holds occasional rail photographer weekends, which are essential events in themselves, but they will also get you terrific access to NSU52, perhaps even operating.

• It’s a long drive, but a compelling one, to get to Marree, but once there you’ll find the dilapidated, but no less compelling sight of three NSUs (NSU56, NSU57 and NSU60) among the remnants of the railway station and yard – silent monuments to the Central Australia Railway era.

We also recommend joining the South Australia Railway Enthusiasts Facebook group to help keep tabs on where and when South Australian streamliners are likely to operate.

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Last updated 13 May 2023