Silver City Comet
|
|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Passenger train |
| Status | Ceased |
| First service | 27 September 1937 |
| Last service | 3 November 1989 |
| Former operator(s) | State Rail Authority |
| Route | |
| Start | Parkes |
| End | Broken Hill |
| Distance travelled | 920 km (570 mi) |
| Line used |
Main Western Broken Hill |
The Silver City Comet was a train service that operated from September 1937 until November 1989 between Parkes and Broken Hill in western New South Wales. It was the first air-conditioned train in the British Empire.
The original engines were built in Belfast by Harland & Wolff under licence from Burmeister & Wain known as the "Harlandic" type. An eight cylinder in line uniflow two-stroke engines with blower scavenging which developed 330 bhp (250 kW) at 1200 rpm. The transmission was a Voith-Sinclair torque converter design with two final drive gear ratios, geared for 130 km/h (81 mph) 0r 115 km/h (71 mph). Two "National" 22 kW (30 hp) diesel generator sets producing DC power for train lighting and air conditioning.
In 1953 spare parts supply difficulties and engine age prompted the NSWGR to re-engine the fleet with four 6-110 GM diesel engines rated at 250 bhp (190 kW) at 1800 rpm coupled in pairs driving Allison torque converters to the inner axle of each bogie. These are coupled in pairs through a GM Model TCLA 965 torque converter to gear boxes connected to each of the bogies. A Standard Waygood GM 120 volt, 50 kW (67 hp), generator set for power requirements including train lighting, cooking and air conditioning. The power van was re-classed 'DP', tare weight was 63 long tons (64 t; 71 short tons).
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