"Australian Fleetbooks No. 2 - S.R.A. Locomotives"
By Mark Carter
Paperback cover 24 pages black/white photos
INTRODUCTION
Since the first edition of this book was published in 1981, the State Rail Authority (SRA) motive power fleet has undergone numerous changes. The new 81 class diesel and 86 class electric locomotives introduced from 982 onward catered for a surge in new traffic, particularly coal, and allowed older locomotives to be withdrawn. By the end of 1989, all members of the 42, 421, 47 and 70 classes, along with a number of the earlier 44 class locomotives, had disappeared from the roster.
With the introduction of the 82 and 90 class diesels during 1994, large scale withdrawals and disposals of the remaining 44, 35 and 45 class locomotives commenced. members of the original series 48 class and the entire 442 class were either withdrawn or placed in storage.
The fleet information provided in this book is correct to 31st August 1994 and has been provided to give a historical perspective of the SRA locomotive fleet at the time of introduction of the Ready Power fleet. Locomotives marked* in this list were in storage on 31/8/94, the majority being disposed of at auction in December 1994. Historical notes are correct to mid- 1996.