ADK/ADB class diesel multiple unit: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:05, 22 March 2020

Revision as of 15:46, 27 May 2020

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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, New South Wales|Granville]] and railed via [[Melbourne]] and [[Adelaide]] requiring a change of bogies at each of these locations and again at [[Kalgoorlie]].<ref name=GrayMay>{{cite book|last1=Gray|first1=Bill|last2=May|first2=Andrew|title=A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages|date=2006|publisher=Bill Gray|___location=Perth|isbn=0-646-45902-3|pages=298–303}}</ref><ref name=JDunn>{{cite book|last=Dunn|first=John|title=Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 3: 1966-1977|year=2010|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|___location=Kenthurst|pages=11–15|isbn=9781877058905}}</ref>

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 diesel multiple unit|ADL/ADC class]], to [[Tranz Rail|New Zealand Rail]] to replace [[NZR 56-foot carriage|56-foot carriages]] on suburban trains in [[Auckland]].<ref name=GrayMay/><ref name=JDunn/>{{sfn|Churchman & |Hurst|2001|page=64}} In October 1993, prior to being privatised, New Zealand Rail sold the class to the [[Auckland Regional Council]] (ARC).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070530060205/http://www.trainweb.org/nzdiesels/railcar/wrdmu/ ADK/ADL] New Zealand Diesel & Electric Traction</ref>

In 2004 the ARC-funded an upgrade, which included refurbishment of the interiors, painting in the new [[MAXX (brand)|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 was not exported to New Zealand). [[Westrail]] planned on converting ADK 689 to a self-propelled track inspection carriage but this did not eventuate.