In Service
The CR had hoped to have the locomotives in service by late 1952, but various problems did not see the first of the class operational until 1954. Tests were conducted over British Railways tracks near the BRCW works on 24 February 1954 (this, incidentally, was the same time the WAGR X class were being unloaded at Fremantle). Part of the contract for their construction included one, possibly two, sets of standard gauge bogies.
Following on with the tradition of naming locomotives after famous people (usually a politician) NSU51 was unveiled with a pair of plates bearing the name of the then Transport Minister George McLeay. The locomotive then worked several trips to Bookaloo and return for those dignitaries and guests who wished to go.
NSU52 was accepted by the CR on 26 May 1954 and was soon pushed into service for crew training. At the same time, NSU51 was being transferred via the SAR's Broad gauge line after being unloaded at Port Adelaide 26 May 1954.
NSU's 51 and 52 worked the first northbound diesel hauled Ghan into the Alice on 26 June 1954 conveniently timed to coincide with a visit of the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies The last of the class to be commissioned was NSU64 during August 1955.
As with any new machine, a few bugs presented themselves when the class were first placed into service. Minor faults with voltage regulators and air and oil filtration systems were quickly rectified, and the class went on to earn a reputation as an efficient and robust unit.
Though NSU54 did work for some months between Port Augusta and Port Pirie during 1954, following that period the fleet worked out of Port Augusta on the Narrow gauge until 1957. Steam continued in traffic on the Central Australia Railway until the Port Augusta-Marree standardisation project eliminated that section for narrow gauge working, however there were still sporadic workings of steam.
Similar to the standard gauge experience, dieselisation of the CAR led to a reduction of 60% of operating costs over steam.
Some commentators considered the class to be "on their last legs" in 1976, however the NSU class survived more or less intact up to just about the end of ANR operations over the now very rickety Central Australia Line. A few had the ignoble task of removing the line for which they were built.
Read more about this topic: Commonwealth Railways NSU Class
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