Gawler Line Electrification
On this page we look at the progress with the electrification of the Adelaide to Gawler railway line during 2020 and 2021. It includes some photographs of the last workings of the diesel railcars between Salisbury and Gawler Central before closure. It also includes a number of photographs of stations and train working prior to the recommencement of electrification work to allow before, during and after comparisons to be made. We will continue to add new images to this page until the first electric trains are in regular service.
All current stations on the line are covered: North Adelaide, Ovingham, Dudley Park, Islington, Kilburn, Dry Creek, Mawson Interchange, Greenfields, Parafield Gardens, Parafield, Chidda, Salisbury, Nurlutta, Elizabeth South, Elizabeth, Womma, Broadmeadows, Smithfield, Munno Para, Kudla, Tambelin, Evanston, Gawler Racecourse, Gawler, Gawler Oval and Gawler Central.
Images are in date order, from the oldest through to the newest.
(SM 16-4-7351) Looking south from Mawson Interchange well before any work had taken place, 4th April 2016. It is quite different today.
(SM 17-5-1741) Before closure of the Adelaide to Salisbury section of line the transfer of electric railcars was undertaken during the day. Here we see one such movement with a two car diesel railcar towing set 4017 returning to Adelaide, 11th May 2017.
(SM 18-1-0264) Gawler yard before the wires, 31st January 2018.
(SM 18-2-0345) Poles between Kudla and Tambelin from the earlier aborted attempt to electrify the Gawler line, 6th February 2018.
(SM 18-3-1330) A two car diesel railcar set (still in the earlier livery) arriving at Dry Creek station, 20th March 2018.
(SM 18-3-1333) 3012 departing Dry Creek depot, 20th March 2018.
(SM 18-5-4571) 3116 at Dry Creek station, 25th May 2018.
(SM 18-9-7755) Entrance to Elizabeth station, 4th September 2018.
(SM 18-9-7762) Train shed at Elizabeth station, 4th September 2018.
(SM 18-9-7778) Parafield station, 4th September 2018.
(SM 18-9-7781) 3118, 3117 arriving at Parafield station, 4th September 2018.
(SM 18-10-9558) 3106 (in the new corporate livery) and 3105 (still in the old) at Dry Creek, October 2018.
(SM 19-1-2117) 3133, 3134 at Dudley Park, 27th January 2019.
(SM 20-5-6368) 3112, 3111 at Dry Creek, 6th May 2020.
(SM 20-5-6369) Dry Creek station, 6th May 2020.
(SM 20-5-6423) Dry Creek station, 6th May 2020.
(SM 20-6-6993) Gawler station looking north, 23rd June 2020.
(SM 20-6-6995) Gawler station looking south towards the racecourse station, 23rd June 2020.
(SM 20-7-7386) Electrification progress (looking towards Adelaide) at Dudley Park, 15th July 2020
(SM 20-7-7388) Electrification progress (looking towards Islington) at Dudley Park, 15th July 2020
(SM 20-7-7390) Electrification progress at Dudley Park, 15th July 2020
(SM 20-7-7391) Dudley Park station, 15th July 2020
(SM 20-7-7398) Electrification progress at Dudley Park, 15th July 2020.
(SM 20-7-7407) Electrification progress at Islington, 15th July 2020.
(SM 20-7-7408) Another view of electrification progress at Islington, 15th July 2020.
(SM 20-7-7420) Electrification progress at Islington looking north towards Dry Creek, 15th July 2020.
(SM 20-7-7906) Electrification progress near Kudla, 30th July 2020.
(SM 20-7-7908) Kudla station, 30th July 2020.
(SM 20-7-7917) 3005, 3115, 3116 crossing Dalkeith Road at Kudla, 30th July 2020. At this stage the only evidence of the electrification work at the road crossing are the two poles.
(SM 20-7-7927) 3112, 3111 at Chidda, 28th July 2020.
(SM 20-7-7934) Electrification work near Parafield, 30th July 2020.
(SM 20-7-7941) Greenfields station, 30th July 2020.
(SM 20-7-7948) 3006, 3010 at Greenfields station, 30th July 2020.
(SM 20-7-8411) 3118, 3117 between Chidda and Salisbury, 5th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-8418) For casting concrete pole bases near Salisbury, 5th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-8421) Parafield Gardens station, 5th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-8429) Electrification work at Chidda, 5th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-8430) Another view of electrification work at Chidda, 5th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-8436) 3103, 3104 at Chidda, 5th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-8454) Railcars at Chidda, 5th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-8486) Poles from the earlier aborted attempt to electrify the Gawler line at Kudla, 16th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-8487) Dalkeith Road crossing at Kudla, 16th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-8490) 3130, 3129 at Kudla station, 16th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-8495) Dalkeith Road crossing with Munno Para station in the distance, 16th August 2020.
(SM 20-0013) 3129, 3130 and 3007, 3010 at Kudla station, 16th August 2020.
(SM 20-7-9278) From North Adelaide station looking towards Adelaide, 10th September 2020.
(SM 20-7-9283) 3123, 3124 at North Adelaide station, 10th September 2020.
(SM 20-7-9289) North Adelaide station, 10th September 2020.
(SM 20-10-0688) Electrification progress in the North Adelaide parklands, 20th October 2020.
(SM 20-10-0690) Electrification progress at North Adelaide station, 20th October 2020.
(SM 20-10-0697) Ovingham station, 20th October 2020.
(SM 20-10-0702) Electrification progress at Dudley Park, 20th October 2020.
(SM 20-10-0709) Electrification poles at Dudley Park, 20th October 2020.
(SM 20-11-5006) Electrification work south of Salisbury, 6th November 2020.
(SM 20-11-5010) Closed railway track south of Salisbury, 6th November 2020.
(SM 20-11-5013) Bus replacement sign at Salisbury, 6th November 2020.
(SM 20-11-5015) Closed railway track south of Salisbury, 6th November 2020.
(SM 20-11-5039) Railcar set at Salisbury station, 6th November 2020.
(SM 20-11-5055) Kudla station, 6th November 2020.
(SM 20-11-5070) Railcars at Kudla station, 6th November 2020.
(SM 20-12-0891) Electrification work at Dudley Park, 13th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-0896) Dudley Park station, 13th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-0901) Electrification work at Dudley Park, 13th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-0904) Working on the overhead at Dudley Park, 13th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-0909) Salisbury station, 16th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-0921) 3107, 3108 at Salisbury station, 16th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-0946) Electrification progress near Chidda, 16th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-0954) Chidda station, 16th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1157) Elizabeth station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1159) Elizabeth South station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1164) Electrification work at Elizabeth South, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1171) 3102, 3101 at Elizabeth South station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1180) Gawler line service disruption sign, Salisbury station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1181) Electrification progress looking south from Salisbury, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1184) Salisbury station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1188) 3114, 3113 alongside Nurlutta station up platform, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1192) 3113, 3114 about to cross Commercial Road. The up platform of Nurlutta station is visible on the left, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1196) 3113, 3114 alongside Nurlutta station down platform, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1197) Womma station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1211) 3104, 3103 at Womma station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1216) 3102, 3104 at Broadmeadows station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1218) Broadmeadows station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1226) Smithfield station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1253) 3103, 3104 at Smithfield station, 22nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5326) 3140, 3139 at Munno Para station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5329) Munno Para station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5336) 3105, 3106 at Kudla station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5344) Tambelin station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5351) 3113, 3114 at Tambelin station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5354) Another view of 3113, 3114 at Tambelin station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5359) 3021, 3001 at Evanston station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5364) Evanston station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5365) Gawler Racecourse station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5382) 3139, 3140 at Gawler Racecourse station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5393) Gawler station, 24th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5406) 3132, 3131 returning to the railcar compound at Gawler station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5420) 3139, 3140 at Gawler station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5428) 3125, 3126 at Gawler Oval station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5432) Gawler Central station, 24th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5433) Concrete bridge at Gawler Central, 24th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5443) Notices at Gawler Central station, 24th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5447) Bus replacement notice at Gawler Central station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5457) 3125, 3126 at Gawler Central station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5465) 3125, 3126 leaving Gawler Central station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5476) 3105, 3106 at Gawler Central station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5496) 3125, 3126 at Munno Para station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5509) Munno Para station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5525) Smithfield bus interchange, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5559) 3125, 3126 at Smithfield station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-5569) 3139, 3140 at Smithfield station, 24nd December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1318) Signage at Salisbury station, 25th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1350) Christmas Day was the last day of diesel railcar working between Salisbury and Gawler Central. Railcars 3006 and 3005 depart Salisbury station with a return service to Gawler, 25th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1360) 3138, 3137 arriving at Salisbury, 25th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1443) 3137 and 3138 are waiting to depart Salisbury with the 8.18pm train to Gawler Central, 25th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1462) Sunset at Elizabeth station, 25th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-1468) 3138 and 3137 departing Elizabeth with the 9.19pm train to Salisbury, 25th December 2020.
(SM 20-12-2020) 3005 and 3006 at Elizabeth while returning to Gawler, 25th December 2020)
(SM 21-1-5717) With the Gawler line closed for electrification work the EMU transfers from Adelaide to Dry Creek depot took place in the evenings. 3113, 3114 were photographed towing EMU set 4009 just north of Dudley Park station, 8th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-5721) EMU set 4009 en route to Dry Creek depot, 8th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-5736) Also in the evening 3000 class railcars 3023, 3018, 3134, 3133, 3004, 3001 were photographed at Dry Creek while returning to Adelaide, 8th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-5742) Another view of 3023, 3018, 3134, 3133, 3004, 3001 at Dry Creek while returning to Adelaide, 8th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1523) Signage at Dudley Park station, 12th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1524) Dudley Park station with most of the overhead in place, 12th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1529) Islington station, 12th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1530) Electrification progress at Islington station, 12th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1535) Kilburn station, 12th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1585) Mawson Interchange, 12th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1586) Major perway works were also underway at Mawson Interchange, 12th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1589) Per-way work at Mawson Interchange, 12th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1590) Mawson Interchange bus bays, 12th January 2021
(SM 21-1-1606) New colour light signal at Dudley Park, 14th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1610) Overhead wiring set up, Dudley Park, 14th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0006) NR50 at Salisbury passing Gawler line electrification workers, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0007) Salisbury station, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0008) Salisbury station, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0013) Salisbury bus interchange, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0025) Salisbury, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0033) Electrification work near Chidda, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0036) Chidda station, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0072) Smithfield station, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0080) Rail substitute buses at Smithfield station, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0084) Munno Para station, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0092) Kudla station, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0096) Electrification progress – Dry Creek North to Mawson Interchange, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0103) Diesel railcars 3122, 3121 towing EMU set 4007 at Dudley Park, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1675) Another view of diesel railcars 3122, 3121 towing EMU set 4007 at Dudley Park, 19th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1685) Howard Street road crossing near Gawler Central station, 21st January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1686) The concrete bridge leading to Gawler Central station, 21st January 2021. At this stage there was no sign of electrification work.
(SM 21-1-1695) Electrification progress at Parafield, looking towards Mawson Interchange, 25th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1702) Electrification progress at Parafield, looking towards Chidda, 25th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1710) Parafield station, 25th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-1720) Electrification progress at Mawson Interchange looking towards Dry Creek, 25th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0227) Electrification progress near Greenfields station, 26th January 2021.
(SM 21-1-0236) Electrification progress south of Mawson Interchange, 26th January 2021.
(SM 21-3-0571) 3108 and 3107 towing EMU set 4021 passing Dudley Park station enroute to Dry Creek depot, 9th March 2021
(SM 21-3-0575) A going away view of EMU set 4021 at Dudley Park enroute to Dry Creek depot, 9th March 2021
(SM 21-3-088) EMU set 4007 being towed through Dudley Park station while returning to Adelaide, 9th March 2021. By this time the sun had set and the photograph was taken in darkness with no flash, but at a very high ISO setting, resulting in a great deal of noise on the image
(SM 21-9-8100) Overhead wiring progress north of Elizabeth Station, 8th September 2021
(SM 21-9-8124) A Kanga rail replacement bus operating service GA1 at Elizabeth, 8th September 2021
(SM 21-9-8152) Working on the overhead at Gawler Station, 10th September 2021
(SM 21-9-8192) Gawler station, 10th September 2021
(SM 21-9-8370) King Street bridge at Gawler Central awaiting demolition. The new bridge abutments on the right are for the replacement footbridge, 26th September 2021
(SM 21-9-8377) Another view of King Street Bridge, 26th September 2021
(SM 21-9-8380) Gawler Central viewed from the road crossing, 26th September 2021
(SM 21-9-8457) Work has just started on the demolition of King Street Bridge, 28th September 2021
(SM 21-9-8461) A closer view of the claw in action demolishing King Street bridge, 28th September 2021
(SM 21-9-2021) By 11am the bridge had been demolished and later in the afternoon the debris was still being sorted ready for disposal, 28th September 2021
(SM 21-9-8554) Debris from the demolished King Street Bridge being loaded onto a truck for removal, 28th September 2021