South Australian Railways Redhen railcar
| Red Hen railcar | |
|---|---|
A typical 3-car Red Hen consist in original livery at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide: 400 class double-ended power car no. 400, 860 class trailer no. 875, and a 300 class single-ended power car no. 321 | |
| Manufacturer | South Australian Railways |
| Built at | Islington Railway Workshops |
| Replaced | Brill railcars |
| Constructed | 1955-1971 |
| Entered service | 1955-1996 |
| Number built | 111 |
| Number preserved | 27 |
| Formation | 1/2/3 carriages |
| Fleet numbers | 300-373, 400-436 |
| Capacity | 300-341: 91 362-373: 89 400-419: 80 420-436: 78 |
| Operators | South Australian Railways State Transport Authority TransAdelaide |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 20.00 m (65 ft 7 in) |
| Width | 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in) |
| Height | 4.27 m (14 ft 0 in) |
| Wheel diameter | 914 millimetres (36 in) |
| Maximum speed | 88 km/h (55 mph) |
| Prime mover(s) | 2 x GM model 6/71: 300-341, 362-373, 400-436 2 x Rolls-Royce C6SFLH: 342-361 |
| Braking system(s) | Westinghouse air brakes |
| Track gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) |
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The Redhen railcars (originally, Red Hen) was the nickname given to the 300 and 400 classes of diesel-hydraulic railcars designed by the South Australian Railways and built at its Islington Railway Workshops between 1955 and 1971. The railcars, which operated in Adelaide suburban service until 1996, remain a nostalgic part of South Australian memory. Some continue to be operated by the SteamRanger Heritage Railway, the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide and other railway preservation entities.